Speaker 1 00:00:11 Hello, welcome to the roundhouse podcast. This is Paul Saul and tropical Wichita state university strategic communications. Today's guest is Steve strains. Steve is the radio voice of Wichita state women's basketball on K F H. We're going to talk about the shockers who are seven and two. They play Saturday at Koch arena against Grambling state. They then finish, non-conference play with an interesting stretch that we will certainly discuss. They play at north, Texas, their home against Kansas, and then they traveled to Oklahoma. So Steve, the shockers are off to a good start to this season. Uh, and I am going to say that the road winds, Wyoming and Denver told us something important about this team. What's your view of maybe the hierarchy of good signs were where do those two games rank?
Speaker 2 00:01:00 Yeah, they're pretty high because the teams that they played at home, they should be, and to their credit, they've beaten them handling, but I was really anxious, especially after seeing the exhibition game here and the season opener against Chicago state to see what would happen when they went on the road, especially at Wyoming, because they played in the NCAA tournament last year, was a little sluggish for the team. They were down 13 to six. I believe it was when Keith Adams called the timeout late in the first quarter. And they just dominated after that. And there were 2,500 people there. Uh, why don't we draw as well? And that crowd was never really in the game after that.
Speaker 2 00:01:42 And so I thought there's so many players that are new and these kids are still trying to develop some chemistry with one another on the floor, in that environment to, to quiet the crowd and, uh, game in the second half all the way through said a lot about what this team is capable of. And the Denver game was not easy either. Um, Denver came out firing some three pointers early as well and grabbed a quick lead and coach Adams, uh, went to the bench, made some adjustments and, uh, they took the crowd at Denver out of that game as well. And, and I think anytime you go on the road and you don't come back home for four or five days and you play two games that doesn't happen a lot in college basketball and they won both of those games. And so I thought that that, that really was a positive indication of what this team's capable of, not dimension Paul with so many international players here. They've been here for months granted, but they've not done anything like that. They've not gotten on an airplane in a bus and stayed out of town for three or four or five days. Kids really had a good chance to bond off the floor as well. And I think coach Adams talked about that too. So really up on the floor and off the floor, I think that road trip, uh, really, uh, this team gained a lot.
Speaker 1 00:02:56 I know Wyoming is very proud of its elevation. It's kind of branded all over the arena from what I can tell. Did, did that have any effect on that game?
Speaker 2 00:03:03 It's funny. We were just talking with carnal Ramal about that on the coaches show, uh, Monday night. And she actually said that, you know, at first we did start noticing why am I getting so tired so quickly? And then they kind of reminded each other well, yeah, it's the, uh, it's the altitude, but, uh, and I don't know if this is the reason, but they really did kind of slow that game down to a half court game. I think where that can really catch up to you as if it's attract me and that game wasn't I was very much a half-court game, so it probably didn't affect them as adversely, as probably try to run up and down more. But that was really a solid, solid one.
Speaker 1 00:03:40 One of the coaches told me, they told the players, it was the zip code, not the elevation. I don't know if that's actually true or not, but if they did, that's a pretty, that's a good way to good way to deal with it. So one of the, uh, parts of this season, one of the narratives of this season was last season and the shockers really had to persevere through some difficult times. I think they had chances to just shut it down because of the numbers and COVID and all those things going down. And there were schools that did do that, but Keitha Adams was really proud of the way her team battled through. I think by the end of the year, I think she kept saying we've we found our team over the last few last few weeks. So the, the perseverance of, of getting it through a difficult 20, 20, 20, 21, how are you seeing that carry over and help this group?
Speaker 2 00:04:27 Yeah, she gets a lot of credit for that, because what that did is that really, I think, uh, uh, instilled in them, you know, for one a don't quit attitude, um, keep fighting through perseverance. And they did that last year in spite of some adverse situations. And, uh, and just her overall positive attitude, I think has been kind of contagious for, for this team, because she is very much a glass half full person, you know, in situations like that she was gonna keep fighting and you're right. They did, you know, probably have legitimate reasons to shut her down, like SMU, like duke and some other programs did not knocking those schools. That's what they felt like was right for them. But to her credit, she said, Nope, we're going gonna, we're going to fight through this. And I think that, that, that has rubbed off on this team that they can overcome adversity and really give them a sense of purpose to appreciate, uh, that, that they have a chance to, to play here Wichita state when last year, I think there were times where that was in jail.
Speaker 1 00:05:25 Yeah. They were shorthanded, I think go back and look. But I think that maybe the most illustrative example was, I don't think they practiced with 10 people until early second semester, maybe late first semester, something, something like that. There were a lot of difficult.
