2024-25 Shocker WBB Offseason/Preseason News

[1972Shocker]

RH: Podcast with Salese Blow on Shocker Basketball

Listen to the podcast

Wichita State's Salese Blow joins the podcast to talk about following up on standout freshman season. She discusses the origins of her nickname, coach Terry Nooner's practices and her impressions of freshman KP Parr as defensive pest. We also talk about her basketball family and how it goes when she critiques her mom's work as a college and NBA G League referee.

Blow is a sophomore guard from Plano Senior High School in Texas. She is coming off a strong freshman season in which she averaged 12.3 points and earned AAC freshma of the week honors three times. She also earned AAC Academic All-Conference honors in 2024.

[1972Shocker]

Wichita State Picked 12th in AAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Preseason Coaches' Poll
1.South Florida (8) – 135
2.North Texas (3) – 124
Rice (2) – 124
4.Tulsa – 98
5.UTSA – 96
6.East Carolina – 91
7.Memphis – 84
8.Temple – 78
9.UAB – 55
10.Tulane – 40
11.Charlotte – 38
12.Wichita State – 32
13.Florida Atlantic – 19
First-place votes in parentheses

Preseason Players of the Year
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida

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No Shockers were named on the Preseason All-Conference First or Second Teams (10 players total).

Not surprised at all by the Shocks position. They finished 13th last year in a 14-team AAC that included SMU and lost their leading scorer and by far and away their leading rebounder when Daniella Abies transferred to Miami.

A lot of questions to be answered with this year's Shocker team. Will the Shocks be able to keep teams from focusing primarily on shutting down Salese Blow? Will Jayla Murray be able to fill a good chunk of the void created by the departure of Dani Abies? How will the 7 transfers (including 4 jucos) and the 2 freshmen perform? Will any of the other returning Shockers be able to step up their games from last year and provide increased contributions and production? The Shocks only return 37% of their playing time from last year mostly from Jayla Murray, Salese Blow and Ornella Niankan. So the opportunity for playing time is certainly there.

On paper the Shockers appear to have more quality depth this year although they are very small at the guard position perhaps offset some by improved quickness. The have some size in the post but the question is what kind of athleticism and BB ability is attached to that size.

I will be optimistic at this point and say the Shocks could finish a couple spots higher than expectations. Perhaps more if they ace the questions listed above.

[1972Shocker]

RH: Murray's Meal Plan - WSU Junior Works on Diet , Conditioning

Jayla Murray is powered by salmon, chicken and vegetables, not spicy, cheesy snacks and Wichita State women's basketball coach Terry Nooner sees the difference each time she runs the court.

"She was really monitoring what she was eating," Nooner said. "She did a great of transforming her body."

Murray, a 6-foot junior forward, started her transformation last spring after playing 2023-24 while recovering from a torn ACL in her right knee. After the season, she decided to work tirelessly to regain the form that earned her NJCAA All-American third team honors in 2021-22 at Florida SouthWestern State College.

"Every day – conditioning," she said. "I made it my job to be faster and have the ability I used to have. No days off."

Nooner gave the team a few weeks after last season to rest up. Murray immediately went to work lifting weights and running so she could shed her knee brace. Changing her diet helped immensely. She cut back on fast food and snacks such as Flamin' Hot Cheetos. She kept a food journal and listened to advice from nutritionists.

Before her injury, Murray averaged 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a freshman at Florida SouthWestern. In 2022-23, she played eight games before the injury sidelined her. In her first season at WSU, she started 18 games and averaged 7.1 points and 4.0 rebounds.

"She's more confident," Nooner said. "She could do stuff, and she had good games. It was like she didn't always believe. It probably had a lot to do with that knee."

This season, Murray said she can play more minutes and play at a faster pace. Nooner wants the Shockers to play aggressively, especially on defense, and wear teams down with depth. Murray fits that plan.

"I can keep up," she said. "I was slow, couldn't really run down the floor and get back."

Teammates see the work paying off with improved quickness and agility. Murray, from St. Louis, is working on her jump shot, ball-handling and post moves.

"She is really trying to get back to the type of player she was before," senior center Ella Anciaux said. "In practice, she's pushing the ball up the court. Her game has become a lot more well-rounded, and it's a testament to her hard work."

[WuDrWu]

This just touches on a huge need for all WSU Athletics. Training table.

