“The Rave” Stallworth fs ’65 and Cleo Littleton ’55. WSU’s players whose jerseys have been retired returned to
campus for the official dedication of Charles Koch Arena.
It was a rhetorical question, of course, posed by Charles Koch to the sellout crowd that jammed into the new arena bearing his name for a celebration dubbed Dedication Night. But that didn’t keep Shocker fans from voicing an enthusiastic answer when Koch opened his halftime remarks by looking around the arena and asking, “Is this a great facility or what?”
More than 10,000 fans, many decked out in Shocker gold and black, stood and yelled and screamed and clapped, which we will take as an unqualified “yes.”
For Wichita State men’s basketball, opening night in the new building was back on Nov. 6, when the Shockers took on Athletes First in an exhibition game.
The team played its first regular-season men’s basketball game on Nov. 29, beating Northern Arizona 68-51. But the university didn’t formally unveil Charles Koch Arena until the Shockers played host to Tulsa on Dec. 20. It was worth the wait.
Although fans have turned out in impressive numbers, Koch Arena hasn’t yet provided the Shockers with an overwhelming home-court advantage. Dedication Night, however, was simply a perfect evening for Shocker basketball.
The sparkling new arena, the result of a $25 million renovation to beloved Levitt Arena, looked grand. High ceilings, spacious concourse, new banners, a video scoreboard, the huge mural celebrating Shocker athletics. All eye-catching.
But Shocker athletic director Jim Schaus made perhaps the best point of the night when it was his turn to address the crowd at halftime. “The Roundhouse will always be magical, not just because of its unique architectural design, but because of what’s inside,” he said. “What’s unique about the Roundhouse has always been its people.”
On the court, the Shockers made certain the night was memorable by dispatching rival Tulsa, 66-58. The hustling, energetic Jamar Howard scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, helping WSU end a 13-game losing streak to the Golden Hurricane.
Koch Arena looked fantastic, the action on the floor was enjoyable, and the various dignitaries who spoke at halftime made interesting remarks.
Yet the highlight of the evening to many Shocker fans came during the latter part of halftime ceremonies when longtime broadcaster Mike Kennedy ’71 introduced the five players whose jerseys have been retired.
• Cleo Littleton ’55 — One of WU’s first black student-athletes, he endured eating on the bus and not being allowed to play in some gymnasiums. It didn’t stop him from setting seven school records, which remain unbeaten.
• Dave Stallworth fs ’65 — Nicknamed “The Rave,” he led the Shockers to victory over the No. 1-ranked Cincinati Bearcats Feb. 16, 1963, hitting 14 out of 22 shots.
• Cliff Levingston fs ’84 — The team’s leading scorer his freshman and sophomore seasons, he averaged 15.7 and 18.5 points per game in 1981 and 1982, respectively, and was named first-team MVC both years.
• Antoine Carr fs ’83 — “Big Dawg,” a local standout while attending Wichita Heights High School, became the Shockers’ third All-American in 1983 and averaged 22.2 points a game during his senior season.
• Xavier McDaniel ’87/96 — “X” had arguably the best season ever by a collegiate player, becoming the first NCAA Division I player to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding. He averaged 27.2 points per game and delighted Wichita State fans in the 1980s with his skills, intensity and work ethic.
One by one, these WSU legends walked to center court as the crowd roared in appreciation for their efforts. When the moment was over, the former Shockers walked slowly off the court, but McDaniel, always a colorful player, turned toward the basket and shot an imaginary jumper.
On this evening, when everything seemed right about Shocker basketball, it was easy to imagine the shot leaving his hand and finding nothing but net.
