Savannah State @ Wichita St. preview

Wichita State begins the healing process of blowing a 16-point lead and losing in the Maui Invitational final when it hosts Savannah State on Tuesday. The No. 8 Shockers seemingly were in great shape to add a trophy to the case and continue their undefeated season before No. 5 Notre Dame pounded the ball inside and switched to a zone defense while rallying to a 67-66 victory Wednesday.

"I think we can grow a lot from it,'' Wichita State senior guard Conner Frankamp told reporters. "We played pretty well the better half of that game, and we'll get back and watch video on it and just learn from our mistakes and get better." Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said his team got plenty out of its first game against a top-caliber opponent with another toughie versus No. 16 Baylor looming Saturday. “A lot of guys in that locker room are crushed, but that’s what I love about them because they’re winners,” Marshall told reporters. “They’re champions. They didn’t win this championship, but they’re champions and they’ll be champions at some point.” The Tigers, who began their season with a 107-77 loss to No. 9 Cincinnati, are coming off a 103-69 setback to Texas Tech on Nov. 25.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE (2-5): Junior guard Dexter McClanahan scores a team-high 16 points per game, validating his 16.4 average from last season, although he totaled a combined 20 versus Cincinnati and Texas Tech. Senior guard Alante Fenner (10.2 points) is the only other Tiger averaging double figures in points but is shooting only 29.8 percent from the floor and is 5-for-26 from 3-point range this season. The Tigers are coached by former Georgetown standout Horace Broadnax, who earned his 200th career victory with a 101-97 win over Alabama State on Nov. 21.

ABOUT WICHITA STATE (4-1): Sophomore guard Landry Shamet (team-high 15.8 points per game) scored a combined 33 versus California and Marquette in the Maui Invitational before being held to 10 versus the Fighting Irish. Senior center Shaquille Morris (15.6 points, 5.4 rebounds) also had a sub-par game against Notre Dame as he fouled out with eight points and three boards. Senior forward Darral Willis Jr. (11.0 points) leads the club in rebounding (six per game) while Frankamp (9.8 points) averages a team-most 3.6 assists.

TIP-INS

1. Shockers junior F Markis McDuffie (team highs of 11.5 points. 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 81.9 percent free-throw percentage in 2016-17) will likely make his season debut in time for the American Athletic Conference opener at Connecticut on Dec. 30.

2. After the Baylor game, Wichita State may not play another contest against a ranked opponent until Feb. 18 versus Cincinnati.

3. The Tigers finish their non-conference season with games at No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 16 Baylor, No. 15 Virginia and No. 3 Michigan State in a 19-day stretch beginning Dec. 13.

PREDICTION: Wichita State 80, Savannah State 58