Brad Pittman, senior associate AD/facilities and operations at Wichita State University, prepares for us for the NCAA Tournament later this month at Intrust Bank Arena. We discuss the important dates and events surrounding the games in March. We also talk about how WSU and Wichita land NCAA events and plans for the next bidding cycle. The Basketball Tournament, the AfterShocks and the Elam Ending return to Koch Arena for a sixth time in July and Brad explains what’s new with that event. As a bonus – NCAA trivia from Wichita’s long history hosting March Madness and a brief look at construction projects on campus.
Get set for the week with the Roundhouse Rundown podcast, the fastest five minutes in collegiate promotions. The Shocker basketball teams celebrate their seniors this week vs. Tulsa at Koch Arena. The WSU women play Tulsa at 6 p.m. Tuesday. On Sunday, the Shocker men play the Hurricane at 1 p.m. WSU baseball is back at Eck Stadium this weekend for a series against Missouri State starting at 6 p.m. Friday. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
We’ve got a bonus episode of the podcast to give Mike Kennedy and Bob Hull a chance to break down Wichita State’s six-game win streak. We discuss how offensive changes are helping the team’s efficiency and how Bijan Cortes is running things at point guard. We also talk about the impact of Ronnie DeGray III and Xavier Bell’s improvement creating a strong senior season. The Shockers play UAB at 8 p.m. Thursday (ESPNU) at Koch Arena.
Wichita State guard Xavier Bell continues his strong season and he joins the podcast to talk about what’s going right for him and the Shockers. We discuss the change in pace that’s helped the offense and why Bijan Cortes is boosting that area with his role as a connector. We talk about Ronnie DeGray III and his contributions to defense with his hard-nosed play. He tells us what it means to play at home and follow in the path of former Shockers such as Xavier McDaniel (his namesake), Aubrey Sherrod, Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker and others. “Wichita State basketball is one big family that stretches across so many generations,” he said. Wichita State is on a six-game win streak and faces UAB at 8 p.m. Thursday at Koch Arena.
Get set for the week with the Roundhouse Rundown podcast, the fastest five minutes in collegiate promotions. The Shocker men’s basketball team is on a six-game win streak and they play second-place UAB at 8 p.m. Thursday at Koch Arena. Baseball and softball kick off their home schedules this week. Wilkins Stadium will get a lot of attention this week with Oklahoma State, Nebraska, South Dakota State and Missouri in town for the Shocker Invitational. WSU opens the event at 5 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 16 OSU. Shocker baseball plays Cal State Fullerton in a series that starts Friday at 3 p.m. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
Wichita State creative services manager Kat Ramirez joins us to discuss this growing industry in college athletics. Her team documents the Shockers with video, photos, graphics and more on social media and in the venues. She works with a team of two content producers and 11 student interns to take fans behind the scenes, help with recruiting visits and more. We also talk about her unusual career path, her favorite teacher at Taft High School in Texas and her favorite Wichita BBQ place.
Get set for the week with the Roundhouse Rundown podcast, the fastest five minutes in collegiate promotions. Denning Gerig, associate director of communications/broadcasting, is our guest with the trivia question. The Shocker men’s basketball team takes a four-game win streak to Thursday’s game at Florida Atlantic (8 p.m.). They are at home on Sunday to play Tulane at 1 p.m. The WSU women’s tennis team is also on a win streak and they play home matches against Memphis, UT Arlington and Iowa. Wichita State baseball is on the road in Hawaii this weekend. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
Wichita State outfielder Kaleb Duncan gets us ready for baseball season by talking about how his family helps his athletic career and his mom’s special role. We also discuss his walk-up song, the reason he wears No. 53 and why he enjoys modeling his game after Mookie Betts and Ronald Acuna, Jr. Duncan also talks about the big impression made by Mike Sweeney and the big crowd at the First Pitch Banquet earlier this month.
Get set for the week with the Roundhouse Rundown podcast, the fastest five minutes in collegiate promotions. Jarret Fox, assistant director of marketing and promotions, is our guest with the trivia question. WSU’s men’s basketball won two road games and is home on Wednesday to play UTSA and Sunday vs. No. 14 Memphis in a Yellow Out game at 11 a.m. The women play Rice on Saturday n(2 p.m.) at Koch Arena. Shocker baseball opens the season at McNeese State on Friday. Shocker softball plays in a strong tournament in Florida starting Thursday against Kentucky and No. 8 Texas A&M. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
Former Wichita State baseball player Sean Johnson, a graduate of Wichita South High School, is assistant general manager of the Minnesota Twins after a promotion in January. We talk about why he loves working for the Twins, the importance of curiosity in scouting and players to watch as the Twins open spring training. We discuss Twins prospect Walker Jenkins, an outfielder, who is likely to start the summer with the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge. We also talk about how playing and working for Shocker coaches Gene Stephenson, Jim Thomas and Brent Kemnitz launched his career in baseball.
