Paul Miller and Ryan Martin of the 2005-06 Wichita State basketball team check in for updates and memories of that NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 season. Miller, the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, recalls the time a teammate neglected to wake him up on time and the importance of confidence to that team. Martin, a member of the MVC’s All-Bench team, talks about Miller’s 30-point performance in a win over Southern Illinois and the thoughts going through his mind before a dunk that sealed the NCAA win over Tennessee.
Nick Jones, director of player development, and video coordinator Jeff Chapman join the podcast to discuss the Twitter (@Nick_JonesWSU) project highlighting former Shockers such as Ron Baker, Joe Ragland, Markis McDuffie and others. We also learn Chapman’s role in a halftime superstition, their favorite advice from coach Gregg Marshall and how they explain Fred VanVleet’s basketball smarts.
2005-06 – the season the Missouri Valley Conference beat the system and helped change college basketball. Four MVC teams in the NCAA Tournament – two in Sweet 16. No. 6 in RPI rankings and No. 7 in Ken Pomeroy. Lottery draft pick. Fifth and sixth seeds in MVC Tournament earn at-large bids. MVC commissioner Doug Elgin gets the drop on Billy Packer. Three journalists who covered that season – Paul Klee, Lyndal Scranton and Dave Reynolds – join the podcast to reminisce. Thanks to all who contributed their thoughts and research, including Mike Reis and Art Hains for audio.
Wichita State graduate manager Kellen Marshall discusses his view of the Roundhouse’s list of top 50 wins from 2007-March 1, 2019. Marshall, son of Shockers coach Gregg Marshall, details why NCAA wins over Pitt (2013) and Dayton (2017) mean so much and his affection for the 2015 ESPN GameDay win over Northern Iowa and the GameDay crew. We disagree about hoodie warmups, agree on respecting Gonzaga and he reveals the referees who deserve a break from Shocker fans.
Wichita State coaches Keitha Adams (women’s basketball) and Danny Bryan (men’s tennis) join us remotely. Adams updates fans on three new Shockers, tells a few Don Haskins stories and discusses what she misses the most about pre-pandemic life (Hint: Social distancing is tough for Adams). Bryan describes the abrupt end to the season, how his international athletes adapted and his pick for TV documentaries to watch.
The Roundhouse brings in voice of the Shockers Mike Kennedy and Bob Lutz, long-time chronicler of Shocker athletics and host of The Drive on KFH, to dive into Wichita State “What Ifs?”
Included are links that explain some of the history behind the questions.
In the 1990s, Wichita State considered throwing its influence behind a downtown arena by offering Shocker basketball as the prime tenant. How did the decision to remove basketball from that discussion and renovate Levitt Arena play out?
The Roundhouse podcast talks to Wichita State’s Jack Sigrist (baseball), Michelle Ledermann (golf), Trajata Colbert (basketball) and Megan Taflinger (volleyball) about life during the pandemic. How are they staying active? What are they reading and watching? How are they studying? What do they miss away from teammates, teachers and coaches?
Wichita State president Jay Golden talks sports – his love for the Dodgers, impressions of Shocker athletics and possible plans for adding varsity and club sports. What might be next for Cessna Stadium? What role does athletics play in the university mission?
Marcus Wright discusses his process in creating videos that document and hype the Shockers. He talks about how applied learning at Wichita State helped his career, his time with the St. Louis Cardinals, his thoughts on mentoring and how he manages to make the routine look cinematic.
Mike Kennedy, Bob Lutz and Paul Suellentrop list their top moments, stories and developments for Wichita State athletics in the 2010 era. Topics include the 2013 Final Four, the 2014 perfect regular season, the 2012 volleyball Sweet 16, Aliphine Tuliamuk’s distance running and the ups and downs of Shocker baseball.
