Wichita State men's basketball will open American Athletic Conference play at home against North Texas on Thursday, Dec. 31. The full 2026-27 schedule dropped Wednesday, Sept. 30, after the conference announced its 18-game slate.
The Shockers will play nine home games and nine road games in league action, according to the team's schedule page on GoShockers.com. Head coach Paul Mills enters his fourth season after signing a contract extension in July that runs through June 30, 2031.
The non-conference schedule features three marquee games, the Wichita Eagle reported. WSU travels to Rupp Arena to face Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 27. The Shockers play USC on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nevada. WSU meets Kansas State on Friday, Dec. 11, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
The Kentucky game marks the first regular-season meeting between the programs. Kentucky leads the all-time series 2-0, with both previous matchups coming in the NCAA Tournament, according to GoShockers.com. The most notable was the 2014 second round, when the Wildcats ended Wichita State's undefeated season.
The regular season opens Wednesday, Nov. 4, against Cal State Northridge at Charles Koch Arena. WSU also hosts New Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Boise State on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Conference home dates
Nine home conference games at Koch Arena:
- North Texas (Thursday, Dec. 31)
- UAB (Friday, Jan. 8, 2027)
- East Carolina (Sunday, Jan. 17)
- Memphis (Thursday, Jan. 28)
- UTSA (Sunday, Jan. 31)
- Tulane (Wednesday, Feb. 10)
- South Florida (Thursday, Feb. 18)
- Charlotte (Sunday, Feb. 28)
- Tulsa (Saturday, March 6)
The March 6 finale against Tulsa is WSU's only Saturday home conference game. Last season's American schedule included four Saturday home dates at Koch Arena, the Eagle reported.
Road slate
Nine road conference games:
- at Charlotte (Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027)
- at Memphis (Thursday, Jan. 14)
- at North Texas (Wednesday, Jan. 20)
- at Tulsa (Saturday, Jan. 23)
- at South Florida (Thursday, Feb. 4)
- at Florida Atlantic (Sunday, Feb. 7)
- at Rice (Sunday, Feb. 14)
- at Temple (Sunday, Feb. 21)
- at Tulane (Wednesday, March 3)
Twelve of WSU's 18 league games fall on a Sunday or Thursday, including six of the nine home dates.
Preseason events
Shocker Madness kicks off the season Saturday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Koch Arena. The Shockers then host Murray State for a charity scrimmage on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission, with proceeds benefiting two local charities. The scrimmage is not included in season ticket packages.
The annual Tip-Off Luncheon is set for Friday, Oct. 23.
WSU returns Kenyon Giles, T.J. Williams, Dillon Battie, Mike Gray Jr. and Will Berg. Transfer additions include Chattanooga point guard Jordan Frison, George Mason guard Jahari Long, Dayton wing Bryce Heard and New Mexico State center Cyr Malonga.
The American Conference tournament runs March 10-14, 2027, at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, with the top 10 teams competing. Tip times and television assignments for the regular season have not been announced.
