American Athletic Conference votes unanimously to add Wichita State

[Harry]

The American Athletic Conference unanimously voted Friday morning to add Wichita State as a league member for the 2017-18 season.

Wichita State is expected to accept the AAC's invitation and leave the Missouri Valley Conference, where the Shockers have been members since 1945, sources said.

Wichita State will join the AAC in all sports, except football, giving the AAC both a 12-team football and basketball league. The AAC has 11 all-sports members (Cincinnati, UConn, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa and UCF) and Navy is a football-only member. Wichita State has not had a football team since 1986.

Because of Wichita State's basketball success, the Shockers were an attractive target for the AAC. Wichita State has been to six consecutive NCAA tournaments, winning at least one game in the past five tournaments and reaching the 2013 Final Four.

read more:  http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/19101126/american-athletic-conference-votes-add-wichita-state-shockers

[oldguystudent]

That's an interesting move adding a non-football member.  They definitely will bring in some of that sweet, sweet tourney share distribution. 

[untbowler]

good move by AAC, brings a good all sports member while maintaining even number for FB and BB

[DeepGreen]

I'd be willing to bet Wichita State brings back football at some point.

[MeanGreen_MBA]

1 hour ago, DeepGreen said:

I'd be willing to bet Wichita State brings back football at some point.

They will probably hire SL

[Cerebus]

On 4/7/2017 at 11:40 AM, oldguystudent said:

That's an interesting move adding a non-football member.  They definitely will bring in some of that sweet, sweet tourney share distribution. 

It will stay with the conference.  They are the type of program that can earn more in the future.

[untjim1995]

Great move by the AAC--gets a very solid hoops program in a decent market, while not disturbing football. I've always wondered why the PAC-12, for example, wouldn't add Gonzaga and St. Mary's to their league. Seems like an easy fix, they would cover the revenue you pay them fairly easily, plus you get more credits for their basketball success.

[letsgiveacheer]

Wichita State used to hold the record as the most heavily penalized school in National Collegiate Athletic Association history. Maybe they still do but the competition has gotten much stiffer.

[UNTLifer]

8 hours ago, letsgiveacheer said:

Wichita State used to hold the record as the most heavily penalized school in National Collegiate Athletic Association history. Maybe they still do but the competition has gotten much stiffer.

Well, then they will fit right in with SMU.