The RoundHouse | 12/18/2021 6:19:00 PM

 
Eleven games into a mystifying season, one issue is not a mystery for Wichita State. The Shockers aren't going to win like they expect to with their propensity for turnovers.
 
North Texas defeated Wichita State 62-52 on Saturday at Koch Arena, a loss that removes the Shockers from the early NCAA Tournament discussion. Wichita State, after winning at Missouri and Oklahoma State and playing No. 8 Arizona to overtime, needs to do a lot of work to polish up its resume.
 
We didn't do a good job of playing smart basketball," Brown said. "You can't turn it over 12 times (in a half) in college basketball and expect to win."
 
The Shockers talked about looking in the mirror, accountability and using the loss as a wake-up call. They talked about moving the ball, making smarter decisions while dribbling and figuring out how to contribute without scoring.
 
"Tough one to lose," center Morris Udeze said. "We've got to regroup. It's tough, man."
 
The Shockers recognized the damage done by losing a guarantee game. While North Texas is a program with four straight winning seasons and a 2021 NCAA Tournament win over Purdue to its credit, there is no hiding from the mark Saturday left on the Shockers.
 
"It hurts," Wichita State forward Ricky Council IV said. "That's a bad loss for us. We paid them to come here and we folded at the end."
 
The Shockers (8-3) led North Texas (7-3) 34-27 at halftime after committing three turnovers and shooting 46.2 percent from the field. It was one of their better offensive halves and executed against a good defense. The Shockers extended the lead to 39-29 early in the second half.
 
"All of sudden we started turning it over," Brown said. "Turning it over, turning it over."
 
Twelve turnovers in the second half led to 13 points for North Texas. Brown called most of the turnovers self-inflicted – weak passes, wild passes, dribbles into traffic, confusion against double teams. Forced shots, often late in the shot clock and when nothing is moving on offense, also hurt.
 
"Unforced," Council IV said. "Silly. We've got to figure some things out."
 
A scoring drought of almost 13 minutes turned that 10-point lead into a 49-39 deficit with 6:40 to play.
 
The Shockers play hard on defense. Udeze scored 17 points against North Texas and is a consistent source of offense. Beyond his post moves and free throws, the Shockers don't score easily. Turnovers are a battle they must win against competent opponents. When they don't get fast-break points or second-chance points, half-court execution is critical and turnovers are a killer.
 
Improvement in shot selection and ball movement over the past two games went to waste against the Mean Green, who took away driving lanes in the second half and frustrated the Shockers. Wichita State missed 15 of its 21 three-pointers.
 
The Mean Green did many of the same things Kansas State did in its 65-59 win over the Shockers. The scouting report is out and teams that are disciplined and play defense know how to frustrate the Shockers. They take away easy baskets, harass guard Tyson Etienne and Udeze and force the Shockers into a half-court offense that too often devolves, as they acknowledge, into dribbling deep into the shot clock.
 
Wichita State learned from the loss to Kansas State and responded with its two highest assists totals of the season – against overmatched opponents. The Shockers said they talked about their offensive issues in the locker room. They will talk more about them in film and practice. With American Athletic Conference play approaching, it is time for that talk to translate onto the court.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.