AfterShocks | 7/16/2021 1:22:00 PM

 
 
The AfterShocks considered 2019 a success in The Basketball Tournament. They won their first game, set attendance records, and brought Shockers together in Koch Arena.
 
They are after more in 2021 and relying on lessons learned two years ago. TBT is a physical, fast-paced brand of basketball with more structure than a pickup game and rewards for teams that improvise and fill rosters with players who can score in a number of ways.
 
"You've got to have guys that can get you a bucket," said AfterShocks forward Rashard Kelly. "You've got to be in shape. You've got to be up-tempo. You seriously have to be dedicated to basketball. There's a million dollars on the line."
 
The AfterShocks open the tournament against Ex-Pats (Patriot League alumni) at 8 p.m. Friday (ESPN2).
 
Coach Zach Bush and general manager Ron Baker downsized the roster by going after versatile scorers. Bigs such as Kelly, Darral Willis and Maryland's Damonte Dodd are charged with running the floor to get easy baskets, rebounding and defending. Guards Conner Frankamp, Tyrus McGhee, an Iowa State alum, and Samajae Haynes-Jones are the type of scorers needed, as is forward Markis McDuffie. Forward Zach Brown adds defensive versatility and three-point shooting.
 
Point guard Clevin Hannah, a late addition to the roster, excelled in 2019 as an organizing force on the court. While he is a strong outside shooter, he contributed beyond scoring in both games in 2019.
 
"If you watch TBT, even the best teams, they're not coming out and running set, set, set," Bush said. "It's not that type of basketball. We will install things, but most of it is just general structure to get them to the right spots. A big part of that is getting the ball to your go-to guys in their spots."
 
Bush wants the AfterShocks to use that structure to get good shots and make the defense move and make choices.
 
"You have to play good basketball and it can't become isolation, one pass, and put up just an average shot," he said. "I've been going back and watching a lot of games with successful teams. They really move the ball, try to create advantages, find the open guy."
 
Haynes-Jones watched the 2019 TBT and is excited to join the AfterShocks. The Shockers on the team will benefit from shared terminology and memories of their time in former coach Gregg Marshall's system. There is some integration involved as they come together in this way for the first time.
 
"Get the ball moving around, let everybody get comfortable, and then at the end of the day we just go out there and compete," Haynes-Jones said.
 
All TBT games feature the Elam Ending and it is becoming more comfortable as it gains popularity. The game clock shuts off at the first dead ball under four minutes remaining in the game. The target score adds eight points to the leading team's score (or the tie score). In a game in which the score is 82-79, the first team to 90 wins.
 
The goal is to reduce intentional fouls and stalling that often plague the final minutes. All games end with a score.
 
The piece of strategy that can be important is for the leading team to get the clock stopped as soon as possible. The leading team doesn't want to risk losing points off its lead before the target score is established.
 
"You definitely have to practice for it, because some of these guys haven't watched TBT," Bush said. "If you're up, right when that clock gets under four, you foul. Possessions become incredibly valuable. The game starts to slow down. That's where quick-hitters, sets can really help."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.