Wichita State faces AAC challenge
No. 2 Virginia goes to 7-0 in the ACC
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wichita State has hit its first bump in its new American Athletic Conference home. Coach Gregg Marshall now gets a chance to see how his seventh-ranked Shockers handle it.
The Shockers were one of five AP Top 25 teams to lose twice this week, joining No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 8 Texas Tech as top-10 teams in that group. First came an 83-78 home loss to SMU on Wednesday — snapping a 27-game home winning streak and giving Wichita its first lost in AAC play — followed by Saturday’s 73-59 loss at Houston.
This is part of the Shockers’ first go-around through the American after moving from their 72-year home in the Missouri Valley Conference, where they won four straight regularseason titles with a 68-4 record from 2013-17.
Wichita State (15-4, 5-2) had not lost consecutive conference games since the 2012-13 season before this week.
The problems hit both sides of the court. SMU shot nearly 64 percent in its win. Against Houston, though, Wichita State’s most glaring troubles came in a 33-percent, 18-turnover offensive showing.
Wichita State had won its first four AAC games by doublefigure margins, but things have been tougher starting with a 72-69 win at Tulsa on Jan. 13.
“We have to work on everything,” Marshall said after the Houston loss, adding: “I have to coach better. We have to play better.” Sunday No. 2 VIRGINIA 59, WAKE FOREST 49:
In Winston-Salem, N.C., Kyle Guy scored 17 points, and the Cavaliers (18-1, 7-0 ACC) beat the Demon Deacons (8-11, 1-6) for their 10th straight win.
De’Andre Hunter added 16 points to help Virginia open league play with seven victories for the second time in four years. Virginia shot nearly 46 percent in the second half while holding Wake Forest to 30 percent shooting after halftime. No. 23 MICHIGAN 62, RUTGERS 47:
In Ann Arbor, Mich., Moe Wagner scored 16 points and Duncan Robinson added 12 to lift the Wolverins (17-5, 6-3 Big Ten) over the Scarlet Knights (12-9, 2-6).
It was the fourth game in nine days for Michigan, which rebounded nicely from a 20-point loss at Nebraska on Thursday.
“(Today), our kids need just a day off,” said John Beilein, Michigan’s coach. “That’s going to be huge for us. … Not allowed in the gym, don’t touch a ball. We just need to do that.” No. 25 MIAMI 86, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 81:
In Raleigh, N.C., Bruce Brown Jr. scored 19 points and the Hurricanes (14-4, 3-3 ACC) shot 58 percent from the field in a win over the Wolfpack (13-7, 3-4).
“We’re a great catch-andshoot team,” Brown said. “And we have recently shot a lot of 3s off the dribble or late in the shot clock. But today it was just easy for us: drive, kick, open 3s, one more pass. It was just all in rhythm.” Women No. 1 UCONN 113, TEMPLE 57:
In Philadelphia, Kia Nurse scored 24 points and freshman Megan Walker added a careerbest 22 to help the Huskies (180, 7-0 American) rout the Owls (9-9, 1-5).
“Once we got settled in, our defense became a lot more solid and we were able to get out in transition a little more and things opened up for us a little bit,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “I thought the offense looked really, really good at times.” No. 12 FLORIDA STATE 50, No. 2 LOUISVILLE 49:
In Louisville, Ky., A.J. Alix made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining and Nicole Ekhomu added a free throw with 7.8 seconds left, helping the Seminoles (18-2, 6-1 ACC) hand the Cardinals (20-1, 6-1) their first loss of the season. No. 3 MISSISSIPPI STATE 71, No. 6 TENNESSEE 52:
In Knoxville, Tenn., Victoria Vivians had 24 points and nine rebounds as the Bulldogs (20-0, 6-0 SEC) defeated the Lady Vols (16-3, 4-2) to match their best start in school history. No. 5 NOTRE DAME 90, CLEMSON 37:
In South Bend, Ind., Arike Ogunbowale and Jackie Young each scored 23 points as the Fighting Irish (18-2, 6-1 ACC) shot 62 percent in routing the Tigers (11-9, 1-6 ACC). No. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA 81, KENTUCKY 64:
In Lexington, Ky., A’ja Wilson scored 26 points after missing two games because of an ankle injury, leading the Gamecocks (16-3, 5-2 SEC) over the Wildcats (9-11, 1-5). NORTH CAROLINA 92, DUKE 86 (OT):
In Chapel HIll, N.C., Paris Kea scored a career-high 36 points, including a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left that sent the game into overtime, and the Tar Heels (14-6, 4-3 ACC) ended a seven-game losing streak against the Blue Devils (15-5, 4-3).