Men's Basketball | 1/9/2026 3:55:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Dillon Battie is at his best playing in a direct line to the basket, under control, yet with a purpose.
 
Playing with force, as Wichita State coach Paul Mills says.
 
To do that Battie, a sophomore forward, needs to start by choosing his job on that specific play. He should work, as Mills describes, as either a connector who moves the ball or a driver.
 
"You have to be a basketball player, make the right read," Battie said. "I'm confident enough in my game to know that whoever they have in front of me, they won't be able to stop me from getting to where I want to get to."
 
The Shockers (9-7, 1-2 American) meets North Texas (10-6, 1-2) at 2 p.m., Sunday at Koch Arena (ESPNU). Battie's importance grows with the loss of forward Jaret Valencia, out for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon in practice in late December.
 
Battie is next line off the bench to give the Shockers size on the wing. With Valencia out, Mills experimented with combinations, most of which make the Shockers too small. Battie, at 6-foot-9, helps that issue.
 
Battie, even in limited minutes, is showing he can help the offense by getting to the foul line. He has taken 26 shots this season and attempted 22 free throws, a rate that tells Mills, although in a small sample size, production is possible.
 
"That's easily the highest on our team," Mills said. "Attack. He can get to the free throw line. You have to play for force and you're not content with settling. He's gotten better at that."
 
 

Mouse in the house.@BattieDillon pic.twitter.com/DouwWwwZX5

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 5, 2025

 
 
Mills pointed to a play in WSU's win over UAB when Battie turned down an outside shot to drive. He drew a foul and split his free throws. In a loss at Charlotte, Battie, from Dallas, played 15 minutes and scored eight points on 3-of-5 shooting and two free throws. While he is 12 of 22 (54.5 percent) from the line this season, he is 7 of 10 in the past four games with increased playing time.
 
The Shockers are coming off a 66-64 loss to Rice in which they shot 29.8 percent from the field. North Texas is a significantly better defensive team. The Mean Green, as Rice did, will try to play physically to knock the Shockers off their game. The Shockers stayed in the game vs. Rice by getting to the line and that could be a factor on Sunday.
 
"When we talk about (playing with force), especially with Coach Mills, it's getting to the basket, getting the high percentage shot," Battie said. "I get to the line. They get in foul trouble."
 
Battie, who transferred from Temple, played in 20 games last season. Mills considers him a freshman on the learning ladder due to his limited minutes. That shows up on defensive assignments.
 
"Work to do," Mills said. "He's got to make strides. Where we've really encouraged Dillon is that awareness has to be better."
 
Battie knows there is work to do. He starts with a good understanding of the force necessary to do the job.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
 
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.