The RoundHouse | 12/29/2022 2:58:00 PM

 
At 10-3, Wichita State opens American Athletic Conference play with a good understanding of its identity.
 
The Shockers rebound and play defense. When their offense is low on mistakes and high on transition baskets, they can score plenty of points.
 
That is what the statistics show, and the Shockers know all those numbers. What is most important to them, they say, is the chemistry that works behind the scenes.
 
"Off the court is a really big deal for us," guard DJ McCarty said. "We're always trying to spend time with each other. Trying to mesh well with each other. I like how together we are."
 
Wichita State opens its sixth season in the American against Cincinnati (7-6) on Friday (6 p.m. ESPN+) at Koch Arena.
 
How are the Shockers winning?
Wichita State, for the most part, beat the teams it should beat in November and December. While it didn't defeat a team in the top 150 of the NCAA's NET ranking, it also didn't stumble badly outside of a loss at Omaha.
 
The Shockers hold teams to 36.1 shooting percentage, third in the AAC. It is second in rebound margin at plus-9.6 and leads the conference by grabbing 75.2 percent of available defensive rebounds.
 
The best efforts come when the Shockers combine that defense with an efficient, opportunistic offense. It committed 12 or fewer turnovers in its past three games and won two of them easily.
 
"When we take good care of the basketball and our transition game gets going, we can definitely get into a good groove." Coach Keitha Adams said after a 105-38 win over South Carolina State.
 
While the defensive numbers are solid, Adams wants the Shockers to improve on taking the scouting report into games. Breakdowns against Omaha and Wyoming cost the Shockers in those losses.
 
"We learned a couple tough lessons," Adams said. "Two of our losses were defensive assignments and schemes and understanding who we're guarding. Our Omaha game, we blew a defensive assignment at the end that, if we do what we're supposed to, we win."
 
Did the Shockers get anything out of the rout of South Carolina State?
Wichita State easily dispatched an overmatched opponent, one dealing with nightmarish travel issues.
 
 

We can think of 105 reasons to watch the highlights from last night's W.

🎥 SC State reWind pic.twitter.com/W2QeT4388u

— Wichita State Women's Basketball (@GoShockersWBB) December 28, 2022

The Shockers don't need to dwell on that. If they gained some confidence, especially from the reserves, then perhaps that game mattered.
 
"(We) showed we have a lot of good pieces that come off the bench," Colbert said. "We played a lot of non-conference games that prepared us for conference."
 
Jeniah Thompson came off the bench to score 14 points and hand out five assists. Ambah Kowcun went 3 of 5 from three-point range and scored 14 points.
 
"I feel like I'm progressing," Thompson said. "I've been focusing more, Coach has been talking about defense, and I'm trying to emphasize defense."
 
Where does scoring come from?
Wichita State will give opponents trouble with Colbert and Asinde scoring around the basket and rebounding.
 
Colbert averages 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. She frequently draws fouls with her post moves and is shooting 84.9 percent from the line. Asinde averages 11.6 points and 10.2 rebounds. Both rank among the conference leaders in offensive rebounds.
 
That is where the good things start for the Shockers. McCarty is enjoying the best season of her career and the addition of Curtessia Dean adds another threat and good offensive rebounder.
 
McCarty leads the Shockers with an average of 13.5 points and 3.7 assists. She is at her best when she plays under control and can use her speed to get the Shockers easy baskets. Coaches watch her minutes because fatigue can cause her to make mistakes.
 
"She's definitely given us a spark in her offense," Adams said. "We've gotten into a good rotation with her and (Nhug Bosch Duran). When we let DJ rest a little bit and then go back with her, that's a good thing."
 
For an example of how it can look, consider the second half of a 57-53 win over North Texas. The Shockers rallied from a 17-point deficit by shooting 48.1 percent of their shots and committing six turnovers in the final 20 minutes. They held North Texas, a future American Athletic Conference opponent, to 12 second-half points.
 
 

DJ through the defense like a hot knife through butter. pic.twitter.com/NB9b6WXe2u

— Wichita State Women's Basketball (@GoShockersWBB) December 11, 2022

 
 
How does the AAC look?
South Florida, the preseason favorite, is off to a strong start. The Bulls (11-4) are No. 35 in the NET and own wins over Alabama, Texas and Arkansas. Defending champion UCF (8-3) is No. 132 in the NET with no top 100 wins.
 
Tulane (No. 61), Memphis (No. 68), SMU No. 70) and Tulsa (No. 83) are also in the NET's top 100. Wichita State is No. 111.
 
How do the Shocker cut down on turnovers?
Wichita State has had 13 games to adjust to new teammates, new lineups and a new season. It averages 16.5 turnovers a game and ranks 10^th in the American with a minus-1.75 turnover margin.
 
Better decisions, better focus throughout the roster is a must. McCarty has 48 assists and 42 turnovers as the team's primary ball-handler. Bigs Colbert and Asinde are turnover-prone and key to the offense. They know defenses are going to send double teams at them to deflect passes and try to draw charging fouls.
 
For the Shockers to make a move up the conference standings and close out tight games, they must take care of the basketball.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.