The 7-foot-2 mystery: What Wichita State is getting in Purdue transfer Will Berg
When Will Berg steps onto the court at Koch Arena this season, fans won’t need a roster sheet to spot him.
At 7-foot-2, the Sweden native towers over everyone in the gym — tied for the tallest player in Wichita State men’s basketball history.
But the intrigue surrounding Berg goes beyond his height. After three seasons at Purdue spent largely waiting his turn behind the nation’s most dominant player, Zach Edey, Berg arrives in Wichita as something of a mystery.
Fans see the size. The pedigree of program he comes from. The potential. What they haven’t seen yet, and what they’re eager to discover, is the player he might become when finally given a real opportunity. The Shockers open the season at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against UNC Asheville at Koch Arena.
“I’m excited to show that they can put trust in me to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Berg said. “Passing the ball, scoring, rebounding, playing defense. Whatever it takes. I’m excited to be able to contribute more and to learn through my mistakes.”
Purdue coaches confident in Will Berg’s future
Berg’s basketball journey began in Stockholm, where he grew up playing for Sweden’s youth national teams.
A late bloomer and an under-the-radar recruit, he caught the attention of Purdue — a program that’s become synonymous with elite big men.
Under head coach Matt Painter and assistant Brandon Brantley, Berg spent three years immersed in one of college basketball’s best developmental environments for post players. Every day for his first two years, he battled Edey, the two-time National Player of the Year, in practice. He caught a break his final year, only having to work against All-American Trey Kaufman-Renn.
“He battled Zach every day in practice,” Brantley told The Eagle. “He never backed down and that’s a hard thing to do. We told him, ‘Let practices be your games because I promise you, you won’t go up against anybody better than this guy in your career.’”
Those battles, Brantley believes, will pay off now that Berg is stepping into a larger role.
“With playing time comes confidence and once he gets a taste of it, he’ll grow into that role,” Brantley said. “I know he didn’t get a chance to show all that he can do in games here, but I’m confident he is capable of doing whatever Wichita State will ask him to do.”
What made Will Berg a fit at Wichita State
At Purdue, opportunity was scarce for Berg.
He appeared in just 187 minutes over the last two seasons, averaging 6.1 minutes per game last year. Yet even from the bench, he made an impression — cheering on teammates, never showing frustration and staying ready when called upon.
That demeanor stood out to WSU head coach Paul Mills, who was in search of a true low-post presence following the departure of Quincy Ballard.
“You’re trying to find a guy who can score around the block,” Mills said. “Can we throw it to you in there and can we make sure we get high-quality points per possession out of those times we throw it in there?”
When Berg entered the transfer portal, it didn’t take long for Mills to pounce. The appeal was obvious: a 7-footer molded by one of the sport’s premier big-man factories, ready to finally showcase his game.
“I tried to find people who could say something negative,” Mills said. “I called other coaches in the Big Ten, but everybody just raved about Will. When you meet him and you see how he handles his business, you see the kind of young man that he is. I’m excited that Will gets the opportunity here to showcase his ability.”
What Shocker fans can expect from Purdue transfer
Berg’s impact in Wichita has already been felt in practice.
Coaches and teammates say he’s helped raise the team’s level of physicality and rebounding, battling every day with fellow centers Emmanuel Okorafor, a Seton Hall transfer, and freshman Noah Hill.
While Berg may lack high-flying athleticism, his sheer frame and strength allow him to carve out deep post position and finish efficiently. At Purdue, he shot 79.5% from the field (31 of 39) — all within the paint.
“He didn’t get many opportunities to do things in the post, but he was very good in that dunker spot,” Brantley said. “He wasn’t afraid to go and dunk the ball.”
Berg might be asked to hang out along the baseline while the guards go to work up top, but more than likely, he will be a factor in the pick-and-roll game where his screens and rim dives can collapse defenses.
While Purdue kept him close to the basket, Berg did showcase some outside shooting in Sweden. He has been working after practices this summer and fall to refine that range, although it remains to be seen whether he earns the green light from Mills to attempt them in a game.
Regardless, Berg is ready for more usage in the pick and roll.
“If you look at college basketball, the game today is so focused on pick and roll because of a reason. It’s efficient,” Berg said. “So I’m trying to fit in and be able to play out of that and get that connection with the guards.”
And while it will be a striking visual — 5-foot-10 Kenyon Giles running a two-man game with the 7-foot-2 Berg, a 16-inch height gap — the combination could prove effective. Giles need only a sliver of space to unleash his reliable jumper and Berg’s massive frame is built to carve out that space for him.
“I don’t know if I have any words,” Giles said with a laugh. “It’s definitely going to be different for me and it’s going to make the game easier for me and everyone else.”
Will Berg excited for a new start with the Shockers
Defensively, Berg was trained at Purdue in traditional drop coverage, where the big man stays closer to the rim on pick-and-rolls.
Mills, however, wants his centers this season to be more aggressive — stepping higher up the floor to challenge ball-handlers. It’s an adjustment, but one Berg is embracing.
“There’s always a thought behind it,” Berg said of Mills’ practices. “We’re not just running to run. We’re running to put pressure on the rim or to be better in ball-screen defense. You always know why you’re doing what you’re doing.”
The biggest change for Berg this season won’t be the system. It will be the leash.
At Purdue, he was asked to play in one, sometimes two spurts in a game. At Wichita State, Mills has made it clear that Berg will get the chance to play through his mistakes in extended minutes.
That freedom could unlock a new level of confidence and production.
“With playing time comes confidence,” said Brantley, the Purdue assistant. “Once he gets a taste of it, he’ll grow into that role. I know he didn’t get a chance to show all that he can do in games here, but I’m confident he is capable of doing whatever Wichita State will ask him to do.”
For now, Berg remains one of the most intriguing unknowns on WSU’s roster. Fans see the size and the high-major pedigree, but also the limited track record. They’re curious. And they’re ready to find out.
Brantley, though, has no doubts.
“I’m a big believer in karma,” he said. “That’s why I think he’s going to have a tremendous season for the Shockers this season.”
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