Wichita State basketball finds potent 1-2 punch at center in winning start
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wichita State replaced single center role with rotation of Berg, Okorafor, Hill.
- Center trio boosted scoring, rebounding and blocks, driving 4-1 season start.
- Rotation will face test vs Saint Mary’s at Battle 4 Atlantis; Mills targets endurance.
A season ago, Wichita State relied heavily on one man to anchor the middle.
When Quincy Ballard sat, the drop-off was steep and often costly. This year, the Shockers haven’t replaced Ballard, who departed for Mississippi State, with another single star, but they have replaced him with depth.
And that depth is proving to be one of the most important reasons WSU is off to a 4-1 start following Saturday’s 75-58 win over Milwaukee at Koch Arena.
The Shockers aren’t leaning on one center. They’re rotating two, sometimes three: 7-foot-2 junior Will Berg, 6-foot-10 senior Emmanuel Okorafor and 6-foot-8 freshman Noah Hill. And through five games, they’ve turned the center position into one of the most productive spots on the roster.
Last season, the duo of Ballard and Matej Bosnjak combined for 13.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. This season’s trio — Berg, Okorafor and Hill — has boosted that to 17.8 points, 14.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks, even with the caveat of a lighter early schedule. The small sample size hasn’t stopped WSU from controlling the paint every night and winning the rebounding battle in all five games.
And one of the most important developments early this season? The emerging one-two punch of Berg and Okorafor.
A perfect contract helps Wichita State’s center spot
Berg and Okorafor are not similar players. In fact, that might be exactly why the pairing is working so well.
Berg has quietly become one of WSU’s most dependable pieces. He is averaging 9.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
With Berg on the floor, WSU’s offense hums at 1.37 points per possession, while opponents manage just 0.94 PPP — the second-best differential on the team. His game is grounded in fundamentals, patience and discipline. He’s a wall on defense, a target in the post and a relentless screener.
“We don’t only help each other improve on the court, but we look out for each other outside of the court,” Berg said. “We have great relationships on the team and there’s no cliques. Every single day in practice, all three of us come together and ask questions and help each other improve, not only in the physical sense, but also with basketball IQ.”
If Berg is the anchor, Okorafor is the spark. He’s averaging 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks off the bench.
Okorafor changes the feel of the game the moment he checks in. He’s springier, louder and eager to make plays — sometimes to a fault, but usually to the benefit of a team that feeds off his energy.
“It’s really big for us when Will gets into foul trouble or just gets tired,” WSU freshman T.J. Williams said. “We have a force (Okorafor) coming in. He gets deflections, gets his hands on balls, gets second-chance points. He kept the game going smoother for us.”
Okorafor’s leaping ability looks like he launches off a pogo stick, while his 7-foot-3 wingspan and impeccable timing make him a dangerous weak-side shot blocker.
“With little guys, it’s easy because you just look at their feet,” Okorafor said. “If I see someone going up for a layup off one foot, I know I’m going to block their shot. If they’re going for a two-foot layup, then I know I’ve just got to jump high and contest. So I just read their feet and their body language.”
And when he detonates at the rim — or swats a shot into the stands — those plays can be invaluable to the team.
“It just builds the whole gym up,” Williams said. “When he does that, we just sense blood in the water. And we got a whole lot of sharks.”
How the Milwaukee win highlighted value of a duo
Saturday’s victory over Milwaukee served as proof of concept.
Berg, normally steady, struggled to establish himself inside and finished 0 for 5 from the field .The Shockers never felt panic.
Okorafor came in and delivered 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals, earning Mills’ post-game praise and the team’s “Migraine Chain” for causing the most headaches for the opposition.
“I thought he was phenomenal,” Mills said. “There are going to be nights where we need someone else to step up because one of them isn’t playing well and I thought (Okorafor) did that.”
Even on his quieter offensive nights, Berg’s presence still alters shots, discourages drives and tilts defenses. And when both veterans get in foul trouble, freshman Noah Hill has proven he can buy the team valuable minutes without giving up too much ground.
“There’s no weak link on this team at all,” star guard Kenyon Giles said. “If our shots aren’t falling, then we can go to Will or Eman down low and they’re going to bring the same physicality every game. Strength in numbers.”
Why WSU’s center production looms large
WSU’s newfound depth at center will be tested this week in the Bahamas.
Next up: undefeated Saint Mary’s, a 6-0 juggernaut that features its own 7-foot-2 force, Andrew McKeever, who is averaging 8.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
The Gaels will be the toughest team WSU has faced this season. But the Shockers will go into Wednesday’s Battle 4 Atlantis opener with confidence in their center rotation — because the team is no longer reliant on just one player.
They can play big with Berg. They can play fast with Okorafor. And they can rebound with anyone, most recently boarding out at a season-best 74% defensive rebounding rate against Milwaukee, just shy of Mills’ 75% target.
For Okorafor, the goal now is building stamina, so the Shockers can maximize every jolt of energy he provides.
“We’ve got to get his endurance up to where he can really impact a game every single second he’s out there,” Mills said.
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