GETTING INSIDE

   By the end of the 2008-09 season, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall got his team playing the way he wants. The Shockers went 11-6 to salvage a disastrous start by establishing home-court dominance and playing with toughness.

   The Shockers showed they can hang with good teams at home. They beat MVC co-champions Northern Iowa and Creighton. They beat Cleveland State before the Vikings won an NCAA Tournament game.

   If that stretch is a hint of things to come, the Shockers could be a title contender. If they can’t take those performances on the road, they will finish in the middle of the pack.

   WSU normally plays hard, rebounds and defends under coach Gregg Marshall. Opponents don’t get much easy against the Shockers. That works well at home. On the road, the Shockers don’t score enough to win. WSU went 1-8 in Valley road games and failed to break 60 points in six of those losses.

   WSU didn’t shoot accurately (43.8 percent) from the field or from the line (68.6 percent).

   Those issues don’t appear to be fatal. Plenty of Shockers possess the potential to be big scorers. Last season, inexperience slowed the process.

   Forward J.T. Durley finally learned to play enough defense to allow his offensive gifts a chance to shine. He can turn into the MVC’s best scoring big man with more consistency. He burned Creighton for a 17 second-half points in the MVC Tournament. Guard Clevin Hannah led WSU with an average of 11.2 points and shot 40.5 percent from three-point range. He should be more dangerous with more help from teammates. At times, Hannah was WSU’s lone threat to score.

   Sophomore guard Toure Murry spent the summer working on giving his jumper more arch. He averaged 11 points, usually scoring big at home and falling flat on the road. He has all the tools to be a star in the MVC.

NOTES, QUOTES

   —All eyes will be on sophomore center Garrett Stutz, a 7-footer who started 12 games in 2009. Stutz is skilled (he made 5-of-14 threes). The only thing holding him back is strength and toughness. If he takes another step forward, even a small step, WSU will benefit greatly.

Last Year:   17-17 overall, 8-10 in the MVC.

   HEAD COACH: Gregg Marshall (career 222-120); second year at Wichita State (28-37).

   QUOTE TO NOTE: “The good news is we’ve got a lot of veterans that know what we’re teaching, which we did not have last year.”—Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

   SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Junior forward Gabe Blair (6-foot-8, 230 pounds) sat out last season after transferring from East Carolina. He is energetic and physical and should start at power forward. WSU needs him to rebound and defend. Scoring is a bonus.

   Freshman guard Kenny Manigault is the most promising rookie. His jumper needs work, but WSU will use him for defense and passing early in his career. He is a good penetrator. Guard Demetric Williams is impressing coaches with his competitive attitude in practices. Forward Jerome Hamilton is good athlete who may red shirt.

Key Early-season Games:   The Shockers play Pitt (Nov. 23) in Kansas City. Either Iowa or Texas is the opponent on Nov. 24. Playing those schools on a neutral court is grand opportunity for WSU.

   TCU and Texas Tech defeated WSU last season in Texas. The Shockers get their shot in Koch Arena this season.

   PROGRAM DIRECTION: Coach Gregg Marshall is stocking up on good athletes who can play his pressing style of basketball. For the first time, he has experience and talent.

   Fans love his passionate personality and they believe he is bringing in a higher caliber of athlete than in recent seasons. Sellouts at Koch Arena continue to be the norm. The NIT, maybe even the NCAA, is a reasonable goal this season or next. Marshall appears to be building a top-notch program.

   PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Clevin Hannah, SG Toure Murry, SF David Kyles, PF Gabe Blair, C J.T. Durley.

   ROSTER REPORT:

   —Forward Johnny Coy, a transfer from Arizona State, left the basketball team in September. He will play baseball at Wichita State. Coy joined WSU in January with the intention of playing both sports.

   —Center Ehimen Orupke, a freshman at Three Rivers (Mo.) Community College is orally committed to WSU. He is expected to sign in November and will have three seasons of eligibility beginning in 2010-2011.