WSU's Ben Smith blocks a shot by Indiana State guard Jake Odum.
The score: Wichita State 71, Indiana State 66
Key statistics: WSU outscored the Sycamores 24-10 at the foul line and committed nine turnovers.
Records: ISU 14-10, 5-8 MVC; WSU 20-4, 11-2
- Remaining MVC schedule for WSU: UNI, at Creighton, Missouri State, at Illinois State, Drake. Remaining MVC schedule for Creighton: at Evansville, WSU, at SIU, Evansville, at Indiana State. The Bluejays remain in a good spot, with WSU coming to Omaha on Saturday. Their road game at SIU is also easier than either of WSU’s road tests. Evansville and Indiana State are capable of upsets.
- “Moneyball” sometimes drains the mystery out of sports. WSU shot 24.1 percent in the first half. Even giving plenty of credit to the Sycamores, it was unlikely to continue. WSU made almost 60 percent of its shots in the second half. Why? It is a good offensive team and it’s hard to play top-level defense for 40 minutes. WSU veterans have been through this enough to know. It’s not about halftime speeches. It’s about sticking with a plan. That’s what WSU center Garrett Stutz was thinking after he missed 5 of 6 shots in the first half. “It’s a percentage thing,” he said. “It’s all going to balance out. If I play bad now, I’m going to have a good stretch later on.”
- Coach Gregg Marshall’s turnover number is 12. WSU committed nine, the eighth time in 13 MVC games it finished with 12 or fewer. Four times, it’s been in single digits.
- I’m wondering if Ben Smith works better with Stutz to space the floor with another shooter. Carl Hall scored 13 points in 15 minutes, and perhaps he does better in the post as a sub for Stutz. Hall told coaches he feels more comfortable coming off the bench. One rebound isn’t enough for Hall, but he helped greatly with his points, seven of which came in the first half when offense was a struggle. Playing Stutz and Hall at opposite times may give them more room to operate in the lane.
- WSU’s accuracy from the line late in games is an effective weapon. On Saturday, a miss by Ragland (front end of a one-and-one),one by Stutz and one by Smith gave Indiana State a little hope. Then the Stutz closed the door by making 5 of 6 in the final 28 seconds. WSU is shooting 77.7 percent from the foul line in MVC games. It went 6-6 in the final 2:01 at Missouri State. It went 6-8 in the final two minutes against Evansville. It went 4-4 in the final two minutes at Northern Iowa. Stutz, Toure Murry, Demetric Williams, Joe Ragland and David Kyles all make 79 percent or better, so the Shockers are unlikely to cough up leads late in a game.
- Stutz is a big part of that with his willingness to take a pass against a press and get fouled late in a game. Not everybody wants the ball in that situation, and especially not every 7-footer. Stutz knows he can get open and knows he can make free throws, so he makes himself a safety valve. “That’s something we’ve always tried to exploit,” he said. Stutz is making 82.5 percent of his free throws. At some point, I expect an opponent, if time allows, to not foul him and make him dribble or pass in an effort to cause a turnover.
- WSU made Indiana State guard Jake Odum shoot jumpers, which is normally a good plan. Odum, who makes 27 percent of his threes, made 4 of 6 and I think two came late in the shot clock and one just before the halftime buzzer. Odum scored 21 points and handed out four assists, yet I think WSU did an adequate job keeping him out of the lane. He did not get a lot of layups. Odum is slowed by plantar fasciitis this season. He doesn’t always practice. He remains one of the Valley’s most entertaining players to watch and as long as he is on the court the Sycamores are fun to watch. Odum didn’t get credit for a steal, so his injury may affect him on the defensive end. When he is at his best, he is real pest with his quickness, anticipation and long arms.
- Indiana State’s other guards – Jordan Printy and Dwayne Lathan – combined to score nine points and make 4 of 21 shots. Printy had a hard time getting open threes, which is his main role. Lathan, who scored all nine of those points, saw a combination of defenders and he rarely had room to operate.
- The Shockers attempted a season-low eight threes and made a season-low one, by Smith late in the game. WSU showed good patience in continuing to work the ball inside, both by drives by guards and to Hall and Stutz.
- David Kyles didn’t attempt a three in 24 minutes. He didn’t force any shots. He didn’t appear to turn down any wide-open looks.
- Stutz joined the 1,000-point club, as No. 41 became No. 41. He has 1,016 points, ranking him No. 38. He needs seven to pass Ron Heller. Murry scored 14 to move his total to 1,436, which ranks No. 13. He passed out five assists, bringing his total to 394 and tying Dave Stallworth for fourth.
Next up: vs. Northern Iowa, 7 p.m. Wednesday (FSKC)