The RoundHouse | 10/7/2026 6:42:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
There is such a person, Wichita State coach Paul Mills says, as a "bright lights" player. Some athletes perform better in games than in practices.
 
"We have an idea about what it looks like in practice, but we need to see it in a game," he said. "Some players play better under the lights. Dillon Battie is this way. He's not the best practice player in the world. But he's a gamer."
 
On Wednesday, the Shockers get their first chance of the 2026-27 season to see who can take practice reps and make them work in a game. Wichita State, a likely preseason favorite in the American Conference, plays Murray State at 6:30 p.m. in a charity scrimmage at Koch Arena (no streaming broadcast or video available).
 
Tickets are $20. Proceeds will be split between the Wichita Children's Home and Cheese Johnson's UJUMP mentoring program.
 
Four items to watch
 
1. Running the show – Mills said playing time is largely scripted with no Shocker playing more than 25 minutes and most of the lineup between 22 and eight.
 
The Shockers won't suit up guard Kenyon Giles, dealing with a minor ankle injury, and Michael Gray Jr., who is sidelined while WSU awaits word on his eligibility. That puts extra duty on the table for newcomers Jahari Long, Jordan Frison and Desmeon Jones.
 
All three will play point guard, so the experience working with new teammates will be beneficial. They need time to learn where their teammates want the basketball. They need time to learn how to throw lob passes to William Berg and how to time passes to Battie when he cuts. Who can be trusted to make the right read and get open?
 
"I really just want to see how certain guys flow together," Mills said. "Is there a real chemistry?"
 
After months of playing against largely known quantities in practices, the Shockers will see different looks on defense from Murray State.
 
2. Racers with a new look – Murray State went 20-13 last season, 12-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference before losing to Nevada in the first round of the NIT.
 
The Racers lost nine players and four of their top five starters. MVC Freshman of the Year Roman Domon, who averaged 14.2 points and 5.1 rebounds, is the top returner.
 
Mills said he expects the Racers to play aggressively on defense by harassing WSU on pick-and-roll attempts, trapping and double-teaming post players. Coach Ryan Miller told local media that improving his team's defense was his off-season goal.
 
"Things we don't see on a day-to-day basis – and they're pretty good at it," Mills said.
 
The Racers will challenge the Shocker defense in a way that Mills find helpful. Murray State averaged 83 points a game last season, second in the MVC. According to Ken Pomeroy's statistics, it ranked No. 11 nationally in tempo and No. 35 in average possession length.
 
Cal State Northridge, WSU's first opponent, ranked No. 2 and No. 6.
 
3. Center shot – Berg made three-pointers during the 12-minute Shocker Madness scrimmage and looked comfortable shooting from that range.
 
Mills knows how to use big men as shooters.
 
Connor Vanover, now a graduate assistant at WSU, played center for Mills at Oral Roberts in 2022-23. Vanover, at 7-foot-5, made 46 of 142 threes (32.4 percent).
 
Berg is one of the best offensive rebounders in the nation, so he will often deploy near the basket. The Shockers frequently use him as a screener and passer near the top of the key. If Berg can add a shooting threat from those areas, it helps the offense a bit more.
 
"He has playmaking ability," Mills said. "Some of that is going to be shot-making. We don't need you to be a 40-percent three-point shooter. We just need you to be respectable."
 
4. Full credit – The potential return of Giles soaked up much of the preseason speculation, due to this spectacular scoring skills.
 
Karon Boyd is not returning and it's worth a reflection on the many skills he provided last season. His duties on defense and offense may go to several Shockers.
 
Boyd, a 6-foot-5 forward, often guarded the opposing point guard and put up a wall in the lane to keep ballhandlers away from the basket. He possessed the strength and will to battle through screens, played all 36 games and averaged 33.7 minutes. He rebounded well and made himself into an acceptable shooter (35.1 percent from three).
 
How do the Shockers replace that?
 
The answer may be more dependent on matchups this season. Forward T.J. Williams is also an excellent rebounder and defender. Guards Gray, Lucas and Frison will also take prime defensive assignments.
 
The Shockers won games last season with defense and rebounding. Maintaining without Boyd's smarts, physicality and versatility is one of the challenges of this season.
 
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.