CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Wichita State is signed on to compete in the 2018 Gildan Charleston Classic, Nov, 15, 16, 18, 2018 at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C.

ESPN Events formally announced the field on Thursday morning. Joining the Shockers next year are Alabama, Appalachian State, Ball State, Davidson, Northeastern, Purdue and Virginia Tech.

This family-friendly tournament offers the teams a week of practice, play and experiences in and around historic Charleston.
 
Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the Charleston Classic site at www.charlestonclassic.com.
 

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Notable:
*** Three of the eight teams in the tournament field are currently ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll: Wichita State (8), Purdue (21) and Alabama (25).
*** WSU (Second Round), Virginia Tech and Purdue (Sweet 16) all appeared in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
*** Five of the eight teams currently rank among KenPom's top-75: WSU (2), Purdue (12), Alabama (23), Virginia Tech (45) and Davidson (69)
*** Ball State is coming off back-to-back 20-wins seasons. The Shockers won the only meeting in the series back in 1973.
*** Going back to the 2006-07 season, Appalachian State is one of just four schools that have won a non-conference game at Charles Koch Arena. They claimed a 70-68 bracket busters win on Feb. 17, 2007. The following year, the Shockers avenged that defeat with a 62-53 win in Boone, N.C. (Gregg Marshall's first road win as Shocker head coach).
*** The Shockers are a combined 7-2 against this field under Marshall (1-0 vs. Appalachian State, 3-2 vs. Alabama, 2-0 vs. Davidson and 1-0 vs. Virginia Tech), with a pair of postseason wins over Virginia Tech and Alabama during their 2011 NIT Championship run.
*** WSU has never faced Northeastern and last met Purdue in 1988.