Senior day is upon us. Earlier this week, head coach Isaac Brown and veterans Craig Porter Jr. and Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler sat down with local media to reflect on their Shocker journeys and some of the emptions that they're feeling heading into Sunday's home finale against South Florida (1 p.m. CT, ESPNU). Read on for some of the highlights:
 

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HEAD COACH ISAAC BROWN ON….
 
… Senior forward Gus Okafor:
"He's had a great attitude all year. He hadn't played the minutes… but every day in practice, he's been positive. He's been a guy that's had high character on the bench and giving us good minutes when he comes into the basketball game."
 
… Senior forward Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler:
"I'm so excited that he came back to Wichita. When he left (in 2021), he put his name in the portal because he wanted to go somewhere where he could start. He was backing up Morris Udeze. He came (back) this summer as a walk on, paid his own way. We were fortunate enough to have a scholarship at the break. We gave that to him. He's been nothing but a plus for our team."
 
… Senior forward James Rojas:
"James Rojas has been unbelievable this entire year, and it started this summer in practice… Every day in practice, he's been one of our hardest workers, our toughest guys. I think his toughness is showing up with those younger guys. They're starting to pick that up. They see how he works from day to day."
 
… Senior guard Craig Porter Jr.:
I give it up to that kid. He's the heart and soul of our team. For him to come back when (almost) everybody (else) put their names in the portal, and just to trust the process, to believe in our team, has made it an unbelievable season with him running the show… That just goes to show you what type of guy he is and his character."
 
… Getting players to buy in long term to your program in the new age of the portal:
"You do that all year long, trying to build relationships with these guys, letting them know that even though you're not playing as many minutes as you want, our vision for you is the same. You've just got to trust the process and wait your turn… Know that we have the same vision for you when we recruited you."
 
… How Porter's growth as a leader parallels that of Markis McDuffie in 2019:
"We lost a lot of guys (from the 2017-18 team), and Markis McDuffie and Samajae [Haynes-Jones] were the seniors. We had a young group. (Markis and Samajae) fought every day to pull those guys together. We got off to a slow start that year, but those guys battled back and made it to the NIT. It's been the same with this (year's) team, having 10 new faces, Craig Porter being the veteran guy. For him to get these guys together, to be able to fight every day, even after getting off to a slow start, (is a) credit to his character, his will to win, and his will to keep fighting every day, even after a tough loss."
 
…Porter's growth over the past three seasons:
"When he first came in, he came off the bench for us that first year, playing behind Alterique Gilbert. We told him to trust the process and his turn would come. He started for us last year… (and) helped us get a lot of really good wins. This year, he stepped it up. He's had to be the captain of his team, and he's done a really great job of running this basketball team through some tough times, some tough losses, bringing these guys together, fighting back, and being able to go on the road and get some hard-fought wins."
 

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CRAIG PORTER JR. ON:
 
…the 2022-23 season so far:
"This season has been a rollercoaster ride. We've had our ups and downs. This whole year, we've been in every single game there is within a couple possessions, so I feel like we can compete with anybody in the country."
 
… the team's positive progress these past two months:
"It's really just buying into the system we've put in. There were times early in the year when we were all trying to play a little bit of hero ball, and we were taking a lot of unneeded threes at times. So we just bought into the system that I.B. and the coaches have put together for us, that they've been using the last few years. We've just followed that, and it's been making it easier for us."
 
…Offensive improvement since early January:
"It's just getting out and running more. That alone has gotten us 10-15 more points-per-game. So I just tell these guys, 'As soon as I get a rebound or anyone gets a rebound, if you run or do whatever you've got to do to get down the floor, I'm going to find you and get you open and you're going to have an easy look.'"
 
…What he's most proud of in his time at Wichita State:
"I'm most proud of how much better of a leader I feel like I've become, vocally. It's been really challenging bringing in a whole new team and trying to do it almost by myself. But not really. Having the other seniors like Poor Bear and James. But being the lone one to come back, besides Kenny. It's been challenging. But it's nothing I wasn't prepared for or hadn't mentally prepared for, so I've just tried to do my best job to get these guys prepared for when I make my departure and just try to put them on the right foot."
 
…How he wants Shocker fans to remember him as a player:
"I just want them to remember what I do on and off the court. It's not necessarily the prettiest. I may not have the best scoring abilities, but I just want them to know that this place is like home to me. I just tried to lay everything out there for the fans and for my team."
 

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ISAIAH POOR BEAR-CHANDLER ON:
 
… His journey to this point:
"It's mind blowing, honestly. Just my story. All of it. Reminiscing on all of it. It's coming quick, isn't it? This team made it fun for me my last season. It's a little emotional because I didn't want to leave Wichita in the first place, but I'm glad they accepted me back as part of the family."
 
… What he's most proud of in his time at Wichita State:
"Just the ability to pull through adversity. Everything outside of basketball that falls down on an athlete, I'm pretty proud of myself."
 
…Porter's role as a leader of the team:
"He really stood up. I was on the team with Markis McDuffie and all of them my freshman year, and the way he stood up for the eight or nine freshman that came in to that team. I've seen comparisons, and I think of Craig as a good leader on the team. I'll follow him into battle any day."
 
…Describing this season in a few words:
"I'm glad we pulled through. There are a lot of teams that just succumb to that adversity, and you can just tell with this team it's really special. I'm glad that I got to be a part of the team to help them learn and become their best selves."
 
…Playing for Coach Brown his senior year:
"From the first time I saw him pull up to my doorstep to now, it's always been love. I've got nothing but respect for I.B."