Print edition: 
Wichita State has played several basketball teams that appeared to be more formidable than their power rating indicated. Tonight, the Shockers play Northern Iowa, whose RPI rank of No. 30 doesn’t fit with its recent performance.
The Panthers (13-6, 3-4 Missouri Valley Conference) built their NCAA Tournament-worthy ranking with one of the nation’s most competitive schedules — eight top-100 opponents, and just one lower than 200. However, they face an uphill battle to be considered an at-large candidate after losing two of the past three games, including Sunday at last-place Bradley.
UNI is more concerned with finishing in the top half of the MVC than Selection Sunday. Regardless, coach Ben Jacobson likes the way his team is playing since an 0-2 MVC start.
“The last five-game stretch, we’ve played well,” he said. “We made a lot of improvements after the second conference game. Our attention to detail has been much better at the defensive end of the floor. We started to rebound the basketball better.”
With UNI’s NCAA appearances in 2009 and 2010 still fresh, it is easy to overlook the makeover since. The Panthers have one senior, guard Johnny Moran. Their key offensive player (guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe) and defensive player (Lucas O’Rear) are gone from last season.
Jacobson isn’t surprised at some ups and downs in conference play. The 78-67 loss to Bradley provided a major down. The Panthers led by 16 points early in the second half. Bradley, winless in the MVC entering the game, shackled Panther shooters with a zone defense and outscored UNI 54-31 in the second half.
“We haven’t won all five of the games, but we’ve played much better basketball,” Jacobson said. “We’ve got some young guys and we’ve got some older guys in new roles and for the most part, as a group, they’ve done a pretty good job.”
UNI’s schedule offers no relief tonight against WSU (15-3, 6-1). The Shockers are 5-0 on the road, one of five schools without a road loss nationally. Jacobson sees WSU as team that expects to win on the road because of past success. WSU is 12-1 in the MVC road games the past two seasons and 10 of those wins are by 10 or more points.
“That lends itself to be a confident group,” Jacobson said. “They’ve got an older, experienced group and they play with a lot of toughness.”
The Shockers showed that on Sunday in the second half in a 75-65 win at Indiana State. The Sycamores cut WSU’s lead to two points three times in the final 12 minutes. WSU responded with a basket or free throws each time and never gave up the lead.
“We just continued to make plays,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “We had an answer.”
Those answers are increasingly hard for opponents to deal with. WSU ranks first or second in the MVC in scoring (77.4 points), points allowed (61.4), scoring margin (plus-16), shooting percentage (47.4) and shooting defense (39 percent).
“They do so many things at a high level,” Jacobson said. “Offensively, they know what they want to get done and they play with a lot of confidence.”
WSU’s offense starts with its many options. It can score inside with Garrett Stutz and Carl Hall. It can score from the perimeter with several shooters. Its rebounding prowess leads to transition baskets. UNI’s offense is heavily reliant on the three-pointer. The Panthers have taken 399 threes, second in the MVC and 40 percent of their attempts. WSU’s threes account for 35 percent of its total shots.
The Panthers make a bunch — 39.8 percent. The lack of a post game, however, makes them vulnerable to bad shooting nights and keeps them off the foul line. UNI made 31 free throws in its four MVC losses. Opponents made 65.
Guarding the three-point line tops WSU’s scouting report.
“They put a lot of guys out on the floor that can stretch the defense,” Marshall said. “We’ve got to be there on the catch. We’ve got to contest with our hands up.”
Guard Anthony James, who averages 14.5 points, has taken over many of the ball-handling responsibilities with Ahelegbe gone. Forward Jake Koch makes 36.7 percent of his threes. Guard Marc Sonnen makes 45.3 percent and three players off the bench make more than 40 percent.
“They run good stuff to get shots,” Marshall said. “They spread you out and they balance the floor very well. Penetrate and kick — they’re very good at that.”
Egharevba finds a school — Former Shocker Ede Egharevba will transfer to Midland College, a junior college in Texas, he said in a text message. Egharevba, from Rosedale, N.Y, left WSU’s team before the season, saying the program was not a good fit.
Check Paul Suellentrop’s Shocker blog at blogs.kansas.com/shockwaves. Reach him at 316-269-6760 or psuellentrop@wichitaeagle.com.
