Men's Basketball | 2/22/2026 8:26:00 AM
By
Paul Suellentrop
The kids are back at Koch Arena, leaning over the rail, slapping hands and collecting signatures as the Shockers head to the locker room.
One wore a No. 1 Shockers jersey. One wore a shirt with the old-school WuShock logo. Three held black-and-yellow basketballs, waiting for a Shocker to sign. Another youngster wore a Fred VanVleet jersey.
One looked at a friend and said, "You got a
Kenyon Giles autograph?"
There is not a better gauge on Wichita State basketball than the railing at Koch Arena. When the Shockers are down, it's sparse. The Shockers are rolling. The kids on the rail are back, squeezing in next to a buddy and happy to participate in the excitement to take home a souvenir.
Assistant coach
P.J. Couisnard walked down the tunnel, the same place he signed countless programs, shirts and basketballs during his playing career, saying, "We're getting there, we're getting there."
It did indeed feel like that on Saturday night at Koch Arena.
Wichita State celebrated radio voice Mike Kennedy with a game that honored the past and brightened the future. A season-high crowd of 8,094 watched the Shockers handle Temple 69-57 with a mature, decisive effort that kept the lead at double digits over the final 12 minutes.
"This night is all about Mike," said Giles, who scored 27 points on 21 shots. "We made sure we played hard for him."
The Shockers (18-10, 10-5) have won three straight and five of six to stay in second place in the American. It is their most conference wins since 11 in the COVID-abbreviated 2020-21 season. Two more wins will be the team's most since 2017-18, their first in the American Conference.
The Shockers gave their fans a good night with the spotlight on them. The not-so-old days of 10,000-plus that shaped the nation's perception of Koch Arena as a madhouse aren't back, but that goal feels a bit closer.
Koch Arena drew 7,569 fans for a win over Tulsa, then a season-high, on Feb. 14. Wichita State survived at ECU 92-89 in double overtime with two miracle shots by Giles and 27 points from T.J. Williams.
The Shockers returned to Koch Arena for Mike Kennedy Night with a chance to win back a few more fans, show some of those who faded away in recent seasons what's up. A chance to reward the loyal ones who sat through the recent ups and downs and stuck with them.
"A special night," Mills said. "I would rather teach third grade than lose a game tonight and have to live with that."
They returned to Koch Arena with Shockers from the 1976, 2006 and 2016 Missouri Valley Conference championship teams in the building. Those are the coaches and athletes Mills credited with building that community asset he now leads. The names ranged from Cheese Johnson (1976) to Paul Miller (2006) to Ron Baker (2016), with many others back in the arena. Former coach Mark Turgeon joined his 2006 team. Randy Burns, Jamar Howard and Fridge Holman, key Shockers in lifting Turgeon's program before the 2006 season, returned.
"It was great to see so many players who contributed to the history here," Mills said. "One of the things that draws fans is the rich tradition. I wanted to thank Shocker nation for being here, and I know a lot of that had to do with celebrating three wonderful teams."
Temple (15-12, 7-7) stuck with the Shockers until early in the second half. Mills said guard
Dre Kindell started to turn the momentum late in the first half with his energy on defense.
"They were way too comfortable," Mills said. "
Dre Kindell flipped the switch."
In the second half, the Shockers treated fans to all the hits – show-stopping three-pointers by Giles, high-flying action from Williams and tough defense from
Karon Boyd. Giles made 6 of 7 shots in the second half to score 18 points. Williams back up his scoring high at ECU with 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists.
"T.J. Wiliams has had a heck of a week," Mills said. "I don't think we would have won either of these games without him."
Emanual Okorafor, who carried the Shockers with 10 first-half points, finished with a career-high 13 and 10 rebounds for his first double-double.
Michael Gray Jr., hit a three-pointer with 15:17 to play for a nine-point lead and the Owls didn't get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
The Shockers started the game by dapping up Kennedy, who will retire after baseball season, at his radio spot during introductions. After the buzzer, they returned for more fist bumps and high fives and a photo op. Kindell yells "We had to get that win for you."
Saturday's win, as Kennedy would be the first to say, wasn't just for him. It was for the kids asking for autographs, the former Shockers with great memories in the arena, the fans who show up on cold nights and the ones who listen on the radio.
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.