Speaker 2 00:05:41 I know this Paul and I'm pretty certain that the only time that dressed 10 was at the conference tournament. Yeah. And every game prior to that, uh, they, they dressed less than that. And, and actually, you know, to kind of finish off your point there, I think even last year, then they started to see the benefit of sticking it out because they played well in the conference tournament. They won the first conference tournament game for coach Adams. And then, uh, they really competed in the second one. Um, and so I think that also helped create some carry over into the season, whereas again, they closed down shop and that, that moment, um, opportunity would have never existed.
Speaker 1 00:06:21 Offense was the big emphasis for this team over the spring and the summer and into the fall. And the shockers are scoring more. They're playing at a faster tempo. They ranked second in the American athletic conference in scoring and in shooting percentage. What changes have you seen to the offense and how how's that pain?
Speaker 2 00:06:38 Well, I think a few things have helped. Uh, first of all, the addition of Jane is Cindy has kind of, uh, you know, giving up some pressure on the perimeter to open up more opportunities for people like Mariah McCauley who's scoring very well. Uh, Carla Bree mom was still like to see her knocked down a three point shots at a higher clip. Um, but still, I think she's getting more open looks now this season. Um, and so I think that Jane's presence has helped to regatta Colbert has really, really come a long way in, in the post. Also as a scoring threat, Asia's strong set a couple of bad games, but for the most part, she's, she's going to be a 10, 12 point performer, not in a night out. So I just think that, uh, the presence of those three players, I just mentioned insight has also helped the outside game and give them a more well-rounded offense rather than just try to, to settle for the outside shot like they were doing maybe a couple of years ago.
Speaker 1 00:07:30 Yeah. I really liked that three person rotation. They're active. They rebound pretty experienced, especially with Trajenta Asia's in her second year here. So I think they've got some potential there to really do some damage scoring in and around the basket.
Speaker 2 00:07:44 Yeah. Keith had said that before, uh, two years ago, she said, I really want to go out and get a stretch four. I still remember her telling me that we were texting back and forth about what she was looking for recruiting. And that's when they went out around the time they were looking at and talking to Asia strong and she got a stretch for Asia's may be stretched for is not three point stretch, but she's enough of a stretch. She's got some good touch from 10, 12 mid range. Uh, and so she will go in there at the same time sometimes with, uh, with Jane or with Trejon and, and Asia can be the four and those two can be the five. And, and just, you know, when they're in there together, two of those three, it really does make a nice one, two punch the four and the five. And again, can soften defenses up from having to just focus on outside shooting. So yeah, I think that, that goes a long way towards helping this team is, is the post-presidency is taking some of the pressure off perimeter,
Speaker 1 00:08:34 A positive development helping the offense that may have gone on notice is they are they're winning at the foul line, which is, which is different from last season, they're shooting 74.9%, which is really good. That's up from 67% last season, but to get into the line more often there than their opponents, how do you explain that? What's that a product of
Speaker 2 00:08:54 A lot of practice, you know, when they were struggling the last couple of years in that department, they shot a lot of free throws. And I don't think that, uh, it started showing up in the stat sheet during games as quickly as coach Adams would have liked, because I know they were practicing free throws the last couple years a lot when those numbers weren't where they are now. But I think finally, just, just all that work in the gym in previous years of starting to pay dividends, look at Trajenta Colbert. Paul, she's been around a 50% free throw shooter the last couple years, and this season she's at 78%, 15 at night. And so give her for one, a lot of credit for, uh, for getting to the line. And, and also, um, I think that because of the post presence that we talked about, um, Asia's got good touch at the free throw line, although she's not shot a whole lot of free throws a season she's eight for eight. Uh, but, but a Sunday is going to get there. Colbert's going to get there. And so I think that, uh, you know, this team, knowing that they're going to get to the line more with those posts there, they're going to have to shoot it at a, at, at a good clip. And, uh, and they are, and, you know, just in general, Paul, she's wanting to go out and recruit better shooters, um, to get the offense up. And, uh, obviously if
Speaker 1 00:10:08 You're going to go out and find better shooters than one of the areas that's gonna pay off is, uh, is that the free-throw line, DJ McCarty is a kid that's at 77% just to just a good all around player and a phone when she is to watch. But yeah, she's, she's 14 of 18 and, uh, and surfing Bastin, you know, one of the things I think about her being such a great rebounder, five eight is she's going to get to the free-throw line as well, too. And she's at 81%. Um, I mean, how many point guards do you know that I've already shot 42 free throws this season, but she has just because he's so physical, uh, partly. And, uh, and so give her credit because she is a, a real workhorse when it comes to, I remember the Northern Iowa game last year, she missed two, one of two free throws.
