The RoundHouse | 6/9/2021 1:31:00 PM

 
Wichita State women's basketball coach Keitha Adams downloaded 802 pages of plays used by the 64 teams that played in the 2021 NCAA basketball tournament. 
 
Call it her summer reading program.
 
"I think I've gotten through 500 of it," she said. "I'm looking at things that fit into us, but are different and new. I don't want to be predictable. We've got to find ways to put more points on the board."
 
The Shockers are starting their summer workouts in Koch Arena and the emphasis is on scoring. Wichita State, 6-12 in last season's COVID-abbreviated schedule, averaged 63.4 points and shot 40.4 percent from the field. Both ranked fourth in the American Athletic Conference. Its three-point accuracy of 30.7 percent ranked second. 
 
"We have to have a better percentage to be a more complete team," guard Seraphine Bastin said. "Be able to space the floor. As a point guard, I like to drive the ball. I know if I have a shooter in the corner, it's going to be good for the team." 
 
Those statistics represent slight improvements over 2019-20 and Adams wants to continue building more efficiency into the offense. Drills – particularly one called "Kobe" – emphasize making multiple shots in a row from around the court.
 
"It's not just about hitting a shot, it's about hitting several," Adams said. "We want to try to get up more shots in our practice." 
 
The "Kobe" drill takes place in 18-second segments and a miss sends the shooter in a sprint to half court before returning to the same spot. To move to another spot requires a made shot. The Shockers are shooting with the new three-point line, which is moved back to the international distance of 22 feet, 1 ¾ inches this season.
 
"We're emphasizing getting consistent in our rhythm and our shots," center Trajata Colbert said. "You have the mid-range and you have the three-pointer. It works on your footwork, because you're sprinting from one side to the other."
 
The Shockers return their top six scorers from last season. Newcomer Ella Anciaux, a second-team All-Class 5A pick at Kapaun Mount Carmel, is practicing. The other newcomers will join the Shockers later this summer and those additions include center Jane Asinde, an NJCAA All-American at Grayson (Texas) College. 
 
The group that returns endured injury and COVID-related interruptions and cancellations last season. The Shockers didn't employ enough bodies for a full practice until late January and played many games with a diminished roster. They played 11 conference games and had nine postponed or cancelled. They played four games in January with a 15-day gap after the first two. 
 
"The most important thing is the character," Bastin said. "We had to go through bad stuff and build from there. To everything, there is a purpose. Next season is our season."
 
Some schools evaluated their situation and ended their season early. Wichita State, despite its issues, kept playing. Adams thinks that spirit will help bond this team.
 
"We really found our team and we found us, because of everything we went through," she said. "It was never an option for us to quit. We're going to reap the benefits of having a mentality of toughness. We've got some tough young ladies here and they're in it."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.