Wichita State could be well on their way to the AAC, and it could take place as early as next college basketball season
The whispers have been rampant recently that the Wichita State Shockers could be headed to a larger conference sometime in the foreseeable future, especially after yet another successful college basketball campaign. Apparently, that move could be coming a lot sooner than most people believed.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel, Wichita State is in serious discussions to join the American Athletic Conference, and if talks move quickly enough, they could be playing with their new group for the 2017-18 season. Thamel reports that this would be the ideal situation, as both sides don’t want the awkward position of Wichita State playing in the Missouri Valley Conference knowing they’ll soon be leaving.
Wichita State basketball, under the direction of head coach Gregg Marshall, burst onto the scene during the 2012-13 college basketball season when they made an improbable run to the Final Four. They followed that performance up with an undefeated regular season in 2013-14, but they were knocked out in the Round of 32 by the Kentucky Wildcats. In total, they’ve been to the NCAA Tournament the past six seasons, most recently bowing out in the Second Round to Kentucky again, capping off a 31-5 season.
All things considered, the moves makes sense for all involved. The AAC is adding one of the best mid-major college basketball programs there is to offer out there, and Wichita State can hopefully garner some more respect heading into future NCAA Tournament appearances. Many believed that the Shockers were very under-seeded in this current NCAA Tournament that’s winding down with the Final Four this weekend.
There are still a few hoops to jump through, but it does seem that both sides want to make this happen, and we could see Marshall leading his team against some different competition in the regular season next year.