Wichita State Hosts Memphis As Conference Rivalry Heats Up

All eyes will be on Charles Koch Arena this Tuesday night as the Wichita State Shockers look to shake off a tough start to their American Conference campaign and notch their first league win against the visiting Memphis Tigers. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. in Wichita, Kansas, and fans can catch the action live on ESPN+ with Shane Dennis and Tracy Anderson on the call, or tune in via GoShockers.com/Listen with Pat Strathman providing the radio broadcast.

This matchup marks the 13th meeting between these programs, with Memphis holding the upper hand in the all-time series, 7-5, and a 4-2 advantage in games played in Wichita. Both teams are hungry for a turnaround: Memphis (7-11, 1-4 American) is aiming to snap a two-game losing streak, while Wichita State (3-16, 0-6 American) is still hunting for its first conference victory of the season.

The Shockers, under third-year head coach Terry Nooner, have endured a challenging season so far. Their non-conference slate wrapped up with a 3-10 record, highlighted by a dominant opening-night win over Lincoln and back-to-back triumphs against Loyola Marymount and Oral Roberts in December. But since the start of American Conference play, wins have been elusive. Their most recent outing saw them fall 75-53 to South Florida in Tampa, a game where the Bulls used a decisive third-quarter run to pull away. Despite a promising start—Wichita State led after the first quarter—the Shockers were ultimately undone by South Florida's 44 points in the paint and 25 fast break points.

“We came out strong, but they made adjustments and we just couldn't keep up in the second half,” said Nooner following the South Florida loss, reflecting on his team’s need for sustained intensity throughout all four quarters.

Wichita State's offense is led by graduate transfer and Wichita native Jaila Harding, who is averaging 12.1 points per game. Harding’s shooting touch has been a bright spot, as she ranks 17th nationally in made three-pointers with 54, leading the American Conference and placing fourth all-time in Wichita State history for single-season threes. Harding has hit two or more threes in 14 of the team's first 19 games and has made at least one in 19 straight, a testament to her consistency from deep. However, her production has tapered off somewhat in conference play, a trend the Shockers will be eager to reverse against Memphis.

Complementing Harding is Abby Cater, who has chipped in 10.2 points per game and recently delivered back-to-back season-high performances, scoring 23 and 24 points to help secure wins over Loyola Marymount and Oral Roberts. Cater also provides defensive prowess, ranking third in the conference in steals per game (2.44) and notching a career-high eight steals against Florida Atlantic—a mark that stands as seventh-best in program history for a single game.

Inside, Treasure Thompson anchors the paint, ranking fifth in the American Conference in blocks per game (1.06) and recently celebrating her 100th career block. The Shockers’ defense, particularly beyond the arc, has been a relative strength; they currently hold opponents to just 28.8 percent shooting from three, ranking third in the league in that category.

But it's not just about individual stats. Wichita State’s roster is one of the most experienced in the nation, boasting eight graduate students and a staggering 93 percent upperclassmen—second-most in Division I basketball. With 44 combined seasons of collegiate experience, the Shockers have leaned on their maturity to weather adversity, even as they return only 9.6 percent of last season’s scoring and lost their top four scorers from a year ago.

The last time these teams faced off, just six days ago, Memphis came away with a 93-83 win at home. The Tigers were unstoppable from long range, draining 13 threes and shooting a blistering 43.3 percent from deep. Tilly Boler led the charge with 25 points, while Alasia Smith contributed a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. For Wichita State, junior transfer Maimouna Sissoko notched her first career Division I double-double with 10 points and 10 boards, while sophomore Salese Blow and junior Princess Anderson each added 11 points. Graduate transfer Taylor Jameson, a key perimeter threat for the Shockers, was forced to exit with a leg injury and her status remains a question mark.

On the Memphis side, head coach Alex Simmons has her squad focused on aggressive defense and efficient three-point shooting. The Tigers lead the American Conference in three-point percentage (43.8%) and rank second in turnovers forced per game (19.0). Their defensive intensity will be a key storyline, especially given that the Shockers have struggled with ball security, ranking outside the top 300 nationally in turnovers committed.

“Our defense is our identity,” Simmons said in a pregame interview. “We want to pressure the ball, force mistakes, and turn those into scoring opportunities. That’s how we get back on track.”

Memphis features a balanced scoring attack with three players averaging double figures: Chae Harris (12.9 points per game), Daejah Richmond (12.4), and Tamya Smith (11.4). Richmond has been especially impactful in conference play, averaging over 14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals in the first five league games. Smith has chipped in with 12 steals and eight blocks over that span, while also leading the team in rebounding (5.1 per game).

Both teams’ head coaches, Nooner and Simmons, are in their third seasons, having taken the reins in the same week three years ago. Their parallel trajectories add an extra layer of intrigue to this budding rivalry, which has been remarkably even since Wichita State joined the American Conference in 2017. Each team has won five matchups in that span, and the all-time series has seen its share of memorable moments, including a 74-58 Memphis win in the 2010 WBI quarterfinals and a 71-66 Shockers victory at home in January 2024.

For Wichita State, keys to victory include limiting turnovers, capitalizing on Harding’s perimeter shooting, and getting contributions from their deep, experienced bench—11 players average at least 10 minutes per game, and the Shockers rank fourth in the conference in bench points (23.8 per game). Coach Nooner continues to emphasize a culture built on character, accountability, respect, and effort, recruiting student-athletes who embody these pillars.

Meanwhile, Memphis will look to exploit their rest advantage—having just come off a bye week—and keep the pressure on defensively. The Tigers’ ability to force turnovers and convert from long range could spell trouble for a Wichita State team that has hit three or fewer threes in each of its last four games.

After Tuesday’s clash, the Shockers will hit the road for a rematch with East Carolina on January 27, while Memphis returns home to face UTSA on January 24. With both teams eager to climb the conference standings, expect a fiercely competitive battle in Wichita as each program seeks a much-needed spark to ignite the second half of their season.