Men's Basketball | 2/6/2026 5:56:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
During a video session, Wichita State coach Paul Mills mentioned Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell as an example of a strong defender who excels at taking charges.
 
That name stuck with Michael Gray Jr., Wichita State's senior guard and leading taker of charges. Mitchell, who played at Baylor from 2018-2021, earned National Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021.
 
"I just ran with it," Gray said. "I'm trying to get as many as I can. I've always been good at taking charges."
 
The Shockers (14-9, 6-4) play at Tulane (13-9, 4-5) at 1 p.m., Sunday (ESPN+).
 

Gray leads the Shockers with six charges taken this season and his pace is picking up. He took two in a win over Memphis on Jan. 24 and added another in Wednesday's win over Charlotte.
 
The NCAA made it harder to draw charging fouls starting in the 2023-24 season by forcing defenders to be in position when the offensive player plants a foot to go airborne. The NCAA's Men's Basketball Rules Committee wanted fewer charges and wanted to promote scoring, reduce collisions and make things easier on officials.

Before 2023-24, defenders had to be in position to draw a charge before the offensive player went airborne. 

Many coaches no longer prioritize charges as a defensive staple because of the change. Gray is showing it's possible with the right anticipation. The Shockers are coached to fall correctly – by sliding back and not bracing themselves with their hands.
 
"We go over this on (scouting reports)," Gray said. "It's knowing the physical players and knowing they're going to put their shoulder down at some point to load up and lay the blow."
 
The Shockers are coming off their best defensive effort of the conference schedule in the 74-64 win over Charlotte. The 49ers missed eight of nine three-pointers and 20 of their 30 shots in the second half and didn't record an assist. Wichita State held Charlotte to its lowest score and worst shooting percentage in conference play.
 
The Shockers, Mills said, are better able to quickly change tactics.
 
"Earlier in the year, in order to course correct it would take us a little while," he said. "You've got to remind guys that this is what we're doing, and I'm impressed how we can do it now from the sideline. It used to take a timeout. It used to take halftime."
 
The Green Wave will test Wichita State's defense with a five-out offense that no other conference school plays. Center Tyler Ringgold plays on the perimeter often, where opposing big are uncomfortable defending. Guards Rowan Brumbaugh and Asher Woods run an offense that rarely turns the ball over and excels at getting to the foul line.
 
Mills wants to see the Shockers defend on the road as well as they have at home. They've allowed 70 or more points in four of five American road games. In Koch Arena, they have held all five opponents under 70. At Koch Arena, no conference opponent has made more than six three-pointers or shot better than 33 percent behind the arc. In five road American games, three opponents hit 37 percent or better.

"That old cliché – 'Defense travels,'" Mills said. "Defense needs to travel."

Gray points to another role model for playing defense on the road -. teammate Karon Boyd.

"On the road, at home, he's the same defender," Gray said. "We've got to be able to match his intensity. On the road, things get harder. We've got to be able to keep up that same level of intensity. Follow our guys that are defending. KB travels everywhere."

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.