Wichita State Basketball: 2019-20 keys to defeating Houston on the road

It’s been a rough few weeks for Wichita State Basketball. They have a chance to get a big win this weekend against the Houston Cougars.

After opening the season 15-1, Wichita State Basketball has lost four of their last six, including their first two home losses of the season. One of those losses was their first matchup against Houston in a game where the Cougars completely dominated from start to finish. They seemed to have turned things around after that, earning convincing victories over UCF and South Florida, but they went back on a losing streak over the last week in heartbreaking fashion.

First, it was a buzzer-beating 3 at Tulsa. Then it was a 3 point play from Jarron Cumberland with 3.5 seconds left that saw the Shockers lost by one at home in a game where they played just about no defense. Now they’ll face their toughest test since November as they head to play a ranked Houston team that is currently tied for first in the AAC.

Houston also lost to Cincinnati in their last game, but the loss occurred in Cincinnati. That loss brought an end to a 5-game winning streak that stretched back to January 11th. The win streak saw them take out SMU, UCONN, and USF at home while they beat the Shockers and East Carolina on the road. That stretch landed them in the top 25 of the AP poll, where they still reside this week at 25th.

The first time these two teams met, they were battling to stay at the top of the conference standings and positioning in the national rankings. Both of those things remain true for Houston, but the Shockers now find themselves fighting just to keep themselves in the NCAA tournament discussion. Here are the keys for them to avenge their loss to Houston on Sunday afternoon.