Wichita State unveiled its 2018-19 non-conference schedule on Thursday morning.
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The 12-game pre-conference slate includes six home games, four neutral site contests and two road dates. Tip times and television details will be announced at a later date after the American Athletic Conference schedule release (traditionally in early September).
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WSU hosts Catawba College, a Division II program from Salisbury, N.C., in an exhibition contest on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and opens the regular season a week later against Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Charles Koch Arena.
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A young Shocker team will be tested early with a stretch of four straight neutral court games – all of which could come against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams. The Shockers face Providence on Friday, Nov. 9 at the U.S. Naval Academy as part of the 5
th Annual Veteran's Classic doubleheader. WSU plays a quarterfinal matchup the following week against Davidson at the Charleston Classic with a potential day-two matchup against Sweet 16 participant Purdue and a possible clash with Alabama or Virginia Tech in the tournament's final round.
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Other schedule highlights include a pair of games against Big 12 foes. Baylor invades Charles Koch Arena on Saturday, Dec. 1 and, a week later on Dec. 8, WSU will take on Oklahoma at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena.
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For the ninth consecutive year, WSU will stage a non-conference game at downtown INTRUST Bank Arena – Saturday, Dec. 15 against Southern Miss.
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Other home opponents include Rice (Sunday, Nov. 25), Jacksonville State (Wednesday, Dec. 12) and Oral Roberts (Wednesday, Dec. 19).
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As announced previously, WSU's final tune-up before the start of conference play comes Dec. 22 at VCU, which will kick off a two-year series between the programs. The Rams make a return visit to Wichita in December, 2019.
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Fans wishing to purchase new men's basketball season tickets will soon have an opportunity. The Shockers Ticket Office will have a limited supply of men's basketball season tickets for sale later this month. Move to the front of line by signing up for the waiting list. For details call or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office (316-978-FANS) inside Charles Koch Arena during business hours (M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
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2018-19 NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
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CATAWBA (N.C.) -- Exhibition
Tuesday, Oct. 30 | Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)
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*WSU played a pair of Nov. 1 exhibitions in 2001 and 2006, but this will be the program's first taste of October basketball.
*Catawba College (located in Salisbury, N.C.) plays in one of Division II's strongest conference, the South Atlantic. A year ago, it produced three NCAA Tournament teams, including national semifinalist, Queens.
*The Shockers have won 24-consecutive preseason exhibitions, dating back to the 2001.
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LOUISIANA TECH
Tuesday, Nov. 6 | Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)
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2017-18: 17-16 (7-11 C-USA)
Postseason: None
RPI/KenPom: 192/149
Series: First Meeting
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*Nov. 6 marks the earliest start date in program history -- by three fulls days. The 2013-14 team opened on Nov. 9, 2013.
*The first of three non-conference matchups against Conference USA schools
*Fourth-year head coach Eric Konkol has led LA Tech to three-straight winning seasons.
*The Shockers open at home for the 15
th consecutive year. They've won their last 16 season openers and 24-of-25 since 1992.
*Shocker assistants
Isaac Brown and
Lou Gudino both worked stints at LA Tech. Brown spent four seasons (2011-14) under Michael White and helped the Bulldogs to the 2013 WAC title and 2014 C-USA crown. Gudino served two years under Keith Richard (2005-07) as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In his first seasons, the Bulldogs won 20 games and earned an NIT bid.
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vs. PROVIDENCE – 5
th Annual Veterans Classic
Friday, Nov. 9 | Annapolis, Md. (Alumni Hall; U.S. Naval Academy)
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2017-18: 21-14 (10-8 Big East, t-3
rd)
Postseason: Big East Tournament Runner-Up; NCAA Tournament, 1
st Round (#10 Seed)
RPI/KenPom: 36 / 63
Series: WSU leads 2-0
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*The Shockers are slated to meet Providence in the first game of a CBS Sports Network doubleheader that will also feature host Navy against Maryland.
*On the day before the game, the three visiting teams will have a chance to tour the U.S. Naval Academy and spend time among the Midshipmen.
