Men's Basketball | 7/9/2021 3:17:00 PM

 
The Shockers are practicing basketball on Thursday afternoon, working on their jump shots and ball-handling. Most of the coaching staff is on the road recruiting.
 
It is a normal scene for summer in Koch Arena. For Wichita State, that is significant.
 
While the transfer portal and name, image and likeness issues push college athletics into upheaval – as schools wrestle with the financial burden of a pandemic – things are going smoothly for Shocker basketball. The great changes of the past 12 months are diminishing in their impact.
 
On Wednesday, guard Tyson Etienne confirmed his return to Wichita State after weeks working out for NBA teams and showing off the point-guard skills that will be prominent in 2021-22 for the Shockers.
 
All his teammates, except newcomer Kenny Pohto, are in Wichita. Four of the top five scorers are back, plus two more who played regularly off the bench last season. The newcomers add college experience with transfers Qua Grant, Matt McFarlane and Joe Pleasant and skilled and bouncy freshman Jalen Ricks.
 
None of the six departures surprised or rocked the foundation of the roster. The returning group knows how to win, knows what's expected from the coaching staff and should integrate the newcomers into their roles with little fuss.
 
Last summer's COVID-19 shadow, while not nonexistent, is much less of a concern. Isaac Brown starts his second season as coach after an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021, when he took over as interim coach weeks before the season.
 
Wichita State's off-season can be about basketball.
 
Etienne's presence is the piece that returns the Shockers to the NCAA Tournament conversation and the ability to challenge for another American Athletic Conference title. Andy Katz of NCAA.com ranks the Shockers No. 20 on the strength of Etienne opting out of NBA Draft consideration. Grant, a transfer from West Texas A&M, adds quickness and scoring ability. Returner Craig Porter Jr. appears rejuvenated and healthy after COVID-19-related interruptions affected last season.
 
Last season's Shockers thrived with Etienne, the AAC Co-Player of the Year, and Alterique Gilbert showing off point-guard skills. Etienne, Grant and Porter should be able to hit defenses with similar weapons. Pleasant is a power forward who made 20 of 43 three-pointers last season at Abilene Christian and should fit well into the spacing big man role in the Shocker offense.
 
The Shockers need all of that because they aren't the only American team that returned or added significant talent. While the conference will miss Houston guard Quentin Grimes, who left with a year of eligibility remaining, it appears the American survived the off-season in good shape.
 
Houston retained guard Marcus Sasser, a second-team all-conference pick, and added Texas Tech transfer Kyler Edwards, UConn transfer Josh Carlton and Taze Moore, an All-Big West selection at Bakersfield last season. Katz ranks the Cougars No. 12 Gary Parrish of CBS Sports ranks them No. 10.
 
Memphis, No. 17 in Katz's list, won the NIT last season and is searching for its first NCAA bid under coach Penny Hardaway. The Tigers lost several key players from last season, but rebuilt with transfers Earl Timberlake (Miami), Tyler Harris (who played two seasons at Memphis before transferring to Iowa State) and Chandler Lawson (Oregon).
 
New Cincinnati coach Wes Miller did an admirable job keeping Bearcats such as David DeJulius and Jeremiah Davenport after the turbulent off-season and coaching change. Mississippi State transfer Abdul Ado earned a spot on the All-SEC Defensive Team in 2021.
 
SMU lost Feron Hunt, but kept all-conference guard Kendric Davis. The Mustangs added Zach Nutall, the Southland Conference Player of the Year at Sam Houston State and twins Marcus Weathers (second-team All-Atlantic 10 at Duquesne) and Michael Weathers (All-SWAC at Texas Southern). At UCF, Brandon Mahan, Darius Perry, C.J. Walker and Isaiah Adams all elected to return after going through NBA Draft mechanics.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.