Wichita State lands marquee home-and-home series with Mountain West power
Wichita State men’s basketball has landed a marquee nonconference home-and-home series with New Mexico, adding one of the Mountain West’s most consistent programs to its upcoming schedule.
The series will begin with the Lobos visiting Koch Arena on Saturday, Nov. 21, before the Shockers return the game at The Pit in Albuquerque sometime in November 2027.
New Mexico has won at least 26 games in each of the past three seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2024 and 2025, giving WSU another potentially valuable resume opportunity in a nonconference schedule that continues to take shape.
The agreement reunites two programs that have not played in nearly 20 years and brings New Mexico to Wichita for the first time since 1958. The Lobos have won the past three meetings to take a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series, including the most recent matchup in Las Vegas on Nov. 22, 2006.
The Shockers are now slated to host two teams projected inside Bart Torvik’s preseason top 100. New Mexico opens at No. 65 in the projections, while Boise State, which will visit Koch Arena on Saturday, Dec. 5, checks in at No. 95.
WSU also has a marquee neutral-site matchup scheduled against Kansas State on Friday, Dec. 11, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Beyond reviving a dormant series, the New Mexico matchup could provide both programs with a valuable opportunity to strengthen their NCAA Tournament résumés.
Wichita State debuted at No. 67 in Bart Torvik’s preseason projections, just two spots behind New Mexico. If those projections prove accurate, the November matchup could carry significant value under the NCAA’s quadrant system.
For New Mexico, a victory at Koch Arena would count as a Quadrant 1 win if WSU finishes in the top 75 of the NET rankings. For the Shockers, a home victory would fall into Quadrant 2 if the Lobos finish between Nos. 31 and 75 and would rise to Quad 1 if New Mexico lands in the top 30.
The Lobos have established themselves as one of the Mountain West’s premier programs, winning at least 26 games in each of the past three seasons and reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2024 and 2025.
Eric Olen maintained that momentum during his first season in Albuquerque, guiding New Mexico to a 26-11 record in his debut.
The Lobos should again have the talent to remain nationally relevant after retaining two of the country’s most productive freshman guards.
Jake Hall returns after averaging 16.4 points and shooting 43.8% from 3-point range during a breakout debut season. Hall may be the best movement shooter in college basketball, while Uriah Tenette also returns after averaging 10.6 points and 2.9 assists as a freshman. The Lobos received another boost when Chris Howell was granted a waiver to return, giving Olen another experienced contributor from last season’s 26-win team.
WSU also has reason to expect another step forward after winning 24 games, reaching the American Conference tournament championship game and advancing to the third round of the NIT last season.
Fourth-year coach Paul Mills retained an experienced core led by 7-foot-2 center Will Berg, guards T.J. Williams and Mike Gray Jr. and forward Dillon Battie. The Shockers also added several experienced transfers as they attempt to build on their best season under Mills.
The first meeting will give WSU a chance to add a potentially valuable nonconference victory without leaving Koch Arena. A year later, the Shockers will receive the return opportunity at The Pit, traditionally one of college basketball’s most challenging road environments.
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 3:13 PM.
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