Men's Basketball | 11/5/2026 8:39:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
William Berg's sprint, catch and dunk took about three seconds from half-court to rim.
 
Three seconds for a highlight Berg worked all summer to create.
 
Weights. Yoga. Cutting out pasta and eating more chicken. Work with Wichita State assistant track coach Connor Vaughn to improve his running form.
 
Ice baths and serious time on recovery after workouts on the insistence of assistant coach Dusan Vicentic. On-the-court work with Vicentic. Running hard to beat big men down court to meet the demands of assistant coaches Josh Eilert and P.J. Couisnard.
 
That schedule put him into position to turn on the jets when he noticed his opponent jogging and inattentive on defense early in Wednesday's 79-67 win over Cal State Northridge at Koch Arena. Berg started running hard at half-court, caught the pass from guard Jordan Frison at the foul line and dunked over a defender after one step.

A summer of work turns into a highlight in the first game's opening minutes. Big men who run the court can add a few baskets each game and Berg wants to be that type of player.
 
"Last year, I really didn't get that a lot because I was so tired, fighting people down low," Berg said. "Now I can fight people down low and then still be able to go the other way."
 
 

THAT'S SIR WILLIAM TO YOU 💥 📺 ESPN+ https://t.co/V46rmypt8U

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 5, 2026

 
 
CSUN made the Shockers work for the season-opening win. Berg, a 7-foot-2, 263-pound center, registered career highs with 26 points and 16 rebounds in a tougher-than-expected game in which the Shockers needed his energy.
 
He played 28 minutes and had plenty of juice. He scored 16 of his points in the second half and made 6 of 8 shots and all four of his foul shots.
 
"It's definitely something I'm more ready for than I've ever been," he said.
 
His Shocker teammates saw the difference in his energy this summer. Guard Kenyon Giles played with Berg last season. He joined the team later in the summer as his eligibility lawsuit played out.
 
"When I saw him first-hand what Will looked like, I was like 'Oh, we've got a monster on our hands,'" he said. "We got a presence down low. I have to make sure I do a better job of getting the ball to him this year."
 
After two seasons as a reserve at Purdue, Berg stepped into a bigger role with the Shockers. He learned quickly he needed to get in better shape and help his body heal after games.
 
Yoga helped immensely, he said, with flexibility and easing soreness. Meditation and breathing exercises helped him relax tired muscles.
 
"(Yoga) is tough, very tough," he said. "Last year was the first year I played and it was a shock how fast the accumulation of games comes. After the first month, you're feeling worn down."
 
Berg said he consistently finishes the mile run under six minutes. His work with Vaughn over three weeks taught him pick up his stride.
 
"That small change helped a lot," he said. "I have a tendency to drag my legs behind me when I get tired, kind of like Scooby-Doo."
 
The physical changes and the preparation to play more minutes put Berg at the top of Wichita State's plans. He dominated the smaller Matadors for stretches in the second half. The Shockers will need his best against bigger, more athletic teams in November and December, starting Sunday vs. No. 21 Southern Cal.
 
Coach Paul Mills called the opening game "dicey." The absence of forwards TJ Williams and Dillon Battie, due to short-term injuries, forced WSU into awkward lineups. The Matadors took advantage on the offensive boards. The Shockers shot 8 of 27 from three-point range and Mills didn't like some of the shot selection.
 
Berg took good shots, in part because of teammates looking for him and in part because of his off-season prep.
 
"He's put in a lot of work and he's going to be leaned on quite a bit this year," Mills said.
 
Berg, thanks to yoga, diet and a dedicated routine, appears in shape to do more for the Shockers.
 
 

Wrong guy to leave wide open 🎯 @Kengocrzzy | 📺 ESPN+ https://t.co/bF98oxww2N

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 5, 2026

 
 
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.