Wichita State men's basketball coach Isaac Brown spent the summer months getting large group of newcomers bonded and up to speed. Tuesday afternoon he met with local media ahead of the team's first official practice for a preview of what's to come. Read on for the transcript…
 

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… Keys to the season:
We've got a new group of guys coming in. 12 new faces. We're just ready to get these guys playing together. I think the key with this team is just trust, building their confidence on offense and defense. Defensively, we've got to make sure we're always in the right spots, getting guys to play hard and not giving up second shots. On offense, we've just got to do a better job of sharing the basketball, taking great shots and playing together as one.
 
… Getting new players up to speed:
"When you've got a new team, you've just got to go slower. Those 4 hours a week we got in practice, I had to tone it down and make sure that those guys understood exactly what the program was about and what we wanted on defense. To compete for conference championships, you've got to be able to defend, rebound and play with toughness. Offensively, we talked about just sharing the basketball. What can you do on offense to help this team score without shooting the basketball? Can you set a screen? Can you get an assist to get somebody else a wide-open shot?
 
… Craig Porter Jr.'s value as a veteran point guard on a team with so many new parts:
"Oh, he means the world to this team… Just having him on the floor makes a complete difference. He's one of the best guards in the conference, one of the best guards in the country."
 
"He's meant a lot of things. Getting (teammates) in the right spots, making sure those guys are in the gym, getting up extra shots, or just talking to them after a tough practice. He's able to… tell them the things that we expect and be a leader in the locker room. That's what he did all summer long."
 
… Kenny Pohto's role as the team's top returning big man after backing up Morris Udeze last year:
"He'll be big for us. He's got a lot of experience. He gained a lot of weight this summer. He got bigger and stronger. We expect him to be a guy that can score the basketball inside and outside. He's a great defender in the post, and he's a guy that can stretch the defense with the way that he shoots from the three-point line."
 
… Early impressions of freshman walk-on Henry Thengvall from Wichita's Kapaun Mt. Carmel:
"He's in practice playing hard every day. Henry's done a great job understanding the system. Being a Wichita guy, he's been here through the great runs. He's brought a lot of energy in practice."
 
… The value of hosting TBT in July, as an example of what Shocker basketball is all about.
"I think the TBT was huge for us this summer. No. 1, the atmosphere, having the best fans in the country. When our players were able to see that, I thought it brought a lot more energy in our practices the next day. Getting guys like Darral Willis, Rashard Kelly and Conner talking to our basketball players about what to expect every day at the highest level, I thought was huge for those players. I thought they learned a lot."
 
… New strength and conditioning coach Ryan Horn's immediate impact this summer:
"I think he's one of the best in the country. The guy is at another level, right now. The players love him. We did a lot of team bonding stuff (this summer) that he thought would be good for our program… I thought all his stuff helped bring our players together and helped them to bond and be more of a team."
 
… The importance of team bonding activities – such as visiting McConnell Air Force Base and working out at a boxing gym – for a new team building chemistry:
"The biggest thing with a new team, you've got to get those guys to trust their teammates. When we went out to the military base, doing all those different drills, you had to count on your teammates to help you get through… That's stuff that will taker you a long way."
 
… The non-conference schedule:
"We always want to play one of the toughest schedules in the country. Richmond is a team that won an NCAA tournament game last year. Those guys beat Iowa. Playing Oklahoma State, Missouri and Kansas State. I think this is one of the toughest non-conference schedules that we've had, and I think that'll help us going into the conference."
 
… Porter's improvement:
"He's become more vocal. As a point guard, you've got to be the most vocal guy on the floor. You've got to be an extension of the head coach. And I think he's done a great job of communicating what I wanted to the players, and those guys have been able to go out and do that. He's in tip-top shape. He's scoring the basketball a lot better. I'm expecting great things from him, and I think he's in all-conference guy, for sure."
 
… Keys to bounce-back year after a sour ending to 2021-22:
"We've got to stay together. We've got to trust the process. I think we've got to continue to get better every practice early on. I think the young guys have to find a way to help the team without scoring. That's the biggest thing when you have a new team, getting those guys to find their roles. As the head coach, I've got to give those guys those different roles, whether you're going to be a defender, a rebounder or a guy who's always setting screens. I've got to make sure every guy on this team knows their role to help this team win basketball games."
 
… Junior guard Jaykwon Walton:
"I really trust him on the basketball floor. He's a guy that can play multiple positions. When you put the ball in his hand, it's like having an extra point guard on the floor. He can really affect the game without scoring. He'll be one of our better defenders, one of our better passers, and he has great size and can really rebound."
 
… What Walton must do to turn potential into production:
"Coming out of high school, Jaykwon Walton was a four-star (recruit). He was a top-75 player in the country. He ended up going to junior college after leaving the University of Georgia, but he became a junior college all-American. You can see it. He has talent. He can score the basketball. He has great size. He has a basketball IQ. And like I said, he makes other guys around him better without scoring the basketball. He's always putting guys in position to have wide open shots. We need him to have a big year.
 
… What Shocker fans have to look forward to 2022-23:
"I'm excited about this new team. These guys that came in here this summer have gotten better. They got here in June. We have a lot of size and athleticism. I feel like we're a better shooting team. I feel like we've got more guys that can handle the ball and create wide open shots for others. But they have been a joy to coach so far this summer. They're working hard and I think these guys will be something that you will definitely want to come and see. They'll give you 110% every night."