*The Shockers swept a home-and-home under Mark Turgeon, winning 90-86 in Providence on Dec. 11, 2004. A year later, WSU's eventual Sweet 16 team defeated the Friars at Charles Koch Arena, 82-74.
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vs. DAVIDSON – Charleston Classic Quarterfinal
Thursday, Nov. 15 | Charleston, S.C. (TD Arena)
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2017-18:Â 21-12 (13-5 A-10, 3
rd)
Postseason: A-10 Tournament Champion, NCAA 1
st Round (#12 Seed)
RPI/KenPom: 56 / 43
Series: WSU leads 2-0
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*This will be the third meeting all-time between WSU and Davidson. The two previous matchups were tied to ESPN's Bracket Buster series. The Shockers notched a 91-74 win in Davidson, N.C., on Feb. 18, 2012 and won the return game on Dec. 18, 2013, 81-70.
*The two head coaches have combined for over 1,000 career wins. WSU's
Gregg Marshall is 480-181 going into his 21st season. Davidson's Bob McKillop enters his 30th season at 554-340.
*Davidson returns three starters from last year's NCAA tournament team, including Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year Kellan Grady. The Wildcats (23-10, 13-5) finished third in the regular season standings but won the A-10 tournament to reach March Madness for the fourth time in seven years. As a No. 12 seed they fell to Kentucky in the opening round, 78-73.
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RICE
Sunday, Nov. 25 | Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)
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2017-18: 7-24 (4-14 C-USA)
Postseason: None
RPI/KenPom: 322 / 289
Series: Rice leads 1-0
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*This is the second meeting all-time. The other came 69 years ago in Houston (Dec. 28, 1949) when the Owls won 72-66.
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BAYLOR
Saturday, Dec. 1 | Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)
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2017-18: 19-15 (8-10, Big 12)
Postseason: NIT Second Round (#1 Seed)
RPI/KenPom: 70 / 34
Series: WSU leads 3-2
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*Baylor makes a return visit to Charles Koch Arena in the back-half of a home-and-home series. The Shockers defeated the 16
th-ranked Bears in Waco last December.
*The Bears' visit marks the first appearance by a Big 12 team at Charles Koch Arena since Nebraska in the 2011 NIT and the first regular season visit since WSU defeated No. 16 Texas Tech on Dec. 19, 2009.
*Baylor was one of the last teams out of last year's NCAA Tournament field and instead settled for a No. 1 seed in the NIT bracket. Prior to that the Bears had appeared in four straight NCAA Tournaments.
*Both sides will be rebuilding. Baylor lost its top-four scorers from last year and returns just four scholarship players.
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at OKLAHOMA
Saturday, Dec. 8 | Oklahoma City (Chesapeake Energy Arena)
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2017-18: 18-14 (8-10 Big 12)
Postseason: NCAA First Round (#10 Seed)
RPI/KenPom: 53 / 48
Series: OU leads 5-2
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*WSU and Oklahoma split a home-and-home in 2016 and 2017. The series continues for two more years with the Sooners paying a visit to INTRUST Bank Arena in 2019.
*WSU makes its return to the All-College Classic – the world's oldest basketball event, dating back to 1936. The Shockers defeated OU in 2016 for the title. It was their third all-time, matching San Francisco for the most by a non-Oklahoma school.
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JACKSONVILLE STATE
Wednesday, Dec. 12 | Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)
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2017-18: 23-13 (11-7 OVC)
Postseason: 2-1, CBI Semifinals
RPI/KenPom: 135 / 142
Series: n/a
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*WSU has never faced Jacksonville State.
*The programs share a common thread. In 2000, WSU hired a young Jacksonville State head coach named Mark Turgeon.
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SOUTHERN MISS
Saturday, Dec. 15 | Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena)
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2017-18: 16-18 (7-11 C-USA)
Postseason: None
RPI/KenPom: 204 / 206
Series: WSU leads 1-0
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*A rematch of the classic 2012 downtown game. On Dec. 22, 2012, WSU's eventual Final Four team rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to win 59-51 over an Eagle squad that went on to post 27-wins. The Shocker defense held Southern Miss to just four points over the final eight minutes.
