Wichita State opens American Conference play Wednesday afternoon in Birmingham against UAB with a simple question hanging over the matchup: which team can impose its identity first.
The Shockers (8-5) and Blazers (9-4) share similar profiles in ball security and rebounding, but diverge sharply in how they score — a contrast that could decide the outcome in a game that tips at 3 p.m. Central time on ESPNU.
“You just try to go 1-0, you’re not thinking about anything else,” Wichita State coach Paul Mills said. “That’s our only focus: How do you win this game?”
For WSU, the numbers and the film point to five areas that are most likely to decide whether it wins its conference opener for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
1. Win the tempo battle against UAB
Mills has said WSU’s glacial pace this season has often been a reflection of its opponents, but the Shockers still enter American Conference play with the third-slowest tempo in the league.
That contrast will be tested Wednesday against one of the American’s faster offenses, making the first battle a simple one: which team can play more often at its preferred pace?
UAB’s offense is at its best before defenses are set, so if Wichita State can eliminate early offense by sprinting back, building a wall in transition and taking away the first paint touch, the Blazers are forced into longer possessions that test their patience and shot selection.
Late-clock situations tend to expose UAB’s lack of perimeter shooting and push the Blazers toward contested jumpers. For the Shockers, the goal isn’t to slow the game to a crawl, but to consistently make UAB work for every basket.
2. Protect the paint and dare UAB to shoot
There is no mistaking UAB’s offensive identity. Nearly half of the Blazers’ shots come at the rim, and their reliance on 2-point baskets represents one of the highest shares of total scoring in the country.
What UAB does not do well is shoot from the perimeter, ranking near the bottom nationally in 3-point percentage. That imbalance defines Wichita State’s defensive priorities.
The Shockers don’t need to gamble or overextend to take advantage of that profile — especially since they are not a defense built to generate steals. Instead, the challenge is to crowd driving lanes, show bodies early and contest finishes without fouling.
If Wichita State can force UAB to string together jump shots, particularly late in the shot clock, the math shifts in the Shockers’ favor.
3. End possessions on the glass
Both teams rebound at a high level and rely heavily on second-chance scoring. Wichita State is averaging 15.7 second-chance points per game, while UAB sits close behind at 14.8.
Some of the Blazers’ most damaging offense comes after the initial miss, when they turn put-backs into easy points or rack up fouls that send them to the free-throw line. That makes defensive rebounding a non-negotiable for WSU on Wednesday.
The Shockers have generally been solid on the defensive glass, but Mills has acknowledged there is room for improvement. Against a top-50 offensive rebounding team like UAB, that will be tested.
WSU doesn’t need to dominate the glass, but it must finish possessions — making first contact, securing rebounds with two hands and avoiding loose-ball scrambles that lead to broken-floor situations. One missed box-out can erase 25 seconds of strong defense and flip momentum.
4. Exploit UAB’s vulnerability to cuts
One of WSU’s most effective scoring paths Wednesday may come without the ball.
According to Synergy, UAB allows 1.22 points per possession on cuts, a clear vulnerability in an otherwise solid defensive profile. It’s a byproduct of the Blazers’ aggressive help and rotation-heavy schemes, particularly when they are morphing between defensive looks.
The Shockers aren’t as lethal scoring on cuts this season as they were in the previous two under Mills, but they remain effective when those opportunities present themselves.
If WSU stays active with baseline cuts, duck-ins and timely dives when UAB collapses on drives or ball screens, it can generate high-value looks at the rim that don’t depend on shooting variance — a valuable asset on the road.
5. Let timely 3s be the difference
The contrast in WSU’s results from the perimeter is stark. In the Shockers’ eight wins, they are making 9.5 3s per game at a 41% clip. In their five losses, that number drops to just 5.0 3s per game at 27%.
Relying on 3s is always a delicate balance, especially on the road, but the clearest statistical separation between these teams comes beyond the arc. WSU has made measurable progress as a perimeter shooting team, climbing into the top 125 nationally in 3-point percentage after ranking near the bottom a year ago. UAB, meanwhile, continues to struggle from deep, lacking both efficiency and volume.
That disparity doesn’t mean WSU needs to live or die by the 3. It means the Shockers must be ready to capitalize when good looks appear. Against a defense that mixes zones, traps and man-to-man, shot quality becomes paramount. The best 3s will come after paint touches and ball movement, not from static possessions.
If WSU can convert timely perimeter shots created through discipline and spacing, it gains a scoring margin UAB is unlikely to match.
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Taylor Eldridge
The Wichita Eagle
Wichita State athletics beat reporter. Bringing you closer to the Shockers you love and inside the sports you love to watch.
