[00:00:14] Speaker A: Hello. Welcome to the Roundhouse Podcast with Paul Sullentrop of Wichita State University Strategic Communications. As always, thank you for listening. We appreciate your time. We are starting our newcomer series this summer for Shocker men's basketball. We're going to get fans introduced to the additions to the roster. Today we have Jordan Friesen. Jordan is a 6 foot guard from Memphis, Tennessee. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 assists last season at Tennessee Chattanooga. Jordan made 42% of his three pointers, 82% of his free throws. He spent two seasons at Pittsburgh State and earned MIAA Player of the Year honors in 2025. Our other guest is Desmion New New Jones. A 5 foot 11 guard. He averaged 12.4 points, 4.8 assists as a freshman at Blinn, Texas.
Nunu is from Dallas. He played with Shocker teammate Dylan Batee at Lancaster High School. They won the Class 5A title in 2024. Jordan, let's start with you. Tell us why you picked Wichita State.
[00:01:17] Speaker B: Just the right situation and fit, you know, they had a bunch of players coming back, 10 returners. And coach Mills, he had a real plan and everything coming in on my visit and it sounded like the right situation for me, especially winning with my other options and, you know, it was the best fit for me. So I just went ahead and committed on my visit.
[00:01:37] Speaker A: On your visit. Take us through a visit. People will probably be a little bit curious how do they show off Wichita State in the basketball program?
[00:01:44] Speaker B: You know, just, you know, walking you around the gym and everything and the campus and all that. And then we end up going out to dinner and obviously I met with Coach Mills in his office and we had this real sit down, watch some film and stuff like that.
And, you know, everything, you know, that they were saying sounded correct and I could tell how serious they were. And they, you know, treated me as a priority and it was, it was the right decision. So when I came on dinner and when I went to dinner and I met all the teammates and everything, TJ and everything, it was, it was the right choice to be able to, you know, go ahead and commit here.
[00:02:14] Speaker A: Yeah. So T.J. williams was your host or one of your hosts?
[00:02:18] Speaker B: No, the players were kind of out, but we ended up running into them later at dinner that night. They end up all showing up to dinner. So I ended up meeting them then. But yeah, it was. We had a pretty good conversation and then, yeah, I went ahead and told Coach.
[00:02:30] Speaker A: So you used the word serious. How did they show you they were serious about Jordan Frison?
[00:02:34] Speaker B: And his basketball by showing you that care, you know, with, you know, watching film and, you know, giving me a real map out and plan of how things, you know, can operate here. And, you know, the vision that he had so I could tell that they, you know, really were considering me and wanted me to be here. So it felt right.
[00:02:55] Speaker A: Did they say something or point out something about your game that you walked out of there going, okay, I hadn't considered that. Or that's a new way of looking at it. Anything that caught your attention in that way?
[00:03:06] Speaker B: Just like how they highlighted my passing ability.
A lot of schools didn't do that during the recruitment process, but that was a big thing for coach, and that's one part of my game that I feel like flies under the radar sometimes.
So, yeah, when he highlighted that, I could tell that they were actually watching film. And really, they really wanted me to be here.
[00:03:28] Speaker A: New New. And he prefers new New. So if you see desmion at the game, he prefers new New. Tell us about the nickname. First of all, how did that come about?
[00:03:36] Speaker C: My auntie just gave me that nickname when I was very young, and it just stuck with me throughout my whole life.
[00:03:41] Speaker A: N u. N U. That's how we spell it, correct?
[00:03:44] Speaker C: Yes, sir.
[00:03:45] Speaker A: Very good. How did you end up at Wichita State? Tell us about that journey.
[00:03:49] Speaker C: Coming from one year of juco after the season, I probably was just going to go back juco until coach Paulino reached out to me, told me that they liked me. They watched film on me and they liked how tough I was. So they. Coach Paulino came. We had a juco showcase in Dallas, and he came and watched me two games down there. And after that day, I also had a visit, and I came down on my visit, and they just kept it real with me and my pops and that stood out to us. So we just chose to come here, kept it real.
[00:04:16] Speaker A: Describe that. What's that mean?
[00:04:18] Speaker C: They told me what I could come here and get developed, what I'm gonna come here and do.