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ORAL ROBERTS
Wednesday, Dec. 19 | Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)
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2017-18: 11-21 (5-9 Summit)
Postseason: None
RPI/KenPom: 256 / 236
Series: WSU leads 6-5
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*Closed door scrimmage partners the last two years, the programs meet in public for the first time since Dec. 7, 2013. WSU won that game 71-58 on its way to 35-0.
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at VCU
Saturday, Dec. 22 | Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
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2017-18: 18-15 (9-9 A-10)
Postseason: None
RPI/KenPom: 136 / 144
Series: Tied, 2-2
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*The start of a home-and-home series. VCU makes a return trip to Wichita on Dec. 21, 2019.
*WSU is 2-2 all-time against VCU and 1-0 in Richmond, where it won a Bracket Busters return game early in the 2012-13 campaign.
*A young VCU team finished 18-15 last year and missed out on the postseason for the first time since 2006. Prior to that, the Rams had posted eight straight 25-win seasons and qualified for seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
*WSU and VCU have been two of the decade's most successful programs. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Shockers' 233 wins are fourth-most nationally. Only Kansas, Gonzaga and Kentucky have more. VCU ranks 16
th on the list with 205 victories in that span.
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OTHER POSSIBLE CHARLESTON CLASSIC OPPONENTS:
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vs. ALABAMA
Possible Nov. 18 Opponent
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2017-18: 20-16 (8-10 SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Second Round (#9 Seed)
RPI/KenPom: 41 / 57
Series: Tied, 4-4
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*
Gregg Marshall is 3-2 against Alabama.
*Alabama won the last meeting in the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational. The Shockers swept a home-and-home in 2013 and 2014. Alabama edged WSU in the 2011 Puerto Rico Shootout – just a few months after the Shockers topped the Tide for the 2011 NIT Championship at Madison Square Garden.
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vs. APPALACHIAN STATE
Possible Nov. 16 Opponent
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2017-18: 15-18 (9-9, SBC)
Postseason: None
RPI/KenPom: 250 / 108
Series: Tied, 1-1
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* 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).
*Appalachian State (15-18) is coming off its most successful season under fifth year coach Jim Fox and will be the first member of the Sun Belt Conference to play in the Charleston Classic.
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vs. BALL STATE
Possible Nov. 18 Opponent
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2017-18: 19-13
Postseason: 10-8, MAC West
RPI/KenPom: None
Series: WSU leads 1-0
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*Ball State has won at least 19 games in each of the past three seasons.
*WSU won the lone meeting in the series, Feb. 27, 1973 in Wichita, 108-76.
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vs. NORTHEASTERN
Possible Nov. 18 Opponent
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2017-18: 23-10 (14-4 CAA)
Postseason: None
RPI/KenPom: 58 / 96
Series: n/a
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*WSU and Northeastern have never met on the hardwood.
*Northeastern is a favorite in the Colonial Athletic Association after sharing the regular season title last year.
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vs. PURDUE
Possible Nov. 16 Opponent
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2017-18: 20-12 (11-7, Big Ten)
Postseason: NCAA Sweet 16 (#2 Seed)
RPI/KenPom: 9 / 5
Series: Purdue leads 4-2
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*WSU last faced Purdue in 1988.
*Purdue reached the Sweet 16 as a No. 2 seed. The Boilermakers lost four starters but return All-Big Ten point guard Carsen Edwards and are ranked No. 25 in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top-25 Preseason Poll.
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vs. VIRGINIA TECH
Possible Nov. 18 Opponent
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2017-18: 21-12 (10-8, ACC)
Postseason: NCAA First Round (#8 Seed)
RPI/KenPom: 69 / 33
Series: Tied, 1-1
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*Virginia Tech returns seven of its top-eight scorers and comes in ranked No. 14 in the ESPN Way-Too-Early Preseason Poll.
*The Shockers and Hokies last met in the 2011 NIT Second Round. WSU won 79-76 in overtime on its way to the NIT Championship.
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