The RoundHouse | 11/29/2022 10:05:00 AM
Wichita State played its most complete basketball game on Saturday – maintaining solid defense while enjoying its best scoring game of the season in an 83-71 win over Tarleton State.
The defense that has sustained the Shockers in their 4-2 start will get its biggest test of the season when
Missouri (7-0) visits Koch Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. ESPN+). The Tigers average 93.3 points and are shooting 52.6 percent from the field – all in home games.
"They've got some incredible offensive numbers," Wichita State coach
Isaac Brown said. "They do a good job pushing the ball in transition and they're making right at 10 threes a game. They can really score."
Wichita State will try to be the first team to hold the Tigers under 80 points – preferably well under 80. The Shockers are holding opponents to 59.2 points with their mixture of changing defenses, deliberate pace and low-turnover style. They held five opponents under 40 percent shooting.
Even with 12 new Shockers, the defense clicked in quickly. Returners
Craig Porter Jr. and
Kenny Pohto played a lead role in organizing and pushing the defense. Newcomers such as
Jaykwon Walton added their defensive abilities. The Shockers press and trap at times, play an effective zone defense and switch to man to man.
Defense carries the Shockers while they wait on the offense to catch up.
The Shockers held Richmond to 4-of-14 shooting and forced six turnovers to rally from a six-point deficit in the final 9:18 of a 53-51 win. They held Grand Canyon to 17.4-percent shooting from three-point range and a season-low in points in a 55-43 win in Kansas City. On Saturday, Tarleton State got to the line for 15 points – more than any other opponent – but shot 36.8 percent from the field.
"It started this summer – it's the No. 1 thing we preached," Brown said. "In order to win basketball games, you've got to defend."
In addition to the shooting statistics, the Shockers are also helping slow opponents in other important areas.
Wichita State doesn't need to foul to play that defense – it has made more free throws (75) than opponents attempted (68). Its turnover average is 11.5, down almost one from last season. Where it took last season's team into January before it regularly began limiting turnovers under 15, this season's team high is 13.
While allowing offensive rebounds remain a concern, WSU is out-rebounding opponents by five a game, more than double last season's edge.
The Shockers help their defense by limiting turnovers and bad shots that lead to unorganized defense and easy baskets. The 2021-22 Shockers gave up an average of 9.3 fastbreak points and 10.1 on offensive rebounds. The current Shockers are at 6.7 on fastbreaks and 8.5 on second-chance points.
Missouri will put all those positives to a strong test. The Tigers, under new coach Dennis Gates, play fast and shoot a lot of threes. They lead the nation with an average of 13.9 steals and a plus-10 turnover margin.
Wichita State defeated Missouri 61-55 last season. Gates, previously at Cleveland State, overhauled the roster with 12 newcomers after replacing Cuonzo Martin.
"We've got to deny passes," Brown said. "Everybody has to flood the paint. We cannot give up second shots. We've got to get our deflections numbers up, and those guys are talking about that every day in practice."
To keep up with Missouri's scoring punch, the Shockers must continue to play smart and defend well. Their offense also must continue to improve. It can't put all the burden on getting stops against good competition.
Increased familiarity is helping as the Shockers work in their group of newcomers. Three of their top four scorers and five of their top seven are new to Wichita State – all transfers.
On Saturday, transfer forward
Gus Okafor scored a career-high 27 points. He turned to offensive rebounding and defense as his focuses, instead of shooting, and worked his way into a big night. Porter sees more of his teammates figuring out where they fit and how they work within the offense.
"Bringing a whole new team in, everybody wants to be in that spot," Porter said. "The freedom they feel like they should have, it doesn't necessarily get to come out at first, because they feel like they can't mess up or they're going to come out. I feel like everybody is starting to get comfortable. Everybody is slowly getting that understanding of how to play in our system."
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
