ESPN ‘GameDay’ takes a look at Wichita State for February

Wichita State is one of four destinations being considered for ESPN’s “College GameDay” basketball preview show on Feb. 28.

WSU associate athletic director John Brewer said ESPN notified the Missouri Valley Conference of the possibility. One of the other games being considered is Texas at Kansas.

With that competition (and two other possibilities), Brewer isn’t booking hotel rooms for the ESPN crew. Last season, ESPN declined to relocate “GameDay” from a Kansas game at Oklahoma State. On that same day, WSU played its final regular-season game and defeated Missouri State to wrap up a 31-0 record.

Since that history-making effort didn’t attract “GameDay,” Brewer isn’t going to get excited about WSU’s chances this season.

“Obviously, this is very tentative,” Brewer said. “I’m skeptical, because KU is hosting Texas that same day.”

WSU and Northern Iowa are expected to be the MVC’s top teams. If the Shockers and Panthers want to lure “GameDay,” their job is straightforward.

“We need both of them to win,” Brewer said. “ We need both schools to be in first and second place, probably, having great years.”

In September, ESPN announced that it will choose its sites a week before the game in order to find the top stories. The eight-week Saturday schedule will begin in January. Digger Phelps is no longer on the “GameDay” crew, which now consists of host Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Jay Williams and Seth Greenberg.

First look at the Shockers — WSU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will scrimmage as part of Shocker Madness at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Koch Arena.

Doors open at 5 p.m. The men will scrimmage first. The women, going last because of class schedules, will take the floor around 7 p.m.

Men’s players will receive their MVC championship rings at 6 p.m. before a dunk contest and scrimmage. The women will follow, also after a ring ceremony.

Banner drops will take place before each team’s regular-season opener. WSU’s men play New Mexico State on Nov. 14. The women open against Creighton on Nov. 15.

This story was originally published October 3, 2014 at 6:45 PM with the headline "ESPN ‘GameDay’ takes a look at Wichita State for February."