‘Play my game’: Wichita State basketball thrives when Corey Washington is scoring
With the Wichita State men’s basketball team down two starters for a road game at Charlotte earlier this week, Corey Washington knew he would have to shoulder a larger offensive load.
The 6-foot-5 junior forward didn’t disappoint, as he delivered a team-high 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Shockers collect a 66-58 win over the 49ers to snap a 4-game losing streak.
While beating the last place team in the American Athletic Conference won’t earn much acclaim, erasing a 10-point deficit on the road with a shorthanded roster is at least a tiny step in the right direction for the Shockers (12-10, 2-7 AAC) to turn their season around. Now comes a chance to build a winning streak on the road when WSU travels to Tampa to take on South Florida (12-11, 5-5 AAC) at 1 p.m. Central Time Sunday in a game streaming on ESPN+.
“I knew I was going to have to pick it up, but I don’t think there was a change in my mindset,” Washington said. “I just went out there and played my game. It’s stuff I’ve been doing.”
It’s true: the same boundless energy and relentless effort that has made the Saint Peter’s transfer a fan favorite in his first season playing for the Shockers was on full display in the win over Charlotte.
When a slow start dug WSU a 10-point hole in the first half, Washington flipped the momentum with his transition offense. In a 2-minute span, Washington scored three straight buckets leading the charge on the fast break with his aggression and fearlessness attacking the rim.
Minutes later, Washington battled for position underneath the basket for a 50-50 rebound, soared above his competitor to snatch the miss and then immediately went back up to stake WSU to a 33-30 lead — a 13-point turnaround from earlier in the half.
“He does an excellent job rebounding and he plays with great toughness. He’s really been an excellent find for them,” Charlotte coach Aaron Fearne said of Washington. “He shoots the ball well enough where you have to deal with that, then he’s got the ability to get downhill and get on the rim. He’s tough to guard. You can cut him off, he can counter and then he can counter again and he just has this awesome ability to finish through contact.”
Another strength in Washington’s game has been his cutting, which has helped make Wichita State the ninth-best team in the country in scoring efficiency on cuts, per Synergy. Washington (22) ranks only behind center Quincy Ballard (29) on the team in baskets scored on cuts.
A prime example of Washington’s knack for cutting came near the end of the first half when WSU center Matej Bosnjak began to work in the low post. Washington was at the top of the key when Bosnjak started to dribble on the right block and as soon as Washington’s defender left to try dig at the ball, Washington timed his cut perfectly and Bosnjak shoveled him the ball for an easy layup.
Another example came in the second half when Washington was camped out in the left corner and point guard Zion Pipkin started to penetrate the defense. When Washington’s defender left to help choke off the lane, Washington cut toward the basket, received a pass at full speed, immediately put it on the ground and went up for a basket in the paint.
It’s tiny details like those, in the opinion of WSU head coach Paul Mills, that make Washington a special player.
“It has a lot to do with his timing, but it also has to do with his ability to catch it on the run,” Mills said. “As easy as that sounds, the number of players who can catch on the run in traffic are few. There’s not a lot of those guys. And then you’ve got to credit the passers as well. We spend quite a bit of time on that action, so I’m glad it delivered (at Charlotte).”
Washington also showcased his isolation scoring ability, which came in handy with WSU missing more than 22 points with the absence of Justin Hill and Harlond Beverly.
With WSU clinging to a 54-50 lead under the 6-minute mark, WSU funneled the ball to Washington and cleared out the entire right side of the floor for him to go to work 1-on-1 against his defender.
Charlotte’s Kylan Blackmon initially cut off Washington’s attempt to drive right, but when Washington backed off and then attacked again, he gained a step advantage. Then he used that leverage to spin back to his left and finish the layup while being fouled for a key 3-point play.
After struggling with his efficiency following a shoulder injury at the start of conference play, Washington delivered the type of all-around offensive performance that WSU will need more of going forward to right the ship.
“I just have confidence from the work that I put in,” Washington said. “I know if I just go in and play my game, then the work will show.”
Wichita State at South Florida basketball preview
Records: WSU 12-10, 2-7 AAC; USF 12-11, 5-5 AAC
When: 1 p.m. Central Time Sunday
Where: Yuengling Center (10,411), Tampa, Fla.
How to watch: ESPN+
Radio: KEYN, 103.7-FM (Mike Kennedy with Bob Hull)
Series history: WSU leads 9-2 (3-2 in Tampa)
Betting line: No odds yet
KenPom says: USF 75, WSU 74
This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 6:04 AM.
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