Wichita State will offer around 80 men’s basketball seats on Monday morning

The departure of Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet did not significantly diminish the desire for Wichita State basketball season tickets.

Around 80 seats, most in the upper two rows of Koch Arena, go on sale at 8:30 a.m. Monday. There are a few scattered single seats in lower rows, almost all above the entrances from the concourse.

According to Russell Wilkins, associate athletic director, fans renewed at a 97-percent rate for the approximately 8,800 seats reserved for season tickets. That is down slightly from last season’s rate of close to 100 percent, still high enough for Wilkins to appreciate the passion for basketball.

“I’m doing backflips,” he said.

Most of the remaining seats, available after WSU went through a waiting list of around 100 people this summer, cost $390 each, plus a Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization donation of $460 for two seats. Beginning Monday, fans can order the tickets by phone (316-978-3267) or purchase them at the ticket office in Koch Arena. Because some of the seats are obstructed, Wilkins encourages fans to visit the arena and look at the seats.

Non-conference schedule finalized — