Director of athletics Kevin Saal joins the podcast to discuss the changing landscape and where Wichita State fits as the pending House v. NCAA settlement nears. We discuss the three areas of the settlement and how they likely add a $7 million need to WSU’s annual athletic budget of around $27 million. How does not sponsoring football help Wichita State compared to peers? How is the athletic department working on revenue? How is Wichita State’s work on student-athlete satisfaction helping retention efforts. We also update fans on University Stadium and Wilkins Stadium construction projects.
Get set for the week at your favorite Shocker venue with the Roundhouse Rundown podcast, the fastest five minutes in collegiate promotions. The Shocker women face No. 9 Oklahoma on Tuesday at Koch Arena. On Friday, the AAC Volleyball Championship hits Koch Arena. Wichita State opens play against Tulsa at 7:30 p.m. The Shocker men’s basketball team is in Kansas City on Friday night to face Saint Louis. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
Wichita State guard Bijan Cortes joins the podcast to talk about Sunday’s exhibition win and how the Shockers are changing their defensive approach. We discuss building a connection with center Quincy Ballard on lobs and why that play is exciting. We also talk about why he wears No. 55, why college athletes are paying more attention to their clothes and which Shocker might win a game of HORSE. The Shockers open the season at Western Kentucky on Monday at 7 p.m. The home opener is Nov. 9 against Montana State at 6 p.m.
Wichita State’s Salese Blow joins the podcast to talk about following up on standout freshman season. She discusses the origins of her nickname, why she stuck with WSU after a coaching change, and her impressions of freshman KP Parr as defensive pest. We also dive into her basketball family and how it goes when she critiques her mom’s work as a college and NBA G League referee.
Wichita State forward Ronnie DeGray III joins us to break down summer workouts and two of the newcomers who popped in his eyes. He discusses his late-season surge in 2024 and how coach Paul Mills boosted his confidence. DeGray also talks about how his father influenced his basketball career, why he wears No. 3 at Wichita State and his career goals in an NBA front office.
Matej Bosnjak, a 6-foot-9 center from Croatia, joins the podcast to talk about his home country, his favorite food and his passion for soccer club Hajduk Split and the Green Bay Packers. Bosnjak discusses choosing Wichita State, his adjustment to the United States and why he wears No. 17 for the Shockers.
Women’s basketball coach Terry Nooner updates fans on summer practices and the exhibition tour of the Virgin Islands. We talk about adding athletic ability and height to the roster and his desire to play faster. We discuss his options to play point guard, Taylor Jameson’s energy at practice and Jayla Murray’s hard work since last season. Nooner also describes summer activities such as financial literacy training and plans for assistant coach Antwain Scales to teach about car maintenance.
Jasmine Peaks, Taylor Jameson and Princess Anderson continue our series on Shocker basketball newcomers. We talk about why they chose Wichita State, their favorite NBA and WNBA stars and summer workouts. Wichita State leaves for the Virgin Islands later this month where it will play two exhibition games.
AfterShocks coach Zach Bush gets us ready for The Basketball Tournament (which starts July 20 at Koch Arena). We break down newcomers to the roster and how the recruiting timeline works. We talk about returners such as Conner Frankamp, Rashard Kelly and Darral Willis. We also discuss Bush’s high school coaching career and why it would be fun and fitting for Joe Ragland to get a moment one summer as a member of the AfterShocks.The AfterShocks play July 20 at noon against Midtown Prestige at Koch Arena, televised on FS1. Midtown Prestige is also a Wichita-based team with several local athletes on the roster or coaching. The winner plays July 22.
Wichita State basketball freshmen TJ Williams and Zion Pipkin join our series on the newcomers. Williams talks about staying at home to play, his time as a Shockers ball boy and his understanding of the history of Heights High School basketball. Pipkin, from Houston, describes what it takes to be a great point guard and how he is improving his leadership skills. He also talks about playing in high school for former Shocker P.J. Couisnard, who demands his athletes work on defense and likes to remind them of his performance in the 2006 NCAA Tournament win over Tennessee.
