‘Room to grow’: Wichita State basketball tackles first practice of the season
The first official practice of the season on Monday didn’t feel much different to the Wichita State basketball players who have been working out at Koch Arena since June.
That’s not what tipped off veteran A.J. McGinnis that a new season was now only six weeks away.
It was the chilly temperature in Wichita on Monday morning when he left his apartment for a morning shootaround.
“It’s starting to get a little cold out, so that’s how you know the season is getting closer,” McGinnis said. “I’m actually a little sad about this one because this is my last first practice as a college player.”
While increased time on the court in the offseason has lessened the significance of the first practice of the season, Monday does mark the first day where WSU’s coaches can spend four hours per day — instead of four hours per week — with the players on the court.
That means longer practices and more time to study in the film room, a valuable combination to a group of seven newcomers who are still learning the expectations of Paul Mills.
“We have a lot of room to grow, but I feel like we’re right where we need to be at this time,” said McGinnis, a fifth-year transfer from Lipscomb. “This next month is going to determine a lot. It’s all about effort and intensity and not quitting on your team. What we will look like and how we play together, this next month is going to play a big part in that and what people are going to see on the court this season.”
Not only does WSU have six weeks of practice ahead of a Nov. 4 season-opener at Western Kentucky, the program’s first road opener in 32 years, the Shockers also have two barometer checks before then. The first comes on Oct. 12 in a closed scrimmage against Oklahoma State, followed by an exhibition against Emporia State on Oct. 27 in the Roundhouse.
After averaging a career-high 13.2 points with 77 made 3-pointers last season at Lipscomb, McGinnis figures to be a key piece for a WSU team in desperate need of outside shooting.
“I feel like I can help create a lot of space in our offense being the shooter that I am because I know how a lot of teams will guard me,” McGinnis said. “I think that will open up the floor a lot more because they’re going to play sticky on me. And if they don’t, my shooting will help open the game up for everybody else.”
McGinnis has made 36.6% of his 478 career attempts beyond the arc, which has included stops at UNC Greensboro, Cincinnati and Lipscomb. He upped that percentage to 39.7% last season on career-high volume, attempting 6.1 triples per game.
Nearly all (84%) of his 3-pointers were of the catch-and-shoot variety, according to Synergy’s logs, a role he will likely replicate in Wichita.
When Mills challenged all players to make 10,000 shots this summer, McGinnis reached the goal almost entirely by spotting up around the perimeter, catching kick-out passes and firing away without hesitating.
“Since I put up so many reps, I feel more comfortable in my shot than I’ve ever felt before,” McGinnis said. “It feels like every time I shoot the ball, it’s going in. I’ve practiced so much that I feel good about everything with my shot.”
That’s good news for a WSU team that lost its two best 3-point shooters from last season and return a group who shot a combined 28.1% (61 of 217) beyond the arc.
McGinnis knows his job is to knock down outside shots, but the next six weeks should further inform him where he can expect to take those shots within the team’s offense.
“It’s really interesting to be able to watch and learn from someone like coach Mills because of how intense and analytical he is,” McGinnis said. “There’s so much for us to take away from him and a lot of the stuff we do is based off analytics. It obviously works because the numbers don’t lie.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 6:02 AM.
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