And I realize it's not cheap. But it's needed and a huge part of athletic success.

[1972Shocker]

WBB Preview: Exhibition vs. Northeastern State

NORTHEASTERN STATE (0-0) vs. WICHITA STATE (0-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 | 6 p.m. CT
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: Not Televised
Radio: GoShockers.com/Listen with Pat Strathman

Exhibition Ticket Special: Wear your Halloween costume to the game and receive a free GA ticket at the Shocker Ticket Office.

With nine newcomers on the team, the Shockers return 37.6 percent of their scoring. Sophomore Salese Blow is back for her sophomore season after leading Wichita State in scoring during conference play, averaging 13.5 points per game in the AAC and 12.3 points per game overall. Redshirt-junior Jayla Murray is back and better than ever after a summer spent in the gym and improving her nutrition. Further removed from her ACL injury, Murray, who averaged 7.1 points per game a season ago, is playing with more confidence. The Shockers added only two true freshmen to the roster in Fiona Diomande (France) and KP Parr (Texas).

Between the nine new additions to the 2024-25 Wichita State roster, they combine for 20 years of collegiate basketball experience. Nooner brought in three Division I transfers: Taylor Jameson from George Mason, Aicha Ndour from Illinois and Bre'Yon White from TCU.

Princess Anderson (Pratt CC), Kyleigh Ortiz (Coffeyville CC), Jasmine Peaks (Indian River State), and Maimouna Sissoko (Cloud County CC) all transferred from junior colleges, joining Jayla Murray (Florida SouthWestern State) and Ornella Niankan (Odessa College) to make six Shockers who began their careers in the NJCAA.

[1972Shocker]

RH: Jasmine Peaks Liked Wichita State's Family Atmosphere - Coach Nooner Encourages Her To Play More Aggressively

Wichita State guard Jasmine Peaks is considering a hands-on career in real estate. She enjoys renovating, painting, taking down drywall and everything else that goes into flipping houses.

"I like doing the painting and the landscaping," she said. "I like seeing the before and after – it's very much 'Oh my gosh, I really did that.'"

That do-it-yourself spirit is what women's basketball coach Terry Nooner wants to see from Peaks, a junior transfer from Indian River (Fla.) State College. He is counting on her to score and set up teammates after she averaged 14.4 points last season at Indian River.

"Basketball has given me a lot of life skills," Peaks said. "Paying attention to details. Hard work. Time management."

Nooner is blunt with his expectations for Peaks. She helps the Shockers when the ball is in her hands, and she drives into the lane to score or break down the defense. He cringes when he sees her pass to the wing and cut away from the ball.

"When she's aggressive, she could be an all-conference caliber point guard," Nooner said. "She's a heck of a passer. We're trying to get her to be more aggressive and not think as much.

"I was being very passive at times," she said. "When I'm being aggressive, I open the lane up, open opportunities for my teammates and myself."

In high school, Peaks played with junior Jayla Murray at Tampa Bay Tech. That connection helped Peaks connect with Shocker coaches. She talked with Murray about the program. Once she talked with Nooner and assistant coach Antwain Scales, Wichita State's atmosphere sold her.

"They're very genuine and welcoming to me and my family," Peaks said. "They recruited me and my family, and that was a nice touch."

[1972Shocker]

Ella has never been a great leaper, and probably never will. but she does look like she may have slimmed down a little from past years and as does Jayla. How much impact that will have on their effectiveness remains to be seen. You would think have less weight to carry on that surgically repaired knee would be a big plus for Jayla.

[1972Shocker]

The Lady Shock leads D-II Northeastern State (OK) out of the MIAA Conference 44-23 at the half.

The Shocks played 12 players, 11 of whom dented the scoreboard, Wichita native Taylor Jameson has 8 points including 2-3 on treys, 6-3 juco transfer Maimou Sissoko had 7 points including 5-7 from the line, Kyleigh Ortiz chipped in 6 as she hit both of her 3-point shots and Salese Blow had 5 points.

The Shocker are 15-31 from the field (48.4%) and 5-10 on 3-pointers (50%) which is very solid. However, excluding Sissoko's 5-7 from the free throw line the rest of the Shocks were 4-15 including 1-5 by Salese and 1-4 by Jasmsine Peaks. That absolutely has to get better. The Shocks turned it over 10 times which it too high although it has been a high possession game. OTOH, it is mid-level MIAA team. The rebounding was close at 21-20 in favor of the Shocks

The Shocks led 44-18 with 1:30 left in the game but let Northeastern finish the half on a 5-0 run.

