The RoundHouse | 11/26/2021 12:47:00 PM

 
The American Athletic Conference is strong at the top with No. 9 Memphis and No. 12 Houston in the Associated Press top 25.
 
The middle is packed with potential with UCF, Cincinnati and Wichita State in the Ken Pomeroy top 75. The Shockers can move closer to that top group over the next 10 days.

The Shockers, UCF and Cincinnati either possess a strong win or face those type of opponents soon. UCF is 4-0 and faces Oklahoma, Auburn, Florida State and Michigan in December. Cincinnati defeated Illinois and its loss is to Arkansas. Wichita State emerged from a tournament in Las Vegas in position to meet all expectations.
 
The rest of the AAC is either already saddled with bad losses or missed opportunities to grab quality wins.
 
The Shockers (4-1) play at Missouri (3-2) on Friday (8 p.m. SEC Network). The game starts a three-game swing that will play a significant role in determining the strength Wichita State's non-conference resume.
 
 

Tyson Etienne go-ahead three. SCHEDULED TWEET.@TheTyEtienne1 x @espn

📺: https://t.co/1EhmFUUHKl pic.twitter.com/y9DPCY64jU

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 22, 2021

Missouri, hurt by a loss at home to UMKC, is No. 118 in the Pomeroy rankings, which means it is a game that the Shockers need to win. On Wednesday, Wichita State plays at No. 34 Oklahoma State (5-1) before meeting No. 85 Kansas State (2-2) at Intrust Bank Arena on Dec. 5.
 
Two or more wins over the next 10 days could combine with an overtime loss to Arizona and a win over UNLV in Las Vegas to build a representative NCAA Tournament resume by early December. Many of the Shockers pointed to last season's 83-79 win at Mississippi as a turning point, both in their self-perception and national perception.
 
This stretch offers similar potential.
 
"It's a big challenge going on the road to play and SEC team," Wichita State coach Isaac Brown said. "That game at Ole Miss, I think that was the deciding factor in getting us in the NCAA Tournament, so it's definitely a huge game. I'll bring that to the table and let the guys know what these road games mean against these Power 5 schools."
 
The Shockers can put their first five games in the positive column despite shooting issues and sloppy ball-handling. Like last season's early weeks, Brown is watching his team get out of the offense too often and rely on one-on-one forays to the basket. Last season's team clicked into offensive form at the right time. Rebounding, while improved from last season, remains shaky.
 
"(The ball is) sticking too much," Brown said. "We've got to do a better job in our penetration, trying to get someone else a wide-open shot. The guy that's driving the ball doesn't need to think, 'Shot.' He needs to think, 'I'm trying to get someone a wide-open shot.'"
 
The 2020-21 Shockers won with defense and an offense that excelled at limiting turnovers, getting to the foul line, and making plays in the final minutes to win close games. It ranked No. 29 nationally in Pomeroy's turnover percentage with 15.8 of its possessions ending with a turnover.
 
This season, the Shockers end 19.7 percent of its possessions with a turnover to rank No. 199.
 
Their ability to force turnovers helped them rally from double-digits deficits in the second half against Arizona (54-38) and UNLV (46-35). Guard Tyson Etienne took over with his shooting late in both games and Wichita State's depth helped the rallies.
 
Four of Wichita State's five games turned on a few possessions. The Shockers will need to clean up a few more on offense while continuing to harass the opponents to emerge from the next 10 days in strong shape.
 
"I don't think we executed on offense at a high level (in Las Vegas), and those are the things that we have to get better at to be able to win on the road," Brown said. "Going to play Missouri and Oklahoma State, we definitely have to rebound, execute on offense and take good shots. We've got to put together a good 40 minutes. We've been playing 20 minutes here, 15 there, but we have to play a good 40 minutes to go on the road and beat two really good basketball teams."
 
Center Morris Udeze is off to a slow start and getting him in gear could help in many of those areas. He shot 60 percent from the field and averaged 10.3 points last season, helped by his ability to draw fouls and make free throws. This season, he is shooting 46.7 percent from the field and averages 7.0 points. Teams are double-teaming him and denying him good position near the basket, which explains his 17 turnovers and one assist.
 
If the Shocker offense is running, it can generate high-percentage shots for Udeze. If he is left to create his own shots, the offense suffers. The version of the Shockers where Udeze is scoring in the lane and drawing fouls and freshman Kenny Pohto is making outside shoots is one that can challenge defenses. Getting Udeze in a groove like last season is the first step.
 
"We've got to start getting him some easy baskets," Brown said. "Right now, teams are playing him with a bigger guy. We've got to be able to penetrate and kick it to him for a dunk or an easy layup, maybe a 15-foot jump shot. He's starting to go up against some really big, physical guys inside, so we have to do a better job of trying to create wide-open opportunities for him."
 
 

Pick ✅
Pop ✅ @PohtoKenny trims the lead to five.

📺: https://t.co/1EhmFUUHKl pic.twitter.com/ngm6LOjOZK

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 22, 2021

Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.