An update on Wichita State’s non-conference opponents

As Wichita State appears poised to make a run at a high seed in the 2018 NCAA tournament, its strength of schedule in the non-conference will be something to closely monitor. Upgrading to the American Athletic Conference will bolster WSU’s resume, but its non-conference opponents could give the Shockers the strength of schedule they need.

As it currently stands, using Ken Pomeroy’s rankings, Wichita State still has five top-100 games in its non-conference: Baylor (No. 19), Oklahoma (No. 23), Oklahoma State (No. 50), College of Charleston (No. 77), and either Marquette (No. 52) or VCU (No. 83). The Shockers also have South Dakota State (No. 115), California (No. 119), and Florida Gulf Coast (No. 123) just outside the top-100.

Friday’s season-openers provided a positive with Florida Gulf Coast scoring a top-100 victory on the road at Illinois State, but also a negative with California losing a home buy game to UC Irvine, which entered the game outside of the top-250. In total, Wichita State’s non-conference opponents finished 10-4 on opening weekend.

Here’s a current look at 10 opponents on Wichita State’s schedule, including both VCU and Marquette for the potential semifinal showdown in Maui. The Shockers could also see No. 18 Notre Dame or No. 35 Michigan on the final day.

No. 20 Baylor (1-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 19

Result: Win vs. No. 317 Central Arkansas, 107-66, on Nov. 10.

Next week: vs. No. 256 Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Nov. 13; vs. No. 330 Alcorn State on Nov. 17.

WSU result: vs. Wichita State on Dec. 2.

No. 25 Oklahoma (1-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 23

Result: Win vs. No. 252 Nebraska-Omaha, 108-89, on Nov. 12.

Next week: vs. No. 134 Ball State on Nov. 15.

WSU result: vs. Wichita State on Dec. 16 at Intrust Bank Arena.

No. 49 Oklahoma State (1-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 50

Result: Win vs. No. 293 Pepperdine, 78-47, on Nov. 10.

Next week: vs. No. 201 Charlotte on Nov. 13; vs. No. 243 Oral Roberts on Nov. 16.

WSU result: vs. Wichita State on Dec. 9.

No. 52 Marquette (1-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 49

Result: Win vs. No. 271 Mount St. Mary’s, 80-59, on Nov. 10.

Next week: vs. No. 17 Purdue on Nov. 14.

WSU result: Potentially vs. Wichita State on Nov. 21 in Maui Invitational semifinals.

No. 77 College of Charleston (1-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 74

Result: Win vs. No. 257 Sienna, 68-60 in overtime, on Nov. 10.

Next week: at No. 2 Wichita State on Nov. 13; at No. 201 Charlotte on Nov. 19.

WSU result: at No. 2 Wichita State on Nov. 13.

No. 82 VCU (1-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 83

Result: Win vs. UR Grambling State, 94-65, on Nov. 10.

Next week: vs. No. 295 North Florida on Nov. 13; vs. No. 10 Virginia on Nov. 17.

WSU result: Potentially vs. Wichita State on Nov. 21 in Maui Invitational semifinals.

No. 115 South Dakota State (2-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 122

Result: Win vs. No. 194 UC Irvine, 65-54, on Nov. 10; Win vs. UR Mary, 78-54, on Nov. 12.

Next week: vs. No. 338 Alabama State on Nov. 14; at No. 5 Kansas on Nov. 17.

WSU result: at Wichita State on Dec. 5.

No. 122 Florida Gulf Coast (1-0)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 142

Result: Win vs. No. 96 Illinois State, 98-87, on Nov. 10.

Next week: at No. 257 Siena on Nov. 13; at No. 221 Bowling Green on Nov. 18.

WSU result: at Wichita State on Dec. 22.

No. 135 California (1-1)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 101

Result: Loss vs. No. 263 UC Riverside, 74-66, on Nov. 10; Win vs. No. 275 Cal Poly, 85-82, on Nov. 12.

Next week: vs. No. 188 Wofford on Nov. 16.

WSU result: at Wichita State on Nov. 20 in Maui Invitational.

No. 212 Arkansas State (0-1)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 200

Result: Loss at No. 148 Evansville, 77-63, on Nov. 10.

Next week: vs. No. 255 Abilene Christian on Nov. 13; at No. 145 Eastern Michigan on Nov. 16.

WSU result: at Wichita State on Dec. 19.

No. 310 UMKC (0-1)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 308

Result: Loss at No. 4 Wichita State, 109-57, on Nov. 10.

Next week: vs. UR Haskell on Nov. 12; at No. 34 Kansas State on Nov. 14; vs. No. 101 Loyola-Chicago on Nov. 16.

WSU result: Loss at No. 4 Wichita State, 109-57, on Nov. 10.

No. 327 Savannah State (0-1)

Pre-KenPom Rating: No. 329

Result: Loss at No. 12 Cincinnati, 107-77, on Nov. 10.

Next week: vs. No. 120 East Tennessee State on Nov. 13; vs. UR Middle Georgia State on Nov. 15; at No. 109 Louisiana Lafayette on Nov. 17.

WSU result: at Wichita State on Nov. 28.

This story was originally published November 12, 2017 at 12:39 AM with the headline "An update on Wichita State’s non-conference opponents."