Shockers are ready for first road check
BY PAUL SUELLENTROP
The Wichita Eagle
SAN FRANCISCO - One play can't explain a 6-1 record, but it can provide a summary of how Wichita State got to this point.
WSU guard Karon Bradley knocked the ball away from Providence's Donnie McGrath near half court early in the first half of last week's win over the Friars. He raced McGrath to the loose ball, dove on the floor and knocked it away so teammate Sean Ogirri could retrieve it. Ogirri dribbled to the corner, pass-faked to get open and hit a three-pointer.
That's the Shockers. WSU can win with the tough stuff and the pretty stuff.
Even taking Saturday's struggle with Northwestern State into account, WSU has blended together a team with four new starters and one senior in its nine-man rotation more smoothly than many expected.
"We're playing at a much higher level than I thought we'd be playing at this point," WSU coach Mark Turgeon said.
It's worked so far, and now it's time to see if it works on the road. WSU plays at San Francisco tonight, plays Michigan State in Auburn Hills, Mich., on Saturday, then at UMKC on Dec 17.
Turgeon and the Shockers are convinced they enjoy the road. WSU was 10-6 away from Wichita two seasons ago and 9-7 last season. Road games give the Shockers a chance to grow together and focus their efforts on quieting fans.
"It's fun," sophomore guard Matt Braeuer said. "We have really good team chemistry. We like to go on the road."
To win on the road, WSU will need to continue its unselfish play and solid defense. That, Turgeon said, is why the Shockers are 6-1 with a one-point loss to nationally ranked Illinois.
Against Providence, WSU handed out 22 assists on 30 baskets.
"That means you're pretty unselfish," Turgeon said. "We teach such team play, I think it's been easy for guys."
WSU holds opponents to 38.5-percent shooting and out-rebounds them by almost 12 a game. When its offense struggled in the first half against Northwestern State, defense kept the Shockers close. WSU held the Demons to one basket in the final 3:29 of a 57-55 victory, with a steal by Braeuer leading to the winning basket in the final seconds.
"We've just come together defensively," Ogirri said. "Our offense hasn't really come along, but our defense has really increased."
Turgeon and Ogirri pointed to an exhibition victory over NCAA Division II Rockhurst as a turning point. Turgeon called WSU the softest team in America after a 67-55 victory, taking the opportunity to send his team a message through the media.
"We shouldn't be close to a team like that," Ogirri said. "The coaches yelled at us and we worked a lot harder in practice."
Turgeon said, "I think we got their attention."
Explaining WSU's success isn't all about the dirty work of defense and teamwork. Talented players are adjusting quickly to new roles and higher expectations.
Junior forward Kyle Wilson is proving he's a quality inside scorer. Ogirri, after a slow start, has scored 17 and 13 in his last two games. Center Paul Miller, the team's returning starter, is shooting 62.9 percent from the floor and carried WSU in the final minutes of its rally against Northwestern State. Bradley's defense bewildered Providence in the early minutes, and he has hit 8 of 20 three-pointers.
Sophomore P.J. Couisnard saw this coming during pickup games in the summer.
"This summer was definitely a clue," he said. "Every game was tough. This summer you could just see... games were so competitive."
Notes -- Couisnard shot during practice Monday and Mark Turgeon is optimistic about his odds of playing tonight.
Couisnard, who suffered a concussion Wednesday and missed Saturday's game against Northwestern State, will be examined again today before a decision is made, Turgeon said.
Turgeon is not as optimistic about Ryan Martin's health. Martin, a junior forward, bruised his left foot during Saturday's game. He did not practice Sunday and was not able to run Monday, Turgeon said.
Junior forward Jared Young will likely move into the starting lineup for tonight, Turgeon said.
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BY PAUL SUELLENTROP
The Wichita Eagle
SAN FRANCISCO - One play can't explain a 6-1 record, but it can provide a summary of how Wichita State got to this point.
WSU guard Karon Bradley knocked the ball away from Providence's Donnie McGrath near half court early in the first half of last week's win over the Friars. He raced McGrath to the loose ball, dove on the floor and knocked it away so teammate Sean Ogirri could retrieve it. Ogirri dribbled to the corner, pass-faked to get open and hit a three-pointer.
That's the Shockers. WSU can win with the tough stuff and the pretty stuff.
Even taking Saturday's struggle with Northwestern State into account, WSU has blended together a team with four new starters and one senior in its nine-man rotation more smoothly than many expected.
"We're playing at a much higher level than I thought we'd be playing at this point," WSU coach Mark Turgeon said.
It's worked so far, and now it's time to see if it works on the road. WSU plays at San Francisco tonight, plays Michigan State in Auburn Hills, Mich., on Saturday, then at UMKC on Dec 17.
Turgeon and the Shockers are convinced they enjoy the road. WSU was 10-6 away from Wichita two seasons ago and 9-7 last season. Road games give the Shockers a chance to grow together and focus their efforts on quieting fans.
"It's fun," sophomore guard Matt Braeuer said. "We have really good team chemistry. We like to go on the road."
To win on the road, WSU will need to continue its unselfish play and solid defense. That, Turgeon said, is why the Shockers are 6-1 with a one-point loss to nationally ranked Illinois.
Against Providence, WSU handed out 22 assists on 30 baskets.
"That means you're pretty unselfish," Turgeon said. "We teach such team play, I think it's been easy for guys."
WSU holds opponents to 38.5-percent shooting and out-rebounds them by almost 12 a game. When its offense struggled in the first half against Northwestern State, defense kept the Shockers close. WSU held the Demons to one basket in the final 3:29 of a 57-55 victory, with a steal by Braeuer leading to the winning basket in the final seconds.
"We've just come together defensively," Ogirri said. "Our offense hasn't really come along, but our defense has really increased."
Turgeon and Ogirri pointed to an exhibition victory over NCAA Division II Rockhurst as a turning point. Turgeon called WSU the softest team in America after a 67-55 victory, taking the opportunity to send his team a message through the media.
"We shouldn't be close to a team like that," Ogirri said. "The coaches yelled at us and we worked a lot harder in practice."
Turgeon said, "I think we got their attention."
Explaining WSU's success isn't all about the dirty work of defense and teamwork. Talented players are adjusting quickly to new roles and higher expectations.
Junior forward Kyle Wilson is proving he's a quality inside scorer. Ogirri, after a slow start, has scored 17 and 13 in his last two games. Center Paul Miller, the team's returning starter, is shooting 62.9 percent from the floor and carried WSU in the final minutes of its rally against Northwestern State. Bradley's defense bewildered Providence in the early minutes, and he has hit 8 of 20 three-pointers.
Sophomore P.J. Couisnard saw this coming during pickup games in the summer.
"This summer was definitely a clue," he said. "Every game was tough. This summer you could just see... games were so competitive."
Notes -- Couisnard shot during practice Monday and Mark Turgeon is optimistic about his odds of playing tonight.
Couisnard, who suffered a concussion Wednesday and missed Saturday's game against Northwestern State, will be examined again today before a decision is made, Turgeon said.
Turgeon is not as optimistic about Ryan Martin's health. Martin, a junior forward, bruised his left foot during Saturday's game. He did not practice Sunday and was not able to run Monday, Turgeon said.
Junior forward Jared Young will likely move into the starting lineup for tonight, Turgeon said.
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