How ‘playing the right way’ has helped Xavier Bell transition to Wichita State basketball
The most popular adjective to describe the way Wichita native Xavier Bell has acclimated himself this offseason with the Wichita State men’s basketball team is “steady.”
The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, who comes to the Shockers after two successful seasons at Drexel, has been a consistent presence on the practice floor, a valuable trait for a WSU team trying to transition 12 newcomers to the roster.
Taking care of the ball, making the right pass, defending and knocking down open shots are the qualities that will earn Bell playing time when the Shockers open up the 2022-23 season at home on Nov. 7 against Central Arkansas.
But before that, WSU has a busy week at Koch Arena ahead: Shocker Madness starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, a closed-door scrimmage against Missouri State on Saturday and then an exhibition game against Newman next Wednesday.
“Having X out there is going to be big for us because he’s a guy that’s got experience and he knows what Shocker basketball is all about,” WSU coach Isaac Brown said. “He’s been to the NCAA Tournament and he knows what it takes to win.”
Bell played a role late in the season for Drexel’s 2021 NCAA Tournament team, then averaged 11.0 points on 49.2% shooting as a full-time starter on last season’s team in the Colonial Athletic Association.
He’s a crafty left-handed scorer who never lets the defense speed him up, which allows him to play at his own pace. He was effective finishing in the paint at Drexel, but those floaters and shots at the rim will likely be more challenging against the competition in the American Athletic Conference.
In preparation, Bell said he has studied hours of game film to get a better idea of what’s to come in January and February.
“From an early age, I had to sit down and really learn the game from a different perspective and see how it’s played the right way,” Bell said. “How to get the right shots, how to get the right teammates open and how to make the right reads. I’ve tried to continue to build off that and bring it to this new program. I want my play style to compliment this new system.”
After being unsatisfied with his averages of 1.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.4 steals in more than 26 minutes per game last season, Bell has committed himself to finding different ways to impact winning this season with the Shockers.
That goes hand-in-hand with what Brown has been preaching to his team all offseason.
“I told them that in order to get on the floor, all you have to do is defend, rebound and play with toughness,” Brown said. “You’re not going to get on the floor because of your offense. On offense, just don’t turn it over and be a good teammate. But you’ve got to defend to get on the floor. I’m locking it in their heads right now that the 8-to-10 guys that are going to be on the floor are the guys who are going to defend.”
Bell proved he is a capable defender at Drexel, but WSU is challenging him to be better at containing dribble penetration. He has also impressed coaches by how reliable he has been on offense: making the right swing pass, driving and kicking to open teammates and knocking down outside shots.
For a team that has been below-average from beyond the arc for four straight seasons, Bell’s shooting stroke could prove handy. He made 37.5% of his 3-point shots on 96 attempts in 48 career games at Drexel.
“I feel like my 3-point shot has recently become a big part of my game at the college level because there are a lot more athletic and taller guys now,” said Bell, who was an all-state player in high school at Andover Central. “I can’t get downhill as much as I used to, so I have to rely on my jumper at times. The biggest thing I’ve focused on is the catch-and-shoot, just fading to the right spots, lifting up and using my pump-fake to get other guys open.”
Bell could see some time as a backup point guard in the minutes that starter Craig Porter isn’t on the floor, but it’s more likely he sees the majority of time at shooting guard playing alongside Porter.
While Bell is focused on finding other ways to impact winning, hitting outside shots at a consistent clip might be the fastest way to help the Shockers.
“When you’ve got guys like Craig Porter and Jaykwon Walton, who can really drive the basketball, they’re going to find shooters when they’re open,” Brown said. “We just need guys who can make stationary 3s and X has been doing that a lot in practice for us. This is his third year of college basketball and we’re excited to have him here and I think he’s going to fit into our system really well.”
Shocker Madness schedule on Thursday
5:30-6:30 p.m. — Autographs on the concourse with men’s and women’s basketball players
6:30 — On-court festivities begin
Shocker Sound Machine performance
Women’s basketball team introductions
Men’s basketball team introductions
3-point contest featuring Curtessia Dean and Shamaryah Duncan from women’s team and Jalen Ricks and Colby Rogers from men’s team
Dunk contest featuring Isaac Abidde, Jaron Pierre Jr., Shammah Scott and Jaykwon Walton
Women’s team scrimmage
Men’s team scrimmage
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