Good morning! Former Shocker basketball star turned international pro, Connor Frankamp, made a shot earlier this week for Palencia Baloncesto that fans might find familiar to a certain moment at The Roundhouse.

What are we mixing into today’s Brew?

🥎 Shocker softball selected No. 1 in AAC preseason poll
🏀 Champions For Literacy game announced
🌾 ​ And much, much more!

🌾 ONE BIG THING

Coming off of two conference championships in the past three years, the Shockers were once again selected to reign as the 2024 American Athletic Conference champions by the league’s coaches. The Shockers are returning six starters from last season including three-time First Team All-Conference selection Addison Barnard and 2023 AAC Defensive Player of the Year Sami Hood.

Rounding out the top three were AAC newcomers Charlotte, who received one first-place vote, and North Texas. Shocker softball opens the season at the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas on Feb. 9-11 and will play games against Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston and UNLV.

📚️ Read more from ExtraInningSoftball about Kristi Bredbenner as she shares insights into recruiting to Wichita State and the transfer portal

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Fighting the Fight. College basketball coaching staffs, athletes and fans across the country participate in the Champions for Literacy (formerly Coaching for Literacy) initiative to address the alarming national problem of illiteracy. Two out of three American 3rd graders can't read proficiently, but Champions for Literacy is out to change that. Wichita State Men's Basketball has participated in the program for the last several years and has had a positive impact through a partnership with United Way of the Plains and Wichita Public Schools.

This season, the Shockers will hold their #Fight4Literacy game on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at The Roundhouse against UTSA. All donations will support literacy programs in the neighborhoods surrounding Wichita.

🔼 Passing Of Knowledge. Shocker men’s basketball assistant coach Quincy Acy spent seven seasons in the NBA and was named to an All-Big 12 team during his collegiate years. Now, he is getting the opportunity to pour into others just as others poured into him throughout his basketball career, and so far, that player has been Quincy Ballard.

🗣️ "From the first time I've seen him, he's been a big factor in my improvement. Being that he's a former NBA player, that really helps me a lot. I can learn from that. I can sit down and talk to him any day." - Quincy Ballard

The blocked shots, dunks and rebounds Ballard was getting on a game-by-game basis provided Acy a good starting point. He's pleased to use Ballard's shooting touch with a growing variety of post moves, but he isn't someone to run an offense. He can score given the ball in the right situations and convert at a high rate. Ballard is shooting 69.6 percent from the field, and his free throw shooting is up to 69.6 percent (48 of 69) after he made just 7 of 14 last season.

📚️ Read more about Acy and Ballard’s relationship and how Ballard has improved this season.

🤔 SHOCKER TRIVIA

Rookie Recap. Wichita State softball had great players up and down the roster in 2023, but one player in particular shined in her first season with the Shockers.

Our question today: do you remember which Shocker was named the 2023 AAC Rookie of the Year?

Think you got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

📬 STICK WITH US

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📆 LOOKING AHEAD

Wednesday, Jan. 17

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Memphis @ 6:00pm in Wichita, KS | Listen | Live Stats

Thursday, Jan. 18

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Florida Atlantic @ 6:00pm in Boca Raton, FL | Listen | Live Stats

Friday, Jan. 19

👟 Track and Field @ Prairie Wolf Invitational in Lincoln, NE

🌾 Click here to see the full Wichita State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Alex Aguilar!

Aguilar went 15-4 from the circle and finished with a 1.88 ERA in her first year with the Shockers en route to her AAC Rookie of the Year award.

🌾 Have a great Wednesday, y’all!