The RoundHouse | 11/29/2023 10:04:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Paul Mills' mission to stamp out turnovers starts each video session. The Shockers look at them all. Any player who turned the ball over describes what happened.
 
"Nobody wants to be the one that has to explain why they had that turnover," forward Harlond Beverly said.
 
Mills gives them three choices – ball-handling goofs, playing out of control or toughness. If a defender takes the ball, it's toughness.
 
"You've got to speak, out loud, tell the team, why that happened," Mills said. "They need to visualize it. They need to see it. The bigger question is, 'How do we avoid it?'"
 
Wichita State's next segment on turnovers will be the shortest of the season. They can spend that extra time reflecting on the clinic demonstrated during the second half of Wednesday's 80-68 win over Richmond at Koch Arena.
 
"We came in at halftime and recognized and knew what we had to do," guard Xavier Bell said. "All of us bought in with each other and came out with the right mindset."
 
The Shockers (7-1) played well in the first half to build a 33-31 lead. They shot 46.7 percent and committed five turnovers. Solid stuff.
 
The second half demonstrated what the offense can look like when it hits another level. Most important – one turnover. That allowed the Shockers to spread the floor, run their offense and generate lots of good shots. They made 18 of 32 shots (56.3 percent) and 6 of 13 three-pointers.
 
 

Shooter's touch 👌@XavierBell03 up to 16 points. pic.twitter.com/M9nC6Ndi1j

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 30, 2023

A season-low six turnovers. Balanced scoring led by Colby Rogers' 19 points and Xavier Bell's 17. Beverly added 13 points and seven assists. That makes for a happy video session.
 
The Shockers hit the Spiders (4-3) with lob dunks to Quincy Ballard and Isaac Abidde. Rogers turned the game with two steals which led to layups for Beverly and a 13-point lead. Kenny Pohto used his soft touch to score 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
 
Bell made all five of his shots in the second half including two three-pointers. His drive and pass to Dalen Ridgnal for a three-pointer provided the Shockers with a 74-56 lead with 5:05 to play.
"I thought there were contributions by everybody," Mills said. "Guys better understand where they need to be. They also understand the spacing that needs to be involved in order to give players room."
 
The only offensive issue was at the foul line, where WSU missed eight of its 17 attempts. However, the Shockers outscored Richmond by eight points at the line because they committed only 11 fouls and the Spiders went 1 for 3 at the line.
 
Richmond guard Jordan King, who is 17 of 20 from the line and twice shot six or more in games this season, didn't shoot a free throw. He finished with 17 points, but Beverly played the lead role in cooling him off in the second half.
 
Wednesday's game felt like a potentially significant marker for Mills' debut season. He showed more animation on the sidelines – both questioning referees and exhorting the crowd for noise – than in previous games. The crowd of 6,195 responded against an opponent which, according to Ken Pomeroy's ranking, provided WSU's best win to date.
 
Things get tougher for the Shockers with Missouri, Kansas State and Kansas looming. They have, indisputably, taken full advantage of the early part of the schedule.
 
While Mills and the players graciously complimented the crowd, everybody knows it wasn't the kind of noise that makes Koch Arena feared and famous. A few more 20-minute bursts of that level and those fans and that roar should return.
 
 

Disgusting. Nasty. Just flat filthy, @Harlond20 pic.twitter.com/l7lE19oeLm

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 30, 2023

 
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.