The RoundHouse | 1/14/2025 10:20:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
Reviving Wichita State's season starts with more focus and more attention to scouting reports. The Shockers, as coach
Paul Mills said, are not going to overwhelm opponents with NBA Draft picks.
They need to do many things well, starting with digesting information and using those scouting tips to frustrate opponents.
"We took our preparation very seriously," forward
Harlond Beverly said.
The Shockers handled Charlotte 68-59 at Koch Arena on Tuesday to end a three-game losing streak in which they gave up 91, 91 and 88 points. In those losses to Temple, USF and UTSA, the Shockers allowed better than 50 percent shooting and 45 percent accuracy from three-point range.
On Tuesday, they held Charlotte (7-11, 0-5 American Athletic Conference) to 32.8-percent shooting, 22.2 from behind the arc. The 49ers are one of the AAC's worst shooting teams, so they rely on drawing fouls. The Shockers played solid defense and limited Charlotte to 16 free throws, nine below their average.
"Our problem that last couple games is how we came out to start off games," forward
Ronnie DeGray III said. "Low energy. It was a lot more focused on the defensive end."
Wichita State (11-6, 1-3) coaches are giving the Shockers more of a stake in preparation, Mills said. The coaches compile scouting reports and deliver the strategy on how to defend opponents, how to attack, tendencies on offense, etc., twice. Then it is time for the Shockers to take that information and present it to teammates during the pre-game preparation.
"They do the delivery," Mills said. "They have to be dialed in on personnel. We needed more ownership from those guys and accountability. You can't just go out there and play and think this stuff is happening."
The Shockers showed their preparation by keeping Charlotte's Nick Graves and Robert Braswell under control, especially from the line. Graves finished with 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting, four points below his average. He made 3 of 4 foul shots after averaging almost six points a game at the line. Braswell, who averages 11.8 points, finished with eight on 3-of-12 shooting.
"We understood they're really good at drawing fouls," Beverly said. "We had to be very disciplined."
After Rich Rolf made two threes and scored eight points in the first half, the Shockers held him without a shot in the second.
DeGray, who missed 12 games with a wrist injury, returned. While he isn't a cure-all, he makes Wichita State better in many ways, largely on the defensive end. He had a steal and two blocks against the 49ers. He understands the defensive plan and can make up for a mistake simply by getting to the right spot to help a teammate.
Those things don't show up in box scores. Mills sees them. When the Shockers met after Saturday's loss at UTSA, Mills said DeGray did much of the talking.
"He's fully invested," Mills said.
The Shockers pulled away with an efficient scoring second half. They made 54.2 percent of their shots, largely by driving and finding open shooters. Beverly excelled finding gaps in the defense to create an open teammate or score on layups. He scored eight of his 12 points in the second half and handed out four assists for the game.
"He can really play downhill," Mills said. "He's got good vision."
The Shockers are a long way from a total revival. They took care of business against a struggling team at home. They get another chance to repair the damage against ECU on Saturday.
Mills hopes the win over Charlotte – and the lessons from the losing streak – teach his team the level of play necessary. He liked his team's mentality. He liked that the Shockers took playing defense personally most of the game.
"That was a team win," he said. "This is going to have to be a team effort."
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
