How midseason injury to Corey Washington has affected Wichita State’s offense

A key part of offense for the Wichita State men’s basketball team has been limited in recent games.

That’s because since starting forward Corey Washington sustained a dislocated shoulder in practice earlier this month, the injury has curbed some of the best parts of the 6-foot-5 junior’s game.

In a testament to his toughness, the transfer from Saint Peter’s has actually increased his scoring average to 14.5 points in the four games since the injury. He has managed to remain productive with 16 points and seven rebounds in a win over Charlotte, then 19 points and 18 rebounds against East Carolina.

“That’s a tough kid,” WSU head coach Paul Mills said. “He wants to contribute. He wants to add value. He’s about the right things on the court. There’s off-the-court character and there’s on-the-court character, and Corey’s character on and off the court is really high.”

But Washington admitted the injury has limited some of the things he’s able to do.

“It definitely takes away from some parts, but I just don’t try to let it affect me mentally,” Washington said after the Charlotte win. “I just try to go out there and play my game. Whatever happens happens for a reason.”

While his energy and effort have never dipped, Washington’s efficiency since the injury has. He was producing a solid 55.6% true shooting percentage, but since the injury that mark has plummeted to 45.4%.

The drop-off is in large part due to a major decrease in Washington’s foul rate, which translates to his ability to get to the foul line. Washington was averaging 5.3 free throws attempted per game before the injury but has shot just 11 in the last four games. That number becomes even more minuscule when you consider Washington attempted 51 2-point shots in those four games.

Washington was among the leaders in the American Athletic Conference in free throw rate (free throw attempted divided by field goals attempted) at around 57% before the injury. But in the last four games, Washington’s free throw rate has fallen to 19%.

Another area where the shoulder injury has appeared to affect Washington is his 3-point shooting. Before the injury, Washington was close to a 40% 3-point shooter, but he is just 1-of-8 beyond the arc since.

Shots that normally would have been finished by Washington earlier in the season have suddenly started rimming out. That sure seemed to be the case in the ECU game when Washington went 9-for-23 on 2-point shots (to his credit, he grabbed eight offensive rebounds) and in the recent Memphis loss when Washington caught an alley-oop lob and missed a point-blank lay-in.

Washington’s tenacity alone has made him a valuable player for the Shockers as he plays through the injury, but there’s no doubt WSU is a better team when Washington is fully healthy.

The Shockers (11-8, 1-5 AAC) hope that will be the case in Sunday’s 2 p.m. road trip to Tulsa (8-11, 2-4 AAC) where they will try to win their first road game in conference play on a ESPN+ broadcast.

Wichita State at Tulsa basketball preview

Records: WSU 11-8, 1-5 AAC; Tulsa 8-11, 2-4 AAC

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Reynolds Center (8,355), Tulsa, Okla.

How to watch: ESPN+ (Josh Haley with Pooh Williamson)

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

Series history: WSU leads 78-64 (Tulsa leads 37-32 in Tulsa)

Betting line: No odds yet

KenPom says: WSU 74, Tulsa 70

Projected starting lineups

Wichita State Shockers (11-8)

Coach: Paul Mills, second season, 26-27

Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-11)

Coach: Eric Konkol, third season, 29-51

This story was originally published January 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM.

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.