‘We’ve got to do better’: Focus for Shockers against Florida in ESPN title game

The buzz outside the Wichita State men’s basketball team locker room in State Farm Field House lasted a good 20 minutes following an exhilarating overtime victory over Minnesota.

The players blasted Lil Durk’s music in the locker room, coaches high-fived one another and graduate assistants excitedly recounted the most thrilling parts — there were a lot of them — of the dramatic win to send the Shockers to the championship game of the ESPN Events Invitational.

But by the time senior Harlond Beverly — the game’s hero who hit an improbable 3-pointer to force overtime — exited the joyous locker room, the WSU team leader understood the task at hand.

“It was a good time,” Beverly said of the celebration. “I love my teammates. Shoot, we make everything fun. Our airplane rides are fun.

“It feels good, but we have another game tomorrow that we have to focus on now. We haven’t watched film on either team yet, so when we get back to the hotel, it’s onto the next.”

WSU enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner together following Thursday’s game, then turned its attention to Friday’s showdown against No. 18-ranked Florida (7-0) to try to capture the program’s first multi-team title since 2013. The game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. Central time tip-off with a national television audience watching on ESPN.

The Shockers will have a little more than a 24-hour turnaround between games, which means a quick scouting report with no practice for what could be the best team WSU will play this entire season.

“We’ve got to do a better job with our physicality,” WSU head coach Paul Mills said before knowing Friday’s opponent. “We’ll need to do a better job of playing with better force offensively than what we did today.”

WSU is currently shorthanded in the frontcourt with injuries to senior forward Ronnie DeGray III (wrist) and senior center Zane Meeks (knee), but that didn’t prevent Mills from being sorely disappointed with his team’s physicality against Minnesota.

While the Shockers converted 50% of their 2-point chances, too many possessions ended in ugly fashion on forced attempts around the rim on plays where WSU failed to create separation or enough contact for a foul call.

Throw in 10 post-halftime turnovers that Minnesota turned into 15 points and getting thoroughly beat on the glass and WSU knows its toughness — both mentally and physically — must be better to compete on Friday.

“Energy and effort,” WSU senior Justin Hill said. “It’s going to come down to rebounding again. We need to share the ball, take care of it. Our game plan won’t really change. We’ve got to play hard, play smart and have a next-play mentality.”

There’s little question WSU will need its sharpest performance of the season to hang with Florida, which is up to No. 12 in KenPom efficiency with a top-10 offense and a top-35 defense. The Gators have won all seven games by double digits, powered by the backcourt trio of Alijah Martin, Walter Clayton and Will Richard, who combine to average 47 points.

Florida is also the 10th-best offensive rebounding team in the country and its defense ranks No. 16 nationally in 2-point defense (42%), both thanks to a starting frontcourt with height of 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-11.

It’s a game that presents very little downside to WSU, even in defeat, and maximum upside with the potential for the Shockers to secure their first Quad 1 win of the season — in what could be their only Quad 1 game in nonconference play.

WSU savored the thrill of Thursday’s victory in the locker room, but its focus was already shifting to Friday’s final before the players left the arena.

“We’ve got to get off our feet and get some rest and watch some film and learn how to get better,” WSU senior Xavier Bell said. “It’s a next-up mentality now. We enjoyed this one, but now we’re gonna get ready for the next one.”

No. 18 Florida vs. Wichita State basketball preview

Records: UF 7-0, WSU 6-0

When: 2:30 p.m. Central time Thursday

Where: State Farm Field House (5,000), Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

How to watch: ESPN (Kevin Fitzpatrick with Daymeon Fishback)

Radio: KEYN, 103.7-FM (Mike Kennedy with Bob Hull)

Series history: UF leads 2-0

KenPom says: Florida 81, Wichita State 72

Projected starting lineups

Florida Gators (7-0)

Coach: Todd Golden, third season, 47-29

Wichita State Shockers (6-0)

Coach: Paul Mills, second season, 21-19

This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 6:01 AM.

Taylor Eldridge

The Wichita Eagle

316-268-6270

Wichita State athletics beat reporter. Bringing you closer to the Shockers you love and inside the sports you love to watch.