Saturday, Nov. 25 | 6:00 p.m. CDT
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: ESPN+ (Shane Dennis & Bob Hull)
Radio: KEYN 103.7 FM with Mike Kennedy & Dave Dahl https://www.audacy.com/stations/keyn
• Wichita State returns to action following Thanksgiving with a home matchup against Norfolk State on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
• A win would move the Shockers to 6-1 and would be the best start since 2019-20 when they also started the season 6-1.
• Wichita State is 1-0 all-time vs. Norfolk State with the lone meeting coming just two years ago.
• Norfolk State is 4-2 this season after a 1-2 weekend at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
• Wichita State is coming off a third place finish at the Myrtle Beach Invitational, going 2-1. The Shockers defeated Saint Louis in the third place game.
• Wichita State is 5-3 all time when playing on Nov. 25.
SCOUTING NORFOLK STATE
• Led by 11th year head coach Robert Jones, Norfolk State enters the matchup at 4-2. The Spartans are coming off a 1-2 showing at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. They closed the tournament with a 69-66 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
• Jones led the program to its second-consecutive MEAC title in 2021-2022 and an NCAA Tournament First Four win over Appalachian State in 2021.
• The MEAC Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021, Jones has led NSU to a .754-win percentage in MEAC play – fifth in the nation among coaches with at least 100 games coached – and made seven postseason appearances in eight years of postseason play.
• In 2022-23, Norfolk State won 22 games and came up one point shy in the MEAC Championship game against Howard.
• Norfolk State was picked to finish second in the MEAC Preseason Coaches Poll, 11 points behind first place pick, Howard.
• The Spartans placed three on the Preseason All-MEAC Teams: Christian Ings (First Team), Jamarii Thomas (Third Team) and George Beale Jr. (Third Team).
• Beale was named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team a season ago.
• Through six games in 2023-24, Jamarii Thomas is putting up a team-high 17.3 points per game to go with 17 assists and 14 steals. Thomas ranks third in the nation in free throws made with 41 and ranks 11th in free throw attempts (47). He also ranks 15th nationally in steals.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORFOLK STATE
• Saturday's matchup marks just the second all-time meeting between Wichita State and Norfolk State. The Shockers defeated the Spartans in the only other meeting on Dec. 11, 2021, 71-58, in Charles Koch Arena.
• Kenny Pohto is the only Shocker who was on the roster during that matchup, while Norfolk State brings back five players who appeared in the game in 2021.
• Tyson Etienne and Morris Udeze scored a team-high 16 points each to lead the Shockers, while Dexter Dennis added 10.
• Dana Tate drilled five three-pointers to the tune of a game-high 22 points for Norfolk State.
• Wichita State shot 45.5 percent for the game and committed only 8 turnovers in the contest.
• Wichita State is 10-1 all-time vs. current members of the MEAC. The lone loss came in 1993 against Coppin State, 65-64, in Wichita.
A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...
... Make them 6-1 and would be the best start since 2019-20 when the Shockers started 6-0.
... Make them 6-3 all time on Nov. 25.
... Give Paul Mills 112 career coaching victories.
... Run their record to 1,663-1,246 all time.
... Make them 2-0 vs. Norfolk State all time.
Remember, at halftime is the Teddy Bear Toss benefiting students in Shocker Neighborhood Schools. Please bring a stuffed animal to be tossed onto the court at halftime.
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: ESPN+ (Shane Dennis & Bob Hull)
Radio: KEYN 103.7 FM with Mike Kennedy & Dave Dahl https://www.audacy.com/stations/keyn
• Wichita State returns to action following Thanksgiving with a home matchup against Norfolk State on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
• A win would move the Shockers to 6-1 and would be the best start since 2019-20 when they also started the season 6-1.
• Wichita State is 1-0 all-time vs. Norfolk State with the lone meeting coming just two years ago.
• Norfolk State is 4-2 this season after a 1-2 weekend at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
• Wichita State is coming off a third place finish at the Myrtle Beach Invitational, going 2-1. The Shockers defeated Saint Louis in the third place game.
• Wichita State is 5-3 all time when playing on Nov. 25.
SCOUTING NORFOLK STATE
• Led by 11th year head coach Robert Jones, Norfolk State enters the matchup at 4-2. The Spartans are coming off a 1-2 showing at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. They closed the tournament with a 69-66 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
• Jones led the program to its second-consecutive MEAC title in 2021-2022 and an NCAA Tournament First Four win over Appalachian State in 2021.
• The MEAC Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021, Jones has led NSU to a .754-win percentage in MEAC play – fifth in the nation among coaches with at least 100 games coached – and made seven postseason appearances in eight years of postseason play.
• In 2022-23, Norfolk State won 22 games and came up one point shy in the MEAC Championship game against Howard.
• Norfolk State was picked to finish second in the MEAC Preseason Coaches Poll, 11 points behind first place pick, Howard.
• The Spartans placed three on the Preseason All-MEAC Teams: Christian Ings (First Team), Jamarii Thomas (Third Team) and George Beale Jr. (Third Team).
• Beale was named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team a season ago.
• Through six games in 2023-24, Jamarii Thomas is putting up a team-high 17.3 points per game to go with 17 assists and 14 steals. Thomas ranks third in the nation in free throws made with 41 and ranks 11th in free throw attempts (47). He also ranks 15th nationally in steals.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORFOLK STATE
• Saturday's matchup marks just the second all-time meeting between Wichita State and Norfolk State. The Shockers defeated the Spartans in the only other meeting on Dec. 11, 2021, 71-58, in Charles Koch Arena.
• Kenny Pohto is the only Shocker who was on the roster during that matchup, while Norfolk State brings back five players who appeared in the game in 2021.
• Tyson Etienne and Morris Udeze scored a team-high 16 points each to lead the Shockers, while Dexter Dennis added 10.
• Dana Tate drilled five three-pointers to the tune of a game-high 22 points for Norfolk State.
• Wichita State shot 45.5 percent for the game and committed only 8 turnovers in the contest.
• Wichita State is 10-1 all-time vs. current members of the MEAC. The lone loss came in 1993 against Coppin State, 65-64, in Wichita.
A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...
... Make them 6-1 and would be the best start since 2019-20 when the Shockers started 6-0.
... Make them 6-3 all time on Nov. 25.
... Give Paul Mills 112 career coaching victories.
... Run their record to 1,663-1,246 all time.
... Make them 2-0 vs. Norfolk State all time.
Remember, at halftime is the Teddy Bear Toss benefiting students in Shocker Neighborhood Schools. Please bring a stuffed animal to be tossed onto the court at halftime.
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