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RH: "There's a Number of Areas to Tighten Up"

RH: Ballard 3-0

The RoundHouse | 11/13/2023 11:47:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Wichita State coach Paul Mills wanted three games of information before taking Wichita State on the road to a tournament. Squeezing in an opponent on a Sunday afternoon wasn't easy, so he appreciated Friends University making the seven-mile trip to Koch Arena after playing at 4 p.m. Saturday.
 
"There's a number of areas to tighten up," Mills said after Sunday's 95-65 win over the Falcons. "What you're trying to do is get clarity on, not only roles, but what efficiency looks like offensively and defensively. Then we get three days to practice."
 
The Shockers are 3-0 after adding the NAIA school to wins over Lipscomb and Western Kentucky. They play Coastal Carolina (1-0) on Thursday in the Myrtle Beach Invitational, played at Coastal's HTC Center in Conway, S.C.
 
Mills is working with limited numbers, so many roles fell quickly into place. The three games reveal that the Shockers are versatile enough to play big or small and their defensive numbers are solid. They can score off sets, inbound plays and adjust to take advantage of mismatches and circumstances.
 
Coaches leaned into the two big-man lineup with Quincy Ballard and Kenny Pohto, and they helped produce a defense that is hard to score on (warning – the three-game numbers are influenced by an NAIA opponent and WKU's 0-for-21 three-point shooting).
 
The Shockers are holding teams to 32.9 percent shooting. Ballard has nine blocked shots and WSU's block percentage of 14.1 (shots taken) ranks No. 54 nationally, according to Ken Pomeroy's statistics. That rim protection means opponents are shooting 41.3 percent on two-point shots, No. 32 nationally in Pomeroy's stats.
 
"He's really paint-dominant down there," guard Xavier Bell said.
 
 

Bell is off to a solid start as WSU's primary point guard. He has 11 assists and six turnovers and Mills' spacing gives him plenty of room in the lane to use his strength and touch in the lane. His free throws (8 of 10) vs. Western Kentucky played a big role in the victory. He is shooting 55.6 percent from the field.
 
The Shockers struggled from the three-point arc in the first two games (26.9 percent) and 19 turnovers hurt against Western Kentucky. But the Shockers show plenty of signs the offense possesses the tools to improve. They made 10 of 23 three-pointers against Friends. Colby Rogers (8 of 19 for the season from three) will demand defensive attention, as should Dalen Ridgnal (3 of 5). Isaac Abidde (3 of 8) is off to a good start behind the arc and shooting 59.1 percent overall.
 
"It always feels good to see threes go in," Rogers said after Sunday's win. "We put a lot of time in the gym. We caught fire."
 
The Shockers will go inside to Pohto and Ballard to set up the three-point shooting. When the Shockers needed baskets in the second half against WKU, Bell and Harlond Beverly took their defenders one-on-one to score or pass. After Beverly committed six turnovers against WKU, he bounced back with six assists and one turnover against the Falcons.
 
The Shockers don't hesitate to hammer mismatches, as they did with Rogers in the first half against a smaller Lipscomb defender.
 
"Players are very aware that paint-touch threes translate well to efficiency," Mills said. "Dalen can shoot. His ability to stretch the floor is pretty impressive."
 
   
 
Ridgnal, who is battling back pain, and Abidde come off the bench to give the Shockers bounce, hustle and shooting. Ridgnal averages 8.7 rebounds a game and fans quickly picked up on his effort. Abidde can makes threes, back down smaller opponents, and score on floaters.
 
"(Ridgnal) can rebound with the best of them," Mills said. "They're so interchangeable, and they can still keep the floor spread. A lot of times you can't say that about people off the bench with their size."
 
It's only three games and the Shockers leave the comfort of home for their next three. They've given fans a taste of how they expect to win games under their new coaching staff.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Xavier Bell

#1 Xavier Bell

G
6' 2"
Junior
Colby Rogers

#4 Colby Rogers

G
6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
Isaac Abidde

#5 Isaac Abidde

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Kenny Pohto

#11 Kenny Pohto

F
6' 10"
Junior
Quincy Ballard

#15 Quincy Ballard

C
6' 11"
Junior
Harlond Beverly

#20 Harlond Beverly

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
Dalen Ridgnal

#10 Dalen Ridgnal

F
6' 6"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Xavier Bell

#1 Xavier Bell

6' 2"
Junior
G
Colby Rogers

#4 Colby Rogers

6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
G
Isaac Abidde

#5 Isaac Abidde

6' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Kenny Pohto

#11 Kenny Pohto

6' 10"
Junior
F
Quincy Ballard

#15 Quincy Ballard

6' 11"
Junior
C
Harlond Beverly

#20 Harlond Beverly

6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
G
Dalen Ridgnal

#10 Dalen Ridgnal

6' 6"
Graduate Student
F