Speaker 1 00:10:54 Paul that would have won the game for the team. Instead, it went to an overtime and they ended up losing a double overtime hard-fought game. After that game, she was out on the floor shooting, free throws and coaches stead. They had to drag her off the court and tell her it's time to go home. It's been here all day. You just played a double overtime game and she was doing it again here, a home game or two ago, uh, came out after the game and shot. And so just that, that hard work starting to pay off, especially the free throw line. Yeah. And that's a place you can really make up some ground if you are getting to the foul line. And if you are scoring there, that can be really helpful. Defensively shockers are holding opponents to 35.2% shooting. They're forcing 17.2 turnovers a game. And the pressure defense seems really effective for this team. When you talk to the shockers after the game, they enjoy that. Uh, and they seem to, you know, create turnovers. It gets them out on fast breaks and that's helpful. Uh, why is the pressure defense been successful
Speaker 2 00:11:51 For this team? I think a lot of it's death, I think that, uh, she's had some players that are really good at defending and she's wanting to press more. In previous years, you take lack of Mariah McCauley, who seems like she's always getting passing lines, deflecting passes, um, one of the top players and steels on this team. Um, but last year, because of simple depth, you don't want to press too much or you'll wear your kids out and you don't have any reserves on the bench. They don't have that problem this year, so they can spend more time and use more energy out there on the floor, doing things like pressure defense. Because if a kid gets a little gas where you've got somebody on the bench, you can bring them in for couldn't do that last year, didn't have that luxury. So I think the fact that they've just got more depth on the bench allows coach Adams, the opportunity to really ask for more pressure difference from the kids that are out there on the floor.
Speaker 2 00:12:40 Just another one of the, uh, the advantages of having the depth that they, that they have, that you don't necessarily think of. We think of death in terms of, oh, you got kids to come off the bench cause of foul trouble. You got more flexibility with, with match-ups. If you've got to match a problem, you've got more options off the bench. Well, there's another by-product of having depth. That is that you can also press more. And if you've got a kid that gets a little winded, while you got somebody to bring, bring it off the bench that couldn't take them,
Speaker 1 00:13:06 You mentioned Sarah Fain, and she's probably worthy of some of some discussion has had a really nice career here at Wichita state, always plays hard, very solid, seems like a real good leader on this team. She's point guard, but she's averaging 7.7 rebounds, which I think is indicative of just the hustle and the, and the physical play that you mentioned, uh, leaves the team with 35 assists. He's second with 11 steals. She seems to be the foundation of this team. How do you describe her?
Speaker 2 00:13:34 The importance she's the glue player? Um, she's the one that, uh, when you ask a coach, who's your glue player, the one that holds this thing all together, you know, when it's working and it's hurt, um, not just because she's the point guard, but because she still re well-respected anyway for, for her hard work ethic, kind of like what I mentioned earlier, um, for the kind of person leader she is. Um, and she just does so many things for this team though on the floor, um, including her rebounding, you know, it's funny when we were at Denver, um, it was a very bizarrely officiated game. She came flying through the lane, uh, grabbed a ball and then somebody literally reached in to Sarah phene Portland called a felon surfing and, and coach Adams went to the officials and they said, you've probably never seen a kid like this before.
Speaker 2 00:14:21 I understand, but she's the top rebounding point guard in the country at that time, she was averaging 10 rebounds per game. Um, so I think even officials sometimes have to adjust to seeing a kid doing some of the things that she does flying through the right lane, uh, grabbing offensive, rebounds. But, but yeah, I mean, other than outside shooting, she really does it all a very good defender, a good ball distributor. Her decision-making, uh, also is, is, uh, is very good. And she's got more weapons now. She's got more options to throw it to, you know, a lot of it was, it was, she was trying to set up Carlos for the three. Don't have to do that anymore. You know, she can look inside, she can look outside, she can penetrate and finish what she does very well or she can penetrate and kick after the defense kind of sucks and tour. So just, just really good court recognition, good vision, good basketball IQ, just, just everything you want. And point guard.
Speaker 1 00:15:12 She had a play against oral Roberts, which I think you would agree with indicative of what she does. She kind of harassed, uh, or did kind of harass. She harassed him and or Roberts ball handler all the way up past half court, I think caused a loose ball. I believe it was Mariah McCauley picked it up and lay up one of those plays that, uh, that, that really stood out. I didn't, we didn't ask Keith about that after the game. I don't know if you did or not.