I know Coach Nooner will not be happy with that free throw shooting and I don't think he will like the way they closed out the half. Nott sure he will be too happy with closeness fo the rebounding.

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Shocks cruise to an 81-46 win. Nice homecoming for Taylor Jameson who lead the Shocks with 16 points on 6-11 (4-8), 4 assists, 0 turnovers and 2 steals. 6-3 Mai Sissoko chipped in 12 points on 2-4 (0-0) and 8-12 and grabbed 6 rebounds. Jayla Murray came on in the 2nd half to finish with 10 points on 4-8 (0-0) and 2-4 and grabbed a game high 7 rebounds.

Aicha Ndour and Salese Blow each had 8 points, Bre White, Kyleigh Ortiz and Jordan Jackson chipped in 6 points each. All 12 Shocker who played scored

The Shockers only outrebounded Northeastern by 1 at 43-42 which might be an issue. The Shocks did improve taking care of the ball with only 3 turnovers in the 2nd half after having 10 in the 1st half while Northeastern turned it over a total of 31 times.

The Shocks' shooting dropped of in the 2nd half at 13-38 (34.2%) including 3-14 (21.4%) on pointers as they ended up at 40.6% and 33.3% for the game. The struggles from the free throw line continued. The only 2 players over 50% were Mai Sissoko and Princess Anderson at 10-14 (71.4%) with the rest of the team combining to hit a pathetic 7-23 (30.4%). That's not the kind of sill you want to display if you want to have any chance of getting more fans inteested in the women's game. Combined the Shocks and Northeastern were a combined 32-64 (50.0%) from the free throw. Not a lot fun watching all that bricklaying on one of the easiest shots in the game. Tired legs weren't a problem as WSU spread their minutes among 12 players and Notheastern spread their minutes among 14 players.

Not playing in this game were Ornella Niankan, Fiona Diamonde and Carla Budane. I did not listen to the pre-game show but during the game Pat Strathman mentioned something about the Shocks having to deal with some illness. Your would expect that Ornella will play signicant minutes. Not sure about Fiona and Carla.

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I thought Pat Strathman was pretty solid in his debut as voice of the Lady Shockers WBB. I think he is an improvement over his predecessor, Steve Strain.

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What did we learn from this game. Not having seen the game that makes it a little difficult to say. Looks iike Taylor Jameson, Mai Sissoko and Aicha Ndour will be solid additions. Seems like we might miss Dani Abies' rebounding prowess. Hopefully, it was just an off night at the free throw line. I expect Jayla and Salese will be key returners. As far as everyone else is concerned the jury is still deliberating.

We'll have a much better feel for this team by the end of November.

[1972Shocker]

RH: WSU's Defense Dominates Exhibition Win

Wichita State's defense put up impressive numbers on Wednesday by forcing 31 turnovers and holding Northeastern State to 15 baskets.

The Shockers forced three five-second calls in their 81-46 exhibition win over the NCAA Division II team at Koch Arena. They recorded 14 steals, three by Jayla Murray. Coach Terry Nooner's goal is to record at least seven sequences of three straight scoreless possessions. The Shockers gave him eight.

That effort, however, did not satisfy Nooner, who has high expectations for his second season at Wichita State.

"I don't think I'll ever be happy," he said. "I looked at the turnovers and I was pretty shocked. I didn't think we played as hard as I thought we should."

In all, the RiverHawks spent much of the shot clock dribbling with their back to the basket in an attempt to protect the ball. Wichita State's aggressive defensive, pestering dribblers all over the court, turned errant passes, steals, traveling calls and other mistakes into 28 points.

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There is possible downside to playing too aggressively on defense. Jameson Taylor had 4 fouls in 20 minutes, Jayla Murray had 4 fouls in 21 minutes, Salese Blow had 4 fouls in 22 minutes, Bre-yon White had 4 fouls in 18 minutes and Aicha Ndour had 3 fouls in 9 minutes. So this group included 4 of the 5 starters and 1 of the top reserves.

You can get away with that against a team like Northeastern State. I would not think fouling at that rate will work out well against decent D-1 competition.