Men's Basketball | 3/25/2026 4:31:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
The list of uplifting, memorable post-season defeats is a short and painful and nobody wants to see it grow.
 
However, that list exists and Tuesday's 83-79 loss at Tulsa in the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinal round takes its place alongside 2004 Florida State (NIT) and 2014 Kentucky (NCAA). Those games somehow left people with an appreciation – to the level possible after a gut-wrenching defeat - for a great game, thrilling effort and the future.

Coach Paul Mills, in his remarks to the media in Tulsa after the game, made it clear he sees bigger things in the near future. Tuesday's slow start, comeback and disappointment are part of the journey and he likes the way it is unfolding.
 
The Shockers (24-12) trailed by 24 points in the first half and 52-36 at halftime. They outscored the Hurricane by 12 points in the second half – despite shooting 1 of 10 from three-point range – by holding Tulsa to seven baskets, forcing six turnovers and making 18 of 19 free throws.
 
Down 12 with 11:08 to play, the Shockers tied it 66-all with 7:21 remaining and had a 74-73 lead with the ball. Tulsa (29-7) turned an offensive rebound and a missed three and a turnover by the Shockers into a 79-74 lead with 1:21 to play. Tulsa's Tylen Riley made four free throws in the final 12 seconds to hold off the Shockers.
 
It was a tough way to end a season that, after a rough non-conference schedule, improved throughout late January and into March. The Shockers started their surge by defeating eventual American Conference champion USF 86-85 in overtime on Jan. 18. From that point, WSU went 14-4, finished in a tie for second in the American and advanced to the conference tournament title game for the first time.
 
Two wins in the NIT added to the good vibes, highlighted by a 96-70 win at Oklahoma State on Sunday.
 
 

CLEAR THE RUNWAY 🛫@Tj_williams3 | @NITMBB | ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/vOJACUzUqq

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) March 25, 2026

 
 
The post-game discourse focused on those vibes. Mills talked about emerging as "Portal Paul," to focus on adding to his roster. He told reporters he expects to see the Shockers in the national rankings because of the quality and character of players in his locker room and their improvement.
 
"It's fun to watch their growth," he said. "It's why you do it."
 
That growth is why Mills can enter retention meetings with current Shockers and recruit new ones with a message of meaningful and measurable progress.

• The Shockers are No. 73 in the Ken Pomeroy rankings, their best ranking since the 2021 American Conference championship and NCAA Tournament at-large entrant finished No. 68. The Shockers rose from No. 136 last season, largely on the strength of a defense that ranks No. 45, up from No. 126 last season.
• Good coaching can be measured in many ways. Limiting turnovers indicates a team that has a plan and executes it. The Shockers are No. 60 nationally in turnover rate (14.9 percent of possessions) and No. 3 in the American (15 percent). They ranked sixth in the American in turnover margin (0.47) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.10).
• A team that defends and rebounds is playing hard. Mills talks about rebounding more than any other topic and that emphasis shows. The Shockers led the American in rebound margin at 7.3 and ranked eighth in the Pomeroy statistics nationally in offensive rebound percentage (38 percent).
• With limited three-point shooting, Mills constructed an offense that ranked fourth in the conference in Pomeroy's offensive efficiency stat by producing 1.11 points per 100 possessions (Tulsa ranked first at 1.22). The offense highlighted Kenyon Giles' three-point shooting, while also maximizing driving threats from Dillon Battie and TJ Williams.

 


When you're hot, you're hot 🔥 @GoShockersMBB

📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/GQt1ntwh3E

— NIT (@NITMBB) March 23, 2026


 

• Karon Boyd finished the season making 35.1 percent of his threes after making 19.1 percent in his two previous seasons at East Tennessee State. Shocker coaches found an excellent defensive player, used that strength as a point-of-attack menace, and made him more of an offensive threat.
• Center Will Berg grew into an offensive rebounding threat and the American Conference Sixth Man of the Year. Berg ranks No. 15 nationally in offensive rebound percentage and his 117 offensive rebounds are the most by a Shocker since they started tracking that stat in 2000.
• Williams is a redshirt freshman. Battie did not play in four of WSU's first eight games. By the end of the season, they combined to give the Shockers a dynamic forward combination. Williams took over the offense late in several games, most notably with 27 points in a double overtime win at ECU. He ranked third on the team in rebounding at 5 a game. Battie scored in double figures in nine of WSU's final games, highlighted by 22 points and 12 rebounds vs. FAU.

Mills and the Shockers made March basketball matter again and fans responded with increasing crowds at Koch Arena and large groups following them to Oklahoma State and Stillwater. After Tuesday's game, Mills made it clear he expects more March moments.
 

OH MY DB!@BattieDillon | @NITMBB pic.twitter.com/yj5rS7697D

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) March 23, 2026

Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.