When the Wichita State men’s basketball team tips off its 2025-26 season at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against UNC Asheville at Koch Arena, the scoreboard won’t be the only measure of success.
For a team remade almost entirely from last season — 12 newcomers, a completely retooled rotation and a championship hunger entering Paul Mills’ third season — how the Shockers handle 94 feet of defensive pressure on Tuesday may reveal even more about who they are becoming than the final margin.
“We’re in for a fight on Tuesday,” Mills said.
UNC Asheville, led by head coach Mike Morrell, a disciple of Shaka Smart, has built its program on pressure. Asheville’s version isn’t quite Havoc, but it’s close enough: They press full-court, trap ball screens, stunt at drives and make ball-handlers think twice before every pass. It’s a scheme that frustrates rhythm, forces turnovers and fuels offense through chaos.
Here are three keys for the Shockers if they want to turn their season opener into a confident first step toward the championship expectations they’ve set for themselves.
Wichita State point guard Dre Kindell drives the paint against Drake in a scrimmage at Koch Arena. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle
1. Wichita State’s guards against UNC Asheville’s pressure defense
UNC Asheville doesn’t give opponents a chance to exhale. Morrell’s “PPS” mantra — which stands for pressure, positioning and stunting — translates into a defensive identity that picks up the ball immediately and tests a team’s composure.
Expect the Bulldogs to apply token full-court pressure on every possession and trap opportunistically, especially when smaller guards like Dre Kindell or Kenyon Giles initiate offense in the pick-and-roll game. How WSU’s guards respond could dictate the tone of the night.
Asheville thrives on forcing quick decisions. It will put two defenders on the ball in ball-screen situations and dare WSU’s secondary playmakers to beat them. That means spacing, quick ball movement and decisiveness will matter more than set execution at times.
If the Shockers can consistently advance the ball with composure, find the open man and punish traps with cuts and quick passes, Asheville’s pressure can unravel fast. After all, the Bulldogs’ finished last season ranked No. 281 nationally in defensive efficiency.
But teams early in the season often struggle with tempo against this kind of scheme, especially those still learning chemistry.
The early question for Mills: Does he trust his new collection of guards to handle the heat in the ball screens or does he simplify the offense and avoid putting his ball-handlers in those situations?
Wichita State’s Will Berg slams it home in a scrimmage against Drake at Koch Arena. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle
2. Wichita State looks to dominate rebounding battle
For all of Asheville’s energy and aggression, the Bulldogs have rarely been a stout defensive team by the numbers.
They finished last season ranked No. 281 nationally in defensive efficiency and No. 341 in defensive rebounding percentage. Their style generates steals and blocks, but often at the cost of fouls and second-chance points.
That’s where Wichita State can assert its identity. Mills expects offensive rebounding to be one of the team’s defining strengths this season. With lineups featuring Karon Boyd, Jaret Valencia and either Will Berg or Emmanuel Okorafor, WSU will have a clear edge on the glass.
If Asheville chases turnovers, WSU must punish them by crashing the boards and cashing in on second-chance opportunities. Offensive rebounding could become the Shockers’ pressure release valve — a way to score without depending on half-court rhythm.
But that may only matter if WSU capitalizes at the foul line. Asheville tends to send opponents there often, yet the Shockers have struggled mightily from the stripe in their two preseason scrimmages. In a close opener, free throws could be the separator.
How well WSU takes cares of business on the glass and attacks through contact without losing composure will say a lot about how ready this new team is for the grind.
UNC Asheville star Toyaz Solomon is the player to watch against the Shockers in Tuesday’s season opener. Isaiah Vazquez Getty Images
3. The Shockers’ plan to defend UNC Asheville star
Every early season test reveals one matchup that tells the story. For this one, it’s Toyaz Solomon against Wichita State’s size.
The 6-foot-9 big man — the Big South Preseason Player of the Year — averaged 15.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season. He is the heartbeat for Asheville, a versatile scorer who can post up, attack off the dribble and finish above the rim. His motor and touch make him dangerous against slower bigs and he thrives on mismatches.
That presents a tactical challenge for Mills. Does he let 7-foot-2 Will Berg and 6-foot-10 Emmanuel Okorafor take the assignment one-on-one, trusting rim protection and physicality? Or does he counter Solomon’s quickness by sliding Jaret Valencia, a mobile defender, onto him and using the center to help on the weak side?
Containing Solomon without overhelping will be critical. If WSU’s centers can keep him from getting downhill or sneaking behind drives for lob finishes, Asheville’s half-court offense losses much of its bite. But if Solomon gets going early, the Bulldogs’ spacing — especially with returning guard Kameron Taylor and healthy veteran Justin Wright — can open up the floor and turn the game into a nervy first night.
The scouting report on UNC Asheville. Taylor Eldridge The Wichita Eagle
Wichita State basketball vs. UNC Asheville preview
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Koch Arena, Wichita (10,506)
How to watch: ESPN+ (Shane Dennis with Bob Hull)
How to listen: KEYN, 103.7 FM (Mike Kennedy with Dave Dahl)
What Vegas says: WSU favored by 7.5 points
What KenPom says: WSU 83, UNC Asheville 75
Series history: First meeting
Live stats: GoShockers.com
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 6:02 AM.
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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.