Speaker 2 00:15:36 I, I didn't mention that particular play, but, but yeah, and Mariah's gonna probably the one that gets the credit for the steel and everything, and it shows up in the stat sheet, but, but, and that's, that's another thing that surfing does is he just makes everybody else better around her and does some of those little things that may not show up in the stat sheet, but, uh, but you can go back on film and say, surfing Bastian's presence caused that to happen.
Speaker 1 00:16:02 Jane is Sunday a transfer from Grayson college in Texas. She has four double doubles on the year. How's her addition helped this team.
Speaker 2 00:16:10 It's been huge, uh, in a lot of different ways. Again, they needed more post presence and they, uh, and they got it. And, uh, it's taken some pressure off of Asia strong. Um, usually two of the three fours and fives will be in at the same time between she and strong and Colbert and, uh, and defenses cannot, uh, just now focus on Asia, strong on the pain. They can just focus on Trajenta Colbert, cause usually Jane is going to be in the game with one of those two players and it really creates a, a matchup problem for defenses down in, uh, down in the paint. Um, you know, I liked her versatility. I remember in the exhibition game, she got a steel up near the top of the key and ran the open floor, took it to the other end of the floor sheet, got fouled.
Speaker 2 00:16:52 And then in the first game of the season in a similar spot, she got a steel in the open floor and she took it all the way and looked really good in the open floor for a kid that's six two. So she's got some versatility. So mobility would like to see or shoot the free throw a little bit better, but that's starting to come along and she's in a better spot now than she was a few games ago. But, uh, but yeah, I mean, just, just the things that, that, that she does are, uh, really, really huge for this team. One of the things that concerned me early, Paul, is it on the road when we took on Wyoming and Denver, they had a little bit better post play than we had seen prior to that. And she struggled a little bit, uh, especially in the Wyoming game and early in the Denver game.
Speaker 2 00:17:36 Um, but as the Denver game went on, she started to make her presence more known. She looked more confident. And then at South Dakota who had very good post play, she was terrific. So I think that just in these nine games here, maybe she's already matured to what it's like to go on the road and play at this level, which really bodes well moving forward, but a good post presence, a good touch around the room, a good rim protector, uh, just does, does a lot of nice things for this team. That's going to make them dangerous in the post
Speaker 1 00:18:06 She's averaging 10.8 points and the team leading 9.3 rebounds only playing 21.6 minutes. So you're getting a lot of production in a short amount of time shooting 52% from the field. So she's definitely been a boost on.
Speaker 2 00:18:22 Yeah. And I think her minutes will increase, you know, she was coming off the bench for a while and then a few games ago, uh, she started for Trajenta Colbert and I think that's where she got her first double double. And she's been a staple in the starting lineup ever since. And I think that will probably stay that way based on, uh, on what she's done. It's really a neat story. Um, she was at Grayson college, as you pointed out, coached by bill Demuth, who was an assistant here for keeps up. And he was with her for a while at UTEP. And so he actually is the one that encouraged Jane maybe to come here told coach Adams. She oughta look at Jane and I don't know exactly the order, but nonetheless, he was instrumental in helping that, uh, helping them.
Speaker 1 00:19:04 Yeah. I talked to him yesterday, I'm working on a, on a story about Jane and he gave me a call back. So I got a little, a little bit of background on her. She has definitely been a, a nice addition. Uh, let's talk about the American athletic conference. Uh, had some interesting results in, uh, in November and December. Uh, USF probably leads that discussion. They're nationally ranked number 17. Uh, there are five and three. They've got wins over Oregon and Stanford, a couple of close losses to Tennessee or a close lost to Tennessee and then inexplicably, they lost to Texas Arlington. I'm not even sure what they're doing playing at Texas Arlington, but they did, uh, Tulane has a win over Alabama. A UCF is six and one they've got wins over Virginia, Southern Cal and Arkansas. Uh, how do you see the AAC unfolding at this point? Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:19:53 It's impressive. I was just taking a look the other day through some of the non-conference wins for this team. And there are a lot of power, five wins in this league. And so, you know, I think south Florida is still the cream of the crop, but, uh, but there is some teams that, uh, that are on the rise in this league. I think they should talk state one. I think Tulane is another, uh, case in 0.3 over Alabama central Florida got a really good spring over Arkansas. Um, and there are some others that you, uh, that you touched on. So I think that, uh, as we look at the conference while south Florida is the cream of the crop, they'd also just prove that on any given night they're vulnerable, uh, UTA is a good team. Uh, they're uh, uh, reach the, the poles and the mid-majors.
