The final pieces of the nonconference schedule for the Wichita State men’s basketball team
Every WSU opponent finalized for Shocker basketball nonconference schedule games
The Wichita State men’s basketball team has finalized the remaining nonconference games for the upcoming season, as reported by The Eagle.
While most of the schedule was already set as of August, a significant development occurred on Thursday when ESPN revealed that the Shockers will face Minnesota in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational at 11 a.m. Central on Thanksgiving. The following day, WSU will play either Florida or Wake Forest in Orlando.
With the addition of these games, WSU needed to fill three remaining open dates. Head coach Paul Mills has scheduled “buy” games at Koch Arena against Alcorn State (Dec. 4), East Tennessee State (Dec. 7), and Friends (Dec. 29).
The Shockers will have eight home games, including a matchup against Kansas State on Dec. 21 and a visit from Missouri Valley Conference rival Northern Iowa on Nov. 14. They will also play two true road games—at Western Kentucky on Nov. 4 and at DePaul on Dec. 14—as well as three neutral-site games, including contests against Saint Louis in Kansas City and two games in Orlando.
November’s schedule is set to challenge the revamped Shockers, starting with a road opener at Western Kentucky, a team expected to be in the top 100 according to Bart Torvik. Following that, WSU will have three home games against Montana State, UNI, and Monmouth before ending the month with three neutral-site games that could be classified as Quad 1 or Quad 2.
To balance the rigorous early schedule, Mills has scheduled games against lower-rated teams like Alcorn State, projected by Torvik to be the lowest-rated Division I team, and East Tennessee State, which should provide a solid test.
The hiring of Chris Holtmann has rejuvenated DePaul, making their game a more intriguing road matchup. WSU will also face Kansas City at home, preparing them for a highly anticipated game against Kansas State, potentially a top-25 team.
The nonconference schedule wraps up with a game against Friends, an NAIA team, scheduled after Christmas and eight days following the K-State game. This arrangement helps WSU transition back to competition following the holiday break and before American Athletic Conference play.
Non-Division I games do not affect NET rankings, so WSU won’t face penalties for playing an NAIA team. Nevertheless, some teams have exploited NET rankings by heavily defeating low-rated Division I opponents.
With recent changes diluting the American Athletic Conference, Mills is positioning the Shockers to be competitive by scheduling aggressively. The nonconference schedule presents WSU with up to six opportunities for Quad 1 or Quad 2 wins, crucial for building an at-large resume. However, seizing these opportunities, especially away from home, will be key, given WSU’s past struggles in conference play.
The full schedule for the 2024-25 season, including official game times and TV details, is expected to be released in early September alongside the American Athletic Conference’s conference slate. Additionally, WSU will play an exhibition game against a non-Division I team in late October.
New Roster Addition: Croatian center Matej Bosnjak has arrived in Wichita and started practicing with the Shockers. Listed as a 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior, Bosnjak’s official NCAA classification is still pending and may be confirmed as a junior soon. The 22-year-old has played professionally in Croatia for three seasons, averaging 7.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Recruiting News: WSU is also focusing on future talent, with Houston-area prospect Dorian Hayes visiting the campus officially. Hayes, a 6-4 wing and the 14th-ranked player in Texas for the 2025 class, has been offered by WSU and is being pursued by several high-major programs. His visit to Wichita is his first official recruiting trip.
Known Schedule for 2024:
- Oct. 5: Shocker Madness at Koch Arena
- Oct. 12: vs. Oklahoma State (closed scrimmage)
- Nov. 4: at Western Kentucky
- Nov. 9: vs. Montana State
- Nov. 14: vs. Northern Iowa
- Nov. 18: vs. Monmouth
- Nov. 22: vs. Saint Louis (T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.)
- Nov. 28: vs. Minnesota (ESPN Events Invitational, Orlando, Fla.)
- Nov. 29: vs. Florida/Wake Forest (ESPN Events Invitational, Orlando, Fla.)
- Dec. 4: vs. Alcorn State
- Dec. 7: vs. East Tennessee State
- Dec. 14: at DePaul
- Dec. 17: vs. Kansas City
- Dec. 21: vs. Kansas State
- Dec. 29: vs. Friends
Additional Notes: Home games include East Carolina, Tulane, and UAB. Away games are against Florida Atlantic, Rice, and Temple. Home-and-away matchups are with Charlotte, Memphis, North Texas, South Florida, Tulsa, and UTSA.