Wichita’s credentials as a basketball city and Wichita State’s hoop history paid off on Thursday in a major way. INTRUST Bank Arena will host the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament in March 2027 and 2028. Wichita State senior associate athletic director Brad Pittman joins the podcast to discuss the timeline, the process and what this means for the city.
Wichita and Dayton will host three games each day on the Tuesday and Wednesday after Selection Sunday. The tournament expanded to 76 teams from 68 and Wichita is the beneficiary. The Opening Round of the 2027 championship will take place March 16 and 17 and will feature the 12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams.
Jahari Long and Bryce Heard wrap up the series introducing Shocker basketball newcomers. We talk about uniform numbers – Heard got a prominent one – and Long’s 2017 visit to a packed Koch Arena. We discuss first impressions of Shocker basketball, the practice drill they disagree on and musical selections for warmups. Long is a 6-foot-5 guard from Houston. He averaged 12.2 points, 4 assists and 3.3 rebounds at George Mason last season. Heard is a 6-foot-6 guard from Chicago. He comes to Wichita State from Dayton, where he averaged 6.6 points and 2.4 rebounds for the Flyers.
We start the Shocker basketball newcomer series with guards Jordan Frison and NuNu Jones and center Cyr Malonga. We discuss how Wichita State coaches communicated their plan for the newcomers during the recruiting process, what Jones is learning from his experienced teammates and why Frison asks a lot of questions. Malonga describes his role as a lob threat and shot-blocker and reveals his affection for the TV show “Suits.”
Former Shocker Xavier Bell is back in Wichita for much of the summer and he joins us to talk about playing in the Georgian Superleague, life in Tbilisi and dealing with homesickness. We talk about the differences between college and pro basketball and what’s next for him. We also discuss Wichita State’s growth under coach Paul Mills, and reminisce about Bell’s big moment against Kansas State and why he thinks the Shockers will continue to improve.
Bell, Mr. Kansas Basketball in 2020 at Andover Central High School, played three seasons at Wichita State. As a senior in 2024-25, he earned American Conference Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors and was an all-conference pick after averaging 15.2 points. He played in Europe’s Georgian Superleague for BC Kavkasia, where he averaged 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Denning Gerig is the new Voice of the Shockers and he joins us to talk about taking over for Mike Kennedy on men’s basketball and baseball in 2026-27. We discuss growing up as a Shocker fan, rushing to a bar to watch the end of the 2006 Wichita State win at Syracuse and why he wore No. 37 on his baseball uniform. Denning describes how the job has changed over the years, how a class with instructor Eric Wilson changed his life and how he plans to tell stories that matter to fans. To celebrate this transition, there will be a public reception on Friday, June 12, from 5-7 p.m. at Social Tap in Braeburn Square. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Gerig and join the Wichita State community in honoring Kennedy as he concludes his historic broadcasting career.
Former Shocker Markis McDuffie is a lifelong New York Knicks fan who can’t wait for the NBA Finals that match the Knicks vs. the Spurs. We talk about his favorite Knicks, watching WSU teammate Landry Shamet shine in the playoffs and Madison Square Garden. We also dive into the AfterShocks making their return to TBT this summer and why that group feels a bit of disrespect after winning the title in 2025.
Wichita State basketball assistant coach P.J. Couisnard joins the podcast to update fans on spring additions to the roster, summer plans and returning Shockers. We talk about why WSU’s retention rate was so high, how the incoming guards will change the offense and what’s next for Noah Hill. We also discuss Couisnard’s first year as a college coach and what he’s learned from coach Paul Mills.
Wichita State won the men’s outdoor American Conference track and field title on Saturday in Denton, Texas. Director of track and field Steve Rainbolt talks about his team’s strong finish on Saturday to run away with the crown. We discuss how this title differed from the 2022 and 2023 titles, the Parrish twins and high jumper Kaleb Tesmer. We also discuss freshman Jasmine Stiede’s family connections to WSU and how those relationships landed her in Wichita on her way to an 800-meter championship.
Voice of the Shockers Mike Kennedy takes us through a retrospective on his career with audio clips of memorable moments from men’s basketball and baseball. We start in the 1980’s, journey through Jim Audley’s throw in 1991, the 2006 and 2013 NCAA Tournaments and wrap up with a Kenyon Giles highlight. Kennedy, retiring after baseball season, started on the radio with Shocker basketball and football in 1980. We discuss his memories, his partners, his process and more.
Wichita State sophomore infielder Ausha Moore joins the podcast to talk about choosing softball over basketball, with help from Dad and a wiffle ball, and her old-school music tastes as influenced by Mom. We also discuss Wichita State’s 14-game win streak in conference play, Kinzey Woody’s swag and the quiet contributions of teammates Trinity Allen and Johnna Schroeder. The Shockers play at 2:30 p.m., Friday in the American Conference Championship, needing two wins to earn an automatic spot in an NCAA regional. You can watch that game on ESPN-plus. The semifinal winners play at 11 a.m., Saturday on ESPN2.
