New coach Paul Mills guided his men's basketball team in the right direction late in the season by winning five of the final eight games. That stretch included a 74-66 win at eventual AAC tournament champion UAB and a 71-65 win over Memphis in the second round of the tournament.
More important, the Shockers started 2024-25 strong by retaining eight members of the team, plus additions that make the team experienced, physically mature and with about as much continuity as the era allows.
Center Quincy Ballard, guard Xavier Bell and forward Henry Thengvall are back for a third season at WSU.