Speaker 2 00:20:37 Uh, so UTA is, is on the rise and Hey, come conference tournament time. If somebody is able to, to catch south Lord on a similar night, that tournament is wide open, then it's anybody's to, to win. And then all of a sudden, somebody who you're not expecting might end up in the NCAA tournament, but, but I, I think that, uh, central Florida is always really studying that they do a really good job of recruiting, good athletes play very good defense. Uh, they're probably going to be in the conversation for at least a conference runner up. Uh, and then after that, I think that Talena in Wichita state or two teams that, that are really on the rise. And, uh, I thought from the beginning that this team being eighth was, was not doing this team enough justice. Uh, people did not know for example, about Jayna Sunday.
Speaker 2 00:21:24 We did, and we do, and they're learning about them now. And I think if you pull people again, the same poll, uh, in terms of the conference, Wichita state would probably be sixth or fifth at the lowest. Um, and I think that Jane Sunday has a lot to do with it, but, but time will tell, but I'm anxious for it to get here. Uh, because again, you know, if south Florida stubs their toe in that tournament and, uh, then you know, anybody could, uh, could step up and win that conference tournaments. So it's gonna be a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 00:21:53 Tulsa is six and O maybe haven't played the strongest schedule, but they are unbeaten. You mentioned UCF and their defense, and it's been outstanding. They lead the conference in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense. Uh, no one has scored more than 51 points against the, against the Knights. So they are doing some things right on defense. Let's wrap it up by looking at this next stretch for the shockers. They played Grambling state on Saturday, and then things get even more interesting, uh, at north Texas at home against the university of Kansas and then at Oklahoma, uh, what do you hope that we learn over the shockers as they get ready for the Americans?
Speaker 2 00:22:29 I should take care of business, obviously Saturday against a Grambling state. And then, then those last three games, Paul all provide a high level of intrigue and north Texas will not be easy going on the road, uh, down there and playing. And of course now there's even more interest in that game, perhaps since there'll be joining our conference here after a while. So you'll kind of get a preview of what that program is like, but, but that's going to be a challenge for this team. They're, uh, they're not a bad conference USA team. And then for obvious reasons, the next two games, uh, Kansas here on the floor, you're playing a big 12 team. That's going to be a nice resume, win for you. But then from a publicity standpoint, they're going to be a lot of eyeballs in that game. I hope there are a lot of people here watching that game.
Speaker 2 00:23:15 You know, when it comes to recruiting battles within the state of Kansas, you know, you want to be able to have bragging rights and show kids around this part of the country that, Hey, we just went head to head with Kansas and we knocked them off. And so from a recruiting standpoint is big, uh, that one's got huge implications. And then obviously, so does Oklahoma, Oklahoma is at one loss team right now that plays it tremendously tough schedule non-conference and conference. Um, they're hovering right around receiving votes, I think in the, in the top 25. So, so that will be a big one to wrap up non-conference as well. So, uh, yeah, I think that those last three, nine conference games really all very intriguing for different reasons. That'll be fun,
Speaker 1 00:23:59 Which tells states last match up with Oklahoma was maybe one of the highlights of Keith Adams stay here in 88, 83 when, for the shockers in, uh, in 2019. Uh, and so you had, so you know, the dates that is December 21st, when the Jayhawks come to Koch arena, uh, the shockers traveled to north Texas on December 17th, and then they go to Oklahoma on December 29th and that'll wrap up, non-conference play. And then they get started at home in the American athletic conference against Houston on January 5th.
Speaker 2 00:24:32 It's going to be fun. Um, I'm anxious to see, uh, you know, see this team in conference play. Um, again, I think that, that the things are wide open outside of maybe south Florida. I think that, uh, and I think this team's going to surprise some people. I think that people who, who voted Wichita state eighth of the conference will quickly find out that maybe they should, uh, maybe hope for a second chance on that. Cause this team I think is better than that.
Speaker 3 00:25:12 Thank you for listening to the roundhouse podcast, courtesy of Wichita state university, strategic communications. We appreciate your time. We encourage you to rate review, subscribe, wherever you get your podcasts, such as on iTunes or Google play. You can find more roundhouse
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Speaker 4 00:25:33 And they let him pass it up court. And then it gets picked off a long three by PENGOS no good. One second. It's over. It is over. And what your task today has beaten the number one team in the nation to go to the sweet 16 go crazy Wichita.
