Oklahoma State’s aggressive defense challenges Wichita State

Georgetown led Oklahoma State by seven points early in a game in the Maui Invitational and then the turnovers started. The Hoyas committed six in the next five minutes and trailed by eight on their way to a 27-point loss.

There is no subtlety to what Oklahoma State wants to do on defense, no packing in the defense and forcing jump shots, no allowing a team to run its offense as designed. The Cowboys send defenders all over the court, running in passing lanes, trapping and trying to cause chaos.

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall compared it to the Arkansas teams coached by Nolan Richardson and their “40 minutes of hell” style. While Marshall realized not many of his players got the 1990s reference, his point stands.

“Super fast-paced, playing up and down at the whole game,” WSU guard Landry Shamet said. “That’s their goal — to turn you over … speed you up, make you make plays that you think are open, you think are good plays, but you’re going so fast that might not be the best play.”

Wichita State (9-2) plays a team that wants to accomplish many of the same goals as it does when Oklahoma State (8-2) visits Intrust Bank Arena at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Cowboys force an average of 21.2 turnovers, which means opponents hand the ball over on 26.6 percent of their possessions, the nation’s third-highest rate, according to kenpom.com. While WSU doesn’t match OSU’s high tempo, it forces turnovers on 21.6 percent of possessions, No. 60 nationally.

Georgetown finished with 28 in the 97-70 loss. New Orleans and Campbell both committed 23. Connecticut, Maryland and Tulsa each had 18. OSU warmed up for the Shockers by forcing 31 in Wednesday’s 102-66 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

“You’ve just got to stay poised,” Wichita State guard Daishon Smith said.

The Shockers practiced Thursday and Friday at Intrust Bank Arena and they prepared for OSU’s pressure by giving defenders three-foot paddles to harass passers. OSU averages 10.8 more shots than its opponents — another hallmark of WSU’s success — and 24.2 points off turnovers.

“They’re relentless in their pressure,” Marshall said. “They deny every pass, they can run and jump. It’s something different to prepare for… and that’s good if you’re going to play in the postseason because you never know what you’re going to get.”

WSU is 6-0 at the downtown arena and has won 42 consecutive non-conference home games, including five at Intrust Bank Arena. Handling OSU’s defense is one part of extending those streaks. Defending OSU guards Phil Forte and Juwan Evans is also critical.

Forte, a fifth-year senior, has 265 career three-point baskets and needs 35 to become the school’s career leader. He is a career 38.4-percent shooter from behind the arc, although he is 21 of 63 (33.3 percent) this season. A bruise near his tailbone limited his minutes against Tulsa. He started on Wednesday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and played 21 minutes.

Sophomore Juwan Evans averages 21.6 points and 4.8 assists. A shoulder injury sidelined him against Tulsa and he played 22 minutes on Wednesday. Evans is a master at using screens to get open and can score in all ways. He is 11 of 20 from three-point range and 47 of 60 from the foul line.

“A player,” Shamet said. “He has really good court vision, so it’s not only buckets for himself, but he can find anybody else on the court if you sag off him or relax.”

Why no TV? — Saturday’s game is on ESPN3.com or the WatchESPN app. It is not available on television. Unlike games broadcast on Cox 22 and ESPN3.com, it is not blacked out in Kansas.

ESPN chose the game as one of its 10 exclusive (four non-conference) games for ESPN3.com, as its contract with the Missouri Valley Conference allows, according to MVC associate commissioner Jack Watkins.

Saturday is a busy day for TV sports, with bowl games and NCAA championships combining to squeeze time slots.

There are six bowl games Saturday, three on ESPN. In addition, ESPN2 broadcasts the NCAA Division II title game and the NCAA volleyball title match. ESPNU shows a Football Championship Series semifinal game.

ESPN’s networks are showing seven college basketball games, including Davidson-Kansas at 6 p.m.

This story was originally published December 16, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Oklahoma State’s aggressive defense challenges Wichita State."