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NORFOLK STATE (9-2) vs WICHITA STATE (6-2)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021 | 6:00 P.M. CT
WICHITA, KANSAS| CHARLES KOCH ARENA
TV: ESPN+ w/ Steve Strain & Bob Hull
RADIO: KEYN 103.7 FM https://www.radio.com/keyn/listen
SERIES: THIS WILL BE THE FIRST MEETING BETWEEN THE SPARTANS AND THE SHOCKERS.
- Wichita State plays the first of four-straight at Charles Koch Arena, Saturday evening against Norfolk State.
- The Shockers are looking to bounce back from last Saturday's 65-59 loss to Kansas State at INTRUST Bank Arena. Morris Udeze scored a season-high 19 points.
- This is WSU's first appearance at the Roundhouse since a Nov. 16 win over Tarleton State (a span of 25 days).
- The Shockers have won 12-straight at CKA, last losing Dec. 12, 2020 to Oklahoma State.
- Norfolk State, the defending MEAC regular season and tournament champion, is out to its best start in 25 years at the Division I level (9-2).
- This is the first-ever meeting between the schools, however they have crossed paths recently. The Spartans and Shockers played back-to-back games at the First Four last spring inside Purdue's Mackey Arena.
- WSU is 2-0 against 2021 NCAA tournament teams after road wins at Mizzou and Oklahoma State. The Shockers will face a fourth (North Texas) on Dec. 18.
- The NCAA released its first batch of NET rankings earlier this week. WSU is one of five AAC squads currently ranked in the top-65: Houston (3), Cincinnati (40), WSU (62), Memphis (64) & UCF (65). That's good news for the Shockers' postseason resume. Ten of WSU's 18 AAC games currently fall into the all-important Quadrant I or II range.
- KenPom rates the Shockers 31st nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. 19.1% of opponent possessions end in turnovers (36th nationally). Foes are shooting just 25.9% from three (16th) and less than 40% overall.
- WSU has yet to allow more than 70 points in regulation. The closest so far has been Arizona, which managed 69 points through 40 minutes. The Wildcats are averaging a nation-best 91.6 points for the year.
- Preseason AAC Player of the Year Tyson Etienne (15.6 ppg) has a pair of 20-point games under his belt.
- Udeze (10.3 ppg) has reached double-figures in three-straight. He was named to this week's AAC Honor Roll.
- Qua Grant looks to become the first Shocker newcomer since Aubrey Sherrod (1981-82) to record a steal in each of his first nine games in a WSU uniform.
- Grant and assistant coach Tyson Waterman both celebrate birthday's on Saturday.
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