The RoundHouse | 1/20/2021 4:32:00 PM

 


 Listen to a podcast with Taylor Eldridge of The Wichita Eagle on Shocker basketball and more.

 
Fans see it in the way the Shockers celebrate together, how they play unselfishly and how interim coach Isaac Brown makes everything about the team, the whole team.
 
Plenty of Shocker teams were easy to love because of their winning ways and unselfish, hard-working style. This one overcame unique obstacles and still manages to play with a sense of spirit and joy, one that jumps out at fans on TV screens and in Koch Arena.
 
"We celebrate each other," guard Tyson Etienne said. "It's definitely a special team, a sense of brotherhood, and that's going to continue to grow."
 
For whatever reason – and there are probably many – this Shocker team is giving itself a chance to build a special spot in program history. They've got the underdog vibe. They handled the departure of several teammates and persevered through a coaching change. The ones that stay are proving they wanted to be here and they wanted to play basketball a certain way.
 
"That was the turning point where everything could have unraveled," Etienne said. "The only way for us to have any type of success was for us to be on one chord and stay together. We've done that."
 
Like everybody, they're dealing with a pandemic. At a time when playing games can't be taken for granted, they're giving fans action and victories. 
 
Junior Dexter Dennis said the team chemistry started to build during the quarantines and missed practices of the fall. The Shockers didn't let those disruptions splinter them. Brown helped by going out of his way to praise reserves, spreading minutes as much as possible and redirecting every question about his story to the team's story.
 
"We realized we've been away from the game and away from one another," Dennis said. "Building camaraderie is always fun and winning ball game is always fun, as well. We appreciate each other, and the game, even more."
 
The first 11 games are a success. Things aren't going to get easier and keeping this good feeling going requires a lot more victories.
 
The Shockers (8-3, 4-1 American Athletic Conference) play at Memphis (6-5, 2-2) on Thursday (6 p.m. ESPN2). Wichita State is no longer the team picked seventh in the conference and rebuilding from the off-season changes. Now it is chasing the conference title and showing up in NCAA Tournament projections.
 
"I think it's a big challenge for our guys because Memphis was picked ahead of us," Brown said. "Of course, they all know every name on Memphis' team because all those guys were McDonald's All-Americans. They're the most talented team in the league. They have great size. We've got to do a good job of taking care of the basketball, rebounding and defending at a high level."
 
The Tigers will throw all their athletic ability at the Shockers with presses and gambling defenses. They want to create a steal or deflection on almost every possession. The Shockers counter with several guards who can handle the ball and make the right play – show patience or try to pierce the defense quickly. 
 
Memphis leads the conference in blocked shots (5.4 a game), forced turnovers (16.6) and steals (9.4). The Shockers average 11.7 turnovers a game, second-best in the AAC. 
 
"We've got to make sure we do a good job of taking care of (the ball), especially with our press offense when they get ready to run and jump," Brown said. "They're really good on-ball defenders, and they're good at trapping balls screens. We've just got to do a good job with our spacing."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.