Good morning! From two-way to full-time, former Shocker basketball player Craig Porter Jr. earned his promotion with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The organization converted his contract to a standard NBA contract after averaging 6.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

What are we mixing into today’s Brew?

⚾️ Shocker baseball is back
🏀 Men’s basketball recap
🌾 ​ And much, much more!

🌾 ONE BIG THING

Shocker baseball officially makes its return to the diamond at Noon today to open the season in Little Rock, Arkansas to take on the Trojans. The three-game series will be the first of the Brian Green era. The Shockers are coming off a 30-25 season in 2023, including a 13-10 mark in American Athletic Conference play, good for third place in the final conference standings. This weekend, Wichita State will open up with its three-day rotation of pitchers:

• LHP Caden Favors will lead things off on Friday

• RHP Daniel Zang will follow on Saturday

• RHP Tommy LaPour closes out the weekend on Sunday

It will be a new-look Wichita State roster in 2024, as only 11 players return from the 2023 club. Catcher Mauricio Millan (54 starts) and outfielder Seth Stroh (32 starts) lead the returners in experience, while Caden Favors (21 appearances) and Matt Wilkinson (18 appearances) are the senior members of the pitching staff.

Want to catch a game at Eck Stadium? Buy tickets now and check out the 2024 promotional schedule for events and theme nights going on all season long at the ballpark.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼  Comeback Complete. Wichita State softball scored four runs in the top of the seventh to complete a come-from-behind 6-5 win over No. 20 South Carolina on the second day of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. The Shockers went head to head with its third straight top-25 team in Mexico and came away with its first win of the trip. CC Wong had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, and Sami Hood had a career-high three hits to go with two runs and an RBI. But the hero of the game was Bailey Urban who drove in the eventual game-winning two-run double. After a well-deserved day off, Wichita State will wrap up play at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on Saturday vs. UC Davis.

🔼  Ready For Spring. Coming off an NIVC Tournament win, Shocker volleyball announced its 2024 spring schedule. The slate is full of familiar foes including Oklahoma and Kansas State, both of which will take play in March. The team returns 11 players from the 2023 club including All-Conference selections Izzi Strand and Morgan Stout who will be back to complement a talented group of liberos and defensive specialists like Gabi Maas and Katie Galligan.

📆 See the full Shocker volleyball spring schedule

🔼 Shockers Fall To Pirates. Shocker men’s basketball was unable to find its rhythm on the road and ultimately fell to East Carolina, 68-55. Wichita State struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just four of its 21 attempts. Colby Rogers led the team with 16 points and Harlond Beverley added another 12 as the Shockers’ high scorers of the night. Wichita State wraps up its road swing through North Carolina at Charlotte on Sunday at 11 a.m.

🔼  Staying Warm. Down in the Lone Star State, Shocker women’s tennis picked up a 4-0 victory over UT Arlington for its second win of the trip. The Shockers have won back-to-back matches for the second time this season and improved to 4-2 on the season with the victory. After securing the doubles point, Natsumi Kurahashi and Theodora Chantava clinched wins in singles play to earn the sweep of the Mavericks.

🗣️ "We had some really strong performances today. UTA did well to compete and push us at every court, but we really responded well it was a very sold team win." - head coach Collin Foster

🔼  Up Against The Lobos. Shocker men’s tennis returns to home court to take on New Mexico for its sixth match of the spring. Wichita State returns to competition after taking the week off and will enter the match looking for its third win of the season. The Shockers are 9-3 in home matches all-time under head coach Darragh Glavin and are 1-0 so far this season.

🤔 SHOCKER POLL

Click which one you’re most excited about for this season!

📬 STICK WITH US

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📆 LOOKING AHEAD

Friday, Feb. 16

👟 Track and Field @ Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, AR

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. New Mexico @ 1:00pm in Wichita, KS | Live Stats

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. SMU @ 2:00pm in Dallas, TX

⚾️ Baseball vs. Little Rock @ 3:00pm in Little Rock, AR | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

🥎 Softball vs. Auburn @ 8:30pm in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Watch 

Saturday, Feb. 17

🥎 Softball vs. UC Davis @ 12:30pm in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Watch | Live Stats

⚾️ Baseball vs. Little Rock @ 2:00pm in Little Rock, AR | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Tulsa @ 2:00pm in Wichita, KS | Listen | Live Stats

Sunday, Feb. 18

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Fordham @ 9:00am in Wichita, KS | Live Stats

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Charlotte @ 11:00am in Charlotte, NC | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. UTSA @ 11:00am in Wichita, KS | Live Stats

⚾️ Baseball vs. Little Rock @ 1:00pm in Little Rock, AR | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

🌾 Click here to see the full Wichita State Athletics Calendar

🌾 Have a great weekend, y’all!