Wichita State newcomers learn to play without scoring as their security blanket

Wichita State coaches give freshman Corey Henderson Jr. three responsibilities for every game.

“Guard your position, rebound and not turn the ball over,” Henderson said.

Notice the fun parts are missing or minimized. No mention of shooting the basketball. Most high school stars spend their time on the court dribbling or shooting. The rest is often spent waiting to get the ball back, so they can resume dribbling and shooting.

This is the transition most of WSU’s newcomers are attempting — scoring is no longer their No. 1 job. That mental transition is particularly challenging for Henderson, who is learning WSU’s most complex position, point guard, while trying to learn how to help others score instead of scoring himself.

“That’s what I try to do when I come in, those three things,” he said. “I learn from watching Fred (VanVleet) and Ron (Baker). Watching how they compete on both ends of the floor. They set a great example.”

No. 9 WSU (3-0) plays Tulsa at 2 p.m. Saturday at Koch Arena and its eight scholarship newcomers are preparing with scrimmages in practice and double-digit minutes in Sunday’s rout of NCAA Division II Newman. Adding bodies to his rotation is one of coach Gregg Marshall’s top priorities. On Sunday, he played five newcomers for about a three-minute stretch in the second half and four for another two minutes before clearing his bench in the final six minutes.

Those minutes running the team are valuable to Henderson. While his shooting ability ranks with the best on the team, he can’t show it off until other parts of his game catch up.

“He’s got a long way to go,” Marshall said. “He’s got to get other people involved. He’s got to learn what he’s doing out there and what we need from that position, but (Sunday) will certainly help.”

Against an overmatched opponent, the goal is for players to improve and ignore a 30-point lead on the scoreboard. It is the job of the WSU veterans to put the newcomers in a position to succeed and that often means fighting that desire to shine by making splashy plays.

“Coming in, a lot of them think Shocker fans are going to know that they’re good players if they score,” Baker said. “But our fans know basketball and we’re trying to get them to do the little things. Our fans are going to notice that, and to them it’s a big thing — diving on a loose ball, checking out, getting a big rebound.”

Henderson, from The Episcopal School of Dallas, is encouraged by his progress. He is starting to add shooting-guard responsibilities, which he thinks will make his game more complete and help WSU’s offense by adding another player who get to the right place for shots on fast breaks. For all the newcomers, each minute on the floor in a game is a chance to earn trust from his teammates and coaches.

“We’re trying to prove to Coach Marshall we deserve to be out there,” he said.

Junior transfer Tevin Glass and freshman Zach Brown both made their biggest contributions of the young season against Newman. Neither played in WSU’s opening win over New Mexico State, keeping their option to redshirt open. But both played in final minutes of the win over Memphis and the redshirt discussion never amounted to much. Glass, a 6-foot-8 forward, played 10 minutes and grabbed four rebounds. Brown, a 6-6 forward, played 16 minutes and scored nine points with six rebounds.

“I just stayed focused and waited for my name to be called,” Glass said. “I just kept trying to earn playing time.”

Glass, listed at 210 pounds, is lifting twice a day and drinking protein shakes. Adding weight and strength is his priority and he would like to put on 10-20 pounds.

“I eat out a lot and I eat at night all the time,” he said.

Brown pondered redshirting after the New Mexico State game. Coaches told him to keep working and Sunday he earned playing time. He spent last year at Sunrise Christian Academy, where he could play well regardless of his endurance and defenders didn’t test his ballhandling and movement.

“It’s hard not being out there… but it’s being a part of the system and knowing my role around here,” he said. “I’m making sure I’m going with Coach Marshall and trusting him and my teammates for us to get better.”

Cotton on the mend — Tekele Cotton will play Saturday against Tulsa, on that point he is firm.

Cotton, Wichita State’s senior guard, sat out Sunday’s game against Newman to protect a badly jammed middle finger on his right hand. He isn’t practicing this week to protect the finger.

“It’s getting better,” he said. “There’s no question that I’m going to play. The swelling is going down. I’m going to be out there Saturday.”

Cotton jammed the finger against the body of a teammate the day before WSU played Memphis. He played against the Tigers, with the finger taped, and scored 10 points in 28 minutes. He spends his practice time running while his teammates scrimmage and drill on the court next to him.

“I’m sprinting the whole time,” he said. “I’m trying to keep myself in shape and I feel like I’m still in real good shape.”

Frankamp back on campus — Former Kansas guard Conner Frankamp paid a short visit to Koch Arena on Tuesday afternoon, just as the Shockers wrapped up practice.

Assistant coach Greg Heiar met Frankamp and his father in the concourse and took them to Koch Arena's academic center.

Frankamp visited Creighton recently, according to the Omaha World-Herald, and is also considering Colorado.

Frankamp, from North High, played his freshman season at Kansas before deciding to transfer in late October. He watched WSU's exhibition game against Northwood (Fla.) on Nov. 8, with his parents, and visited with coaches after the game.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Wichita State newcomers learn to play without scoring as their security blanket."