They didn't beat around the bush to us. Like, they just kept it real with us about what type of.
What type of point guards that I was gonna be behind, like Jahari, Mike, Jordan. They're very experienced, so I was gonna learn a lot from them. And it just stood out to me. So being able to be in this type of position helped me, you know, before the day on the road. And I decided to come here when I could have went back to juco, but I decided to come here.
[00:04:50] Speaker A: Do you go to a Juco showcase like that, thinking, hey, things could change if I play well. Is that part of the goal?
[00:04:56] Speaker C: Most definitely. I was going to say I wanted to play well and not even play bad at all. And now we're at the game, so going to play good in those games was a big focus for me.
[00:05:06] Speaker A: So, as you said, you're here to learn. You've got some experienced guys to play with. Michael Gray, Jr. Jordan Johari, what are you observing? What kind of tips are you trying to pick up from them?
[00:05:16] Speaker C: Just everything, man. Because this is a big transition for me coming from a junior college to a Division 1. This is a major Division 1 level, like level high, major basketball, you know. So me and just taking everything that they do, I'm just making sure I'm paying attention to every little step, every little detail. Just make sure I'm paying attention on the offensive end, also the defensive end, for sure.
[00:05:38] Speaker A: Point guard, Nunu, what's that mean to you? What's the job description of a good point guard?
[00:05:44] Speaker C: The coach on the floor, you just gotta make sure everybody in the right position, the right spots at all times. Because sometimes the coaches can't do everything. He ain't out there on the court with us when we playing. So the point guards, we gotta make sure we.
The coach on the floor, we just gotta make sure everything right out there.
[00:06:00] Speaker A: Jordan, point guard, what's the job description?
[00:06:02] Speaker B: Piggybacking off what Nunu said, like being a point guard on the floor and then, you know, creating for everybody out there, you know, not just yourself, but, you know, your teammates as well, getting them easier shots and things like that. So, yeah, like you said, basically being a coach on the floor, you know, being an extension of Coach Mills and then also, you know, going out there making plays for both yourself and your teammates.
[00:06:23] Speaker A: So you and the other newcomers are walking into a unique situation. There's 10 returners on this team, which is not the way it works in college basketball these days. Nunu, how do you go about acclimating, adjusting to this kind of an atmosphere?
[00:06:37] Speaker C: I'm just trying to adjust the best way that I could. It may take time. Like you said, we got like the. Like we always say, we got a long summer, but it can go by fast. So just making sure I'm adjusting the right way and not trying to rush into things, just make sure I'm paying attention to every detail, making sure I'm there early, just. Just adjusting to the schedule, the lifting, the practices, just adjust to everything.
[00:07:01] Speaker A: So, Jordan, you are point guard. You're Going to be playing a lot for this team, important member of the team. But you're also a newcomer. How are you handling that transition and adjusting and learning about your new teammates?
[00:07:13] Speaker B: Just asking a lot of questions. You know, I'm always asking tj, DB or Mike, like, anything that I can, I need some help with, or struggling with or asking coach question or anything like that, you know, like, it's still a jump up for me as well, you know, coming from the SoCon and then playing Division 2 before that. So I'm still learning as I go, honestly. And yeah, I'm just trying to, like Nunu said, just trying to adjust to everything that's going on here. And it's like he said, high major basketball. So I'm trying to get adjusted as well.
[00:07:41] Speaker A: I think the last two summers we talked to TJ Williams before practice and he's a returner, he's a local guy, so he always says that he's helpful about helping guys. Where do you need to eat? Where do you need to get a haircut? That kind of stuff. What's the best advice TJ Williams has given you so far?
[00:08:01] Speaker B: Oh, I'll probably say just like, you know, handling, handling, handling with coach, you know, stuff like that. Like, don't let everything, you know, he say to you, you know, get to you and things of that nature, you know, you know, brush it off and keep going. You know, he want the best for you at the end of the day, not as. Just as a player, but as a person as well. So just hearing what he's saying and then just taking it in one ear and out the other and, and heeding what he's saying.
[00:08:24] Speaker A: So being coachable sounds like what T.J. williams is, is saying. Okay, new, new. I'm going to make you an NBA coach.
What current NBA player do you draft to start your team? You can pick anybody you want. Who do you want?
[00:08:36] Speaker C: Number one?
Yes, they're draft.
[00:08:39] Speaker A: No, no. Anybody start. He's been in the league 10 years, all star, anybody? You got the whole league. LeBron for sure. Okay, okay. Why LeBron?
[00:08:48] Speaker C: That just been my favorite player forever. Since I just been growing up, I just been able to watch him a lot, me and my pops, and we just like the way that he plays.
[00:08:57] Speaker A: Okay, good choice.
[00:08:58] Speaker C: And the person that he is off the court too.
[00:09:00] Speaker A: Jordan, how about you? Who are you picking?
[00:09:04] Speaker B: I probably pick.
I probably pick Wemby, you know, just because, you know, he's so young and I feel like he got a lot of room to get better, but I Also feel like in the right situation, like if you get some players around, the right players around him, then he can like really, really blossom.
[00:09:18] Speaker A: He's got a long, a long Runway with him definitely. So Jordan, you would have had a connection to last night's NBA draft. So as a freshman at Pittsburgh State, you would have played against Northwest Missouri State and Bennett Sturtz and he was picked number 16 last night going to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tell us about playing against Bennett Sturts.
[00:09:38] Speaker B: He, you know, maybe he don't pass the eye test, but he's really like, he's deceptively like quick. Like he kind of got a quick first step but at the same time he's still like 6 4. So if he gets you on his hip, especially if you're smaller, if he gets you on his hip, then he kind of got you there and he got like a weird pace to him. That's what kind of make him weird to guard, harder to guard. But he could definitely shoot it and then yeah, he's really physical. I don't think people know that, but he's really physical both offensively and defensively. So yeah, he good.
[00:10:08] Speaker A: He was quite the story because coming out of Kansas City, played at Northwest for two years or three, maybe two or three. Spent a year at Drake, took them to the NCAA tournament. They played here downtown and then was at Iowa with coach Ben McCollum. It's been quite the, quite the success story in college basketball.
I did some research I was told by a high ranking official in Wichita State basketball. Ask you about a high school game when Lancaster played Legacy School of Sports Sciences.
[00:10:38] Speaker C: That was actually my freshman sophomore year was Pinkston High School.
[00:10:41] Speaker A: Okay, you were not at Lancaster yet.
[00:10:43] Speaker C: That was my freshman sophomore. I played against Coach P.
Yeah, it was a good game. But the second half they took off on us with the first half. It was a back and forth game. I ended up with 18 in the first half. Then they had, they switched up the defense on us and it got tough on me in the second half. I ain't scored no more after this. So it was just one of those type of games. It was a good game though.
[00:11:03] Speaker A: So PJ went into the locker room. PJ Kuznard, assistant coach at Wichita State, used to be the coach at Legacy in Houston. He went into the locker room at halftime and said, we're going to change some things.
[00:11:13] Speaker C: They turned it on or what it was, but they turned it up.
[00:11:15] Speaker A: Okay. Describe playing with Dylan Batee and then reuniting with him here at Wichita State.
[00:11:19] Speaker C: Man, this is such a blessing for me to be able to played with my high school, former high school teammate my junior year. Man, that year we was just unstoppable. Like, we was by far the best team in Texas at that time.
And not even just me and Baty, we had a lot of other people. Like we had two players at SFA right now, Mavi Reed and Kobe Pearson. We were just unstoppable team, man. Like, we were just one of those great teams to come to.
[00:11:44] Speaker A: Langston, what's the. Just seems like being on a great high school team, winning a state championship, there's just no feeling that it's better than the bond and the. And the unity on that kind of thing.
[00:11:54] Speaker C: Yeah, great feeling.
We all became close after that. Like we still talk to this day. We all became close.
[00:12:00] Speaker A: Fun times, though. I was watching pickup basketball this week. I want to make sure I'm explaining the routine correctly before I get to my question for you, Jordan. So team wins and then a guy has to go to the free throw line and prove it. Is that the way it works? Okay, so when I was watching, I would watch. And Jordan, when you were not shooting, when you're on the losing team, you would go to the free throw line, talk to the free throw shooter. I'm assuming you were giving him tips. Like, take a deep breath, keep your elbow in, relax. Is that. Is that what you're telling the guy that's at the free throw line?
[00:12:32] Speaker B: I just be trying to make him think about it, that's all. You know, saying little slick stuff to him. Hopefully, you know, he missed one. Even get a chance to come back and get a win. But yeah, we just be in there competing, really.
[00:12:42] Speaker A: So some gamesmanship then?
[00:12:43] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:12:44] Speaker A: So if you miss a free throw, the game continues.
[00:12:46] Speaker B: The game continues.
[00:12:46] Speaker D: Yep.
[00:12:47] Speaker B: Just trying to get him to miss it.
[00:12:48] Speaker A: Okay, what's been your biggest takeaway from pickup games and practices with the Shockers? Who's made a good impression on you? Nunu, I'll let you start.
[00:12:57] Speaker C: To me, Will Burr, he just one of those big, big guys. He's unstoppable, man. He's just a big, big guy. But we all just be in there competing, having fun at the same time. So being able to do that, that's going to help us as we go through the season.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: So the Shockers have been here about four weeks, doing some practices, doing individual drills and playing some pickup games. Jordan, what's left out at you? What's the first person, first thing you tell a friend to ask you? How Practices are going they physical.
[00:13:27] Speaker B: To be honest, when we play, I think we be a couple fouls that go on call here and there.
I think we do a lot of grabbing and pulling, bumping.
So, yeah, I think that's probably what stood out the most to me is the jump in physicality so far. But you'll get used to it as
[00:13:45] Speaker A: you keep going more physical than Tennessee Chattanooga.
[00:13:47] Speaker B: Yeah, definitely.
[00:13:48] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:13:49] Speaker A: Okay. And this may lead perfectly into my next question.
Jordan, first impressions about Shocker basketball. What's important here? What kind of defines Wichita State basketball in your early experience?
[00:14:01] Speaker B: With our practicing yesterday, I feel like we just found out that rebounding and all around physicality, like we was doing drills yesterday, that you just got to be tough, like you got to get a stop or you gotta just. You gotta buy in, get a rebound, you gotta box out, something like that. So I feel like. And then pushing the transition, like playing fast. So I feel like those are the biggest three that have stood out to me yesterday after just one day. So, yeah, I feel like those are a big emphasis for us.
[00:14:28] Speaker A: Nunu, what stood out to you? How would you define shocker basketball at this early point?
[00:14:32] Speaker C: Like Jordan said, I would say definitely being tough.
For me, just watching old film from last year's games, I'd definitely say this is a very tough program. How they play and how they practice, just going through practices. And I would definitely say just being tough.
[00:14:46] Speaker A: Nunu, when a fan leaves the arena next January, what do you want them to be saying about how Nunu Jones played?
[00:14:53] Speaker C: He's a very smart guard, a very tough guard, and a guard that's just going to give it his all on both sides of the ball.
[00:15:00] Speaker A: Jordan, same question. Somebody walks out of here in January or February after a Shocker game, what impression do you want to leave on them?
[00:15:07] Speaker B: He a dog, you know, he makes winning plays, you know, on both ends, and he a team guy.
[00:15:13] Speaker A: First new if you weren't playing basketball, is there another sport you might be playing in college?
[00:15:19] Speaker C: Definitely football.
I always played basketball and football my whole life.
[00:15:22] Speaker A: Let me guess, were you a running back or a linebacker?
[00:15:26] Speaker C: I was a cornerback. Defensive back.
[00:15:28] Speaker A: Okay. Lockdown cornerback.
[00:15:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:15:30] Speaker A: Pretty good playing that. Why did you choose basketball?
[00:15:33] Speaker C: Basketball just been my favorite forever. I stopped playing football after middle school, and basketball was just always dead.
[00:15:40] Speaker A: Jordan, was there another sport you might have attempted if not for basketball?
[00:15:44] Speaker B: I honestly don't think so. I gave up football early.
Early. So I probably don't think I'll be in college for another sport, to be honest.
[00:15:52] Speaker A: Basketball. All the way all the time.
[00:15:54] Speaker B: Basketball all the way.
[00:15:56] Speaker A: That would be the way it is in Memphis, right? Yeah. Basketball would be the primary sport in that city for sure.
[00:16:01] Speaker B: Memphis basketball city.
[00:16:02] Speaker A: Do you have a favorite Memphis Grizzly you enjoyed watching growing up?
[00:16:08] Speaker B: I gotta say, Mike, Connie, I always watched him growing up, but then now I kind of hate all this stuff going on with ja, but JA was probably my favorite overall though.
[00:16:16] Speaker A: Two good point guards. Definitely new. New, let's say Lancaster High School says we want you to come back, talk to our athletes about getting recruited, about going to college, about succeeding, academics, athletics, all that, all that kind of stuff. What advice would you give a college junior who's maybe starting in this process?
[00:16:36] Speaker C: I would definitely tell them this is a tough process.
Process. This is going to just take time. You know, you definitely gonna have to trust in God, timing, but just making sure you preparing yourself the right way. And college, make sure you go into class, stand on top of your grades. When it comes to sports, making sure you working every day, making sure you're just giving it your all.
And that's definitely what I would tell them.
[00:16:59] Speaker A: Jordan, what advice would you have for a high school kid who's starting his journey, getting recruited, wanting to play athletics in college?
[00:17:07] Speaker B: Like Nunu said, like, you got to stay down. Like, you know, just, just work, you know, don't, you know, compare yourself to, you know, everybody else going on, everything else going on around you. Anybody else getting offers or anything like that. Just keep working hard, taking care of. Like you said, you can't play without your books. So make sure you take care of your grades and stuff like that and then just working as hard as you can and don't shy away, don't go away from it. Just keep putting in the work and it'll pay off in the end.
[00:17:31] Speaker A: Gretchen Tourline appreciates you throwing in the part about the academics and the books. Good work on that. Jordan Friesen and New New Jones are two of the new Shockers. We appreciate your time.
[00:17:41] Speaker C: Yes, sir.
[00:17:43] Speaker A: Our next guest is Cyr Malonga. Cyr is a 6 foot 11 center. He is from Pointe Noir, Congo. Did I pronounce that right?
[00:17:51] Speaker D: Yes, sir.
[00:17:51] Speaker A: All right. I try to be very diligent with my pronunciation, so I appreciate that. Cyr is a transfer from New Mexico State. He also played two seasons at ecu.
Cyr, tell us about choosing Wichita State. What did you like about this situation?
[00:18:06] Speaker D: Yes, it's pretty much based on the coaches, you know, the coaching staff.
Actually, when I was in high school, my first visit I went was at oru, when Coach Mayors was coaching there. So I had to visit him.
And just being in this process, being in the transfer portal after nmsu. So I got to talk with Coach Paulino and then of course, I already know the coaching staff on playing at ecu, so that made it much easier for me to just come in here.
[00:18:37] Speaker A: Interesting. Okay, so you already had a comfort level with them. You had known them for a few years, going back to their time at Oral Roberts.
[00:18:43] Speaker D: Yes, sir.
[00:18:45] Speaker A: When I've done these interviews with some of the other newcomers, they almost always say I was impressed with the coaching staff. They sat me down, they showed me video, they knew my game, they were serious about helping me. Tell me about your experience in that way.
[00:19:00] Speaker D: Yeah, it's pretty much similar. I mean, coming here during my visit, they showed me some videos and then, I mean, even some of the videos that I was myself looking for, they had it all. And then they showed me how they use Biggs. Of course, I already had an ID how they use big zero, which is really going to help me with my game. So it's pretty much similar, which makes it more easier for me.
[00:19:20] Speaker A: So when you decide to enter the transfer portal, did you have a checklist of. I want the program that does this and this. What were you looking for?
[00:19:30] Speaker D: Yeah, I was just looking for a place where I can fit based on my playing style. And coming here was.
I thought it was the best decision for me.
[00:19:39] Speaker A: People will be curious. They haven't gotten a look at you yet. Describe your playing style.
[00:19:44] Speaker D: I think I'm more like.
