Wichita State simplifies offense to adjust to demands of 30-second shot clock

Wichita State started the basketball season waiting on guard Fred VanVleet to get healthy, realized that would take longer than hoped, struggled in his absence and thrived with his return.

With VanVleet’s left hamstring at its strongest since late October and the return of center Anton Grady, the Shockers can take time off for Christmas and look forward to the potential for stability in 2016. The team that started the season ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll is almost intact with one non-conference game remaining. Most important, VanVleet is getting closer to full speed five games into his return from a hamstring strain that cost him four games and dumped the Shockers (6-5) from the national rankings.

“I felt pretty good (Tuesday),” he said. “I think that’s the most burst I’ve shown in awhile. I was able to get some confidence in my legs. I’ve just got to continue rehabbing and getting it stronger.”

WSU wasn’t at full strength for Tuesday’s 98-69 win over Nevada. Senior center Bush Wamukota is suspended indefinitely due to a violation of team academic rules, freshman guard Ty Taylor sat out with a shoulder injury and freshman guard Landry Shamet is out with a stress fracture in his left foot. When Wamukota and Taylor return, perhaps as soon as Monday’s game against New Mexico State, WSU could be as whole and healthy as it’s been this season.

Its performance in the past five games provides evidence the Shockers can be the team that was picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference and do big things in March. WSU is 4-1 in those games, including a 67-50 win over then-No. 25 Utah. While an overtime loss at Seton Hall stung, the Shockers look forward to two months of rebuilding their NCAA Tournament resume.

“I think we’re making the right strides,” guard Ron Baker said. “This week was kind of an offensive week (in practice). We worked on a lot of our breakdown offenses, trying to be more productive, trying to get ball reversals, putting the pressure on the defense a little better.”

WSU’s offensive numbers over the past five games are closer to their usual levels. VanVleet’s return put the others players in their comfortable position and shooting percentages and turnovers demonstrate his importance. WSU made a season-high 51.1 percent of shots against Nevada, bumping its five-game percentage to 43.9. That is up from 37.8 percent in the first six games, two of which VanVleet played in while hobbling from the injury.

WSU made a season-high 40 percent of its three-pointers (10 of 25) against Utah and then topped that by making 14 of 30 (46.7 percent) against Seton Hall. It is shooting 34.8 percent behind the arc in the past five games, up from 31.1 in the first six.

On Tuesday, the Shockers sped up their battle with the 30-second shot clock by simplifying their offense. They call it “push and play.” Most games, WSU’s offense can be divided into three parts — a quick-hitting play that, if unsuccessful, flows into motion or ball-screen offense followed by a play late in the shot clock. The Shockers, in order to give themselves more time, omitted the quick-hitting play against Nevada.

“We wanted to get it up in the front-court and have more time to screen and cut and move,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “We were just pushing and going right into motion tonight.”

The Shockers recorded 16 assists on 24 baskets against Nevada. While WSU shot the ball accurately in the loss to Seton Hall, the offense didn’t flow and players often dribbled away the shot clock before driving into traffic and turnovers.

“The ball wasn’t moving much,” VanVleet said. “We wanted to get back to sharing the ball, getting some ball movement, getting some player movement. (Against Nevada), we had a bunch of easy baskets, a bunch of layups and wide-open threes.”

And a bunch of foul shots. WSU made a school-record 44 and tied the school and MVC record with 62 attempts against Nevada.

The change seemed to benefit guards, who weren’t fighting the shot clock as often as at Seton Hall, and the big men, who made aggressive, decisive moves to the basket. While Nevada entered the game with strong defensive numbers, foul trouble and the departure of center A.J. West took away some of their defensive presence. Regardless of the reason, the Shockers got points in any manner they chose. Center Shaq Morris tied his season-high with 12 points and Grady added nine in his second game back after missing four games with a spinal concussion.

“We’re pushing and playing now and trying to get into our motion offense quicker,” Baker said. “That way we don’t have to keep looking up at the clock, making sure we’ve got time to get into our clock play.”

Basketball clinic — The Shockers are holding a clinic for first- through sixth-grade boys and girls on Dec. 30 at Koch Arena. Cost is $50. The clinic runs from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m.

For information call (316) 978-3252 or email chadgibney@gmail.com.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Wichita State simplifies offense to adjust to demands of 30-second shot clock."