Welcome to the 2026-27 school year from the Roundhouse podcast. We open the athletic season with Voice of the Shockers Denning Gerig and a five-round draft of top storylines across Wichita State athletics. We dive into Will Berg’s potential and the enticing non-conference schedule for men’s basketball. We also discuss shortstop “rats” at Eck Stadium, bowling’s run at an NCAA title and returning softball stars. Come back Friday for a five-round draft of Shocker athletes.
Wichita State women’s basketball coach Terry Nooner details the book project that started his team’s summer workouts. We discuss how 12 newcomers are adjusting to Wichita State and how two new assistant coaches are fitting in. We also talk about strong summers for transfer Ma’Riya Vincent and freshman Mari Milton. Wichita State, 8-23 last season, scrimmages Newman on Oct. 28 and opens the season at Kansas State on Nov. 2. The Shockers open their home schedule against Missouri State on Nov. 10.
Wichita State director of athletics Kevin Saal gets us started on the 2026-27 school year with a look at basketball scheduling, retention of athletes and a discussion of coach Paul Mills’ contract extension. We discuss American Conference basketball coaching upgrades, the NCAA Tournament in Wichita, basketball season tickets and more. We also review successes of the past year, including bowling, women’s tennis and more.
Wichita State basketball coach Paul Mills, who recently signed a three-year contract extension, wraps up summer workouts with a look at the Shocker newcomers and how the offense is expected to look different this season with more creation on the menu. We discuss the importance of graduate assistants, Dillon Battie’s journal skills and how the arrival of new guards changes the role of Michael Gray Jr.
Melanie Balcomb joined the Wichita State women’s basketball coaching staff this spring as associate head coach. We discuss her desire to work for coach Terry Nooner and her role installing a new offense for the Shockers. We also talk about her coaching success at Xavier and Vanderbilt, how she identifies hidden gems while recruiting and her love for the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Balcomb brings 26 seasons of experience as a head coach, including 14 at Vanderbilt and seven at Xavier, to WSU. She coached teams to 19 NCAA Tournaments, highlighted by a 2001 trip to the Elite Eight with Xavier and 12 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament with Vanderbilt.
Wichita State women’s basketball assistant coach Rachel Swartz joined the staff earlier this summer. We discuss her journey into coaching, which was influenced by her playing career at Missouri State from 2013-17. She talks about how she learned to embrace her role as a post player who rebounded, set screens and tried to make the team work. She talks about her favorite NBA and WNBA players and the current Shockers who are making a good impression in summer workouts.
Wichita State basketball assistant coach Iain Laymon updates fans on the three-game win streak after Saturday’s win over Memphis. We discuss how the Shockers regrouped with some real talk before playing USF, how coaches think about shot selection for Kenyon Giles and why they encourage Brian Amuneke to fire away. We also talk about how the Shockers use technology to improve foul shooting. Iain discusses why he got into coaching and his father’s influence on his career.
Get set for the week with the Roundhouse Rundown podcast, the fastest five minutes in collegiate promotions. Wichita State opens American Conference basketball this week with both the men’s and women’s teams on the road. The Shocker men open conference play at 3 p.m. Wednesday at UAB and continue on the road at Charlotte at 5 p.m., Jan. 3. Both games are on ESPNU. WSU women’s basketball opens conference play at Tulsa at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
Wichita State basketball coach Paul Mills updates fans on summer practices. We discuss depth and versatility at the center position and his favorite rebounding drill. We talk about roles for new assistant coaches Josh Eilert and P.J. Couisnard and how the AfterShocks further demonstrated Wichita’s love for basketball. We also dive into shooters on this team, the Shocker who organized pickup games, and Mills’ love for popcorn and assorted toppings.
Mills is entering his third season as basketball coach at Wichita State. The Shockers played in the NIT last season, their first post-season berth since 2021, and went 19-15, a record highlighted by wins over Minnesota, Kansas State and a win over Memphis in Koch Arena. There are 12 new Shockers who join returners T.J. Williams, Joy Ighovodja and Henry Thengvall.
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Get set for the week with the Roundhouse Rundown podcast, the fastest five minutes in collegiate promotions. The Shocker women play at Memphis and UAB this week. The Wichita State men open AAC play at Temple on Friday (6 p.m.) on ESPN2. Both teams are home next week to play the USF Bulls – men on Jan. 6 and women on Jan. 8. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