You will see a lot of ball screen roles, a lot of lobs. I'm a lob trade and I would make it easier for my teammates facilitate guards to get to the basket. I'm a really.
I can create for guards to score as well.
[00:19:59] Speaker A: Okay, the guards will like to hear that. Cyr, you wear number 24. Tell us the story. Why did you choose number 24?
[00:20:06] Speaker D: Yeah, growing up, 24 always has been my favorite number based on Kobe Bryant. Because back home I used to watch a lot of Kobe's.
I mean, I didn't know basketball that much, but I used to hear about people just talking about Kobe and the shoes. Actually, I always wanted to wear some Kobe shoes and then Kobe here. And I found that of course the school is Nike and I finally got my Kobe shoes and I was really happy about it.
[00:20:32] Speaker A: Okay, so that's a big deal. WSU moved to Nike last year just in time for Cyr to arrive.
Okay. Yeah, Tell us about how do you experience basketball in the Congo? You said you knew about Kobe. Wasn't able to watch him a whole lot. What's that like?
[00:20:46] Speaker D: It's pretty much. I mean, we just do it on tv. I mean, in Congo, we play basketball, of course, on concrete. And then, you know, some of the stuff like NBA, of course, we just watch it on tv. And then because I used to be a soccer player, I didn't know anything about basketball until my dad.
[00:21:03] Speaker B: Just.
[00:21:03] Speaker D: Just like that. Because of just seeing me getting taller and taller day by day, he thought about just asking me if I want to play basketball.
Coming. Coming by, like, proposing me to get a jersey. So if I. If you buy me a jersey without trying to play basketball. So that's.
And I was okay with that. And I tried, and I just fell out of basketball.
[00:21:23] Speaker A: Is soccer the number one sport in the Congo?
[00:21:27] Speaker D: I've played that since I was three until I started playing basketball in 2019.
[00:21:33] Speaker A: So you're still a relative newcomer to the sport. What position did you play in soccer?
[00:21:37] Speaker D: Oh, I was versatile. I was able to do everything.
[00:21:40] Speaker A: Okay. Goal scorer.
[00:21:43] Speaker D: Yeah, I played goalie growing up. I was playing midfield and then my school team. I ended up playing on defense, and then I ended up being the goalie because I was getting taller.
[00:21:56] Speaker A: Kobe Bryant, of course, is an immensely popular basketball player. What did you like about Kobe's game?
[00:22:02] Speaker D: Oh, I would say his footwork. His footwork was incredible. Like, I really like the way he moved.
Somebody like that is really hard to stop him in the pain.
[00:22:11] Speaker A: One of my standard questions is Kobe or LeBron. Who do you choose? I think you've given us the answer, but tell us what your answer is.
[00:22:18] Speaker D: Man, I respect LeBron James for sure. I know he's been incredible all these years.
At the age where he's about. I would say Kobe for me, just because I watch more, Kobe's not surprising.
[00:22:33] Speaker A: I'm going to make you an NBA coach. Okay. You are the coach of an NBA franchise. You can pick any current NBA player to start your team. Who's your choice?
[00:22:43] Speaker D: I will pick Giannis because he's one of my favorite players as well.
[00:22:47] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:22:49] Speaker D: I will pick Stephen Curry.
I will have Bam at the Bayou.
I will have.
Let me see Kevin Durant for sure.
And then for the last one, Hapo LeBron as well.
[00:23:07] Speaker A: Okay. All right. So you got the current. The new Heat teammates, then Giannis and Bam Adebayo. Good, good choices.
Who is the shocker? Who's been most helpful in getting you acclimated to your new team? Telling you how Paul Mills works, how the university, the city, all that kind of stuff.
[00:23:26] Speaker D: I would say.
[00:23:26] Speaker A: Wait, Bard?
[00:23:28] Speaker D: Yeah, it's been. I mean, me and him, we just been having great conversations since I got here on my visit. He's always been telling me how things work here and he's been a great teammate.
[00:23:37] Speaker A: So both the big men hanging out together. What's been Will's advice on navigating these first few weeks as a Wichita State basketball player?
[00:23:46] Speaker D: I mean, basically just, you know, I mean, doing whatever the coach tells us. I mean, he always tell me like this, how the drill is gonna be.
And he's always there for me, so I really appreciate him.
[00:23:57] Speaker A: Do you have a favorite big man drill, a rebounding drill or defensive drill that you really enjoy?
[00:24:03] Speaker D: I'm really open to everything, so I'm really just enjoying everything I'm doing here because I know for sure he's gonna help me with my game. It's always gonna get me better.
[00:24:11] Speaker A: So describe practicing against Will Berg.
[00:24:15] Speaker D: Oh, it's been. First of all, I never played. I mean, not playing against, but playing with a teammate, that's been a story as well. So it's been a little bit challenging at the point where I just got a jaw story. I mean, of course, just having to play with the seven footer, so it's been really good. But we've been really competitive at practice. I like how you respond.
[00:24:39] Speaker A: So you have been here practicing, working out, pick up games for about three or four weeks. What's your early impression of Shocker basketball? What makes this program go?
[00:24:49] Speaker D: Oh, I feel like the connection. The team is really great. I mean, we have almost the whole team coming back from last year. And even the new guys, I think they fit really good. And then nobody's facing the team. So we really have that connection. Just like fitting and then connecting with each other on the court.
[00:25:12] Speaker A: College athletes travel a lot. You're on a plane, you're on a bus. What's on your headphones or what movie or TV show are you watching that you would recommend people check out?
[00:25:21] Speaker D: I would say Suits. It's on Netflix. It's a really good show. I really like that one.
[00:25:26] Speaker A: Okay. I just started watching Suits about two weeks ago. Why do you like Suits?
[00:25:31] Speaker D: I find that really interesting. It's no more like a. It's not like an accent movie or something where it's more like.
It works a little bit with your brain, just like how you react to like some situation. It's about lawyer. So it's really interesting to me.
[00:25:47] Speaker A: Do you identify with Harvey Specter or Mike Ross. Who's your favorite?
[00:25:52] Speaker D: I like Mike, but I feel like Harvey is more, like, intellectual. Like, he's really, really smart, and then.
But I like Mike because it's being the character.
[00:26:03] Speaker A: Okay. Have you watched the whole series?
[00:26:06] Speaker D: No, I haven't watched the whole series.
[00:26:08] Speaker A: Okay. All right, well, don't. Yeah, don't spoil it for me. I don't want to know. Like, I don't want to know if Harvey and Donna get together at the end. So do not spoil that for me. Okay, let's say you are called back to your hometown. And they say, hey, we've got some good athletes here. Cyr, they're just starting this process of getting recruited. They want to play in college.
What's your advice?
[00:26:30] Speaker D: Oh, you mean my own time back home in Congo?
To be honest, we haven't got any, like, basketball team. I mean, because back home is more soccer, so they don't prioritize basketball there.
So I'll be surprised if we get a basketball team. And then I feel like it'll be good for the next generation or, like, the ones that want to go to college, you know, coming here, just developing.
[00:26:58] Speaker A: Right. What have you learned about what's the best way to approach it and to handle the athletic demands, handle the academic demands? What would you tell them about that part of it?
[00:27:07] Speaker D: Oh, I mean, all of it is just a commitment. Like, once you commit to it, you just got to do what it takes to do it.
[00:27:14] Speaker A: Sierra Malonga is one of the five newcomers of Wichita State men's basketball program. Cyr, thank you very much for your time.
[00:27:20] Speaker D: Yes, sir, of course.
[00:27:37] Speaker B: Hi, this is Rick Numa, president of Wichita State University.
Check out the latest episode of the Forward Together podcast. Each episode, I sit down with different guests from Shocker Nation to celebrate the vision and mission of Wichita State University.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:28:08] Speaker A: Thank you for listening to the Roundhouse podcast courtesy of Wichita State University Strategic Communications.
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[email protected] it's over.
It is over, ladies and gentlemen. Say it slowly and savor it. Wichita State is going to the Final Four for the first time in 48 years. Unbelievable.
[00:28:38] Speaker B: What a scene, folks.
[00:28:39] Speaker A: The Shocker fans are just going crazy in the stands. Just maybe the greatest win in the history of Wichita State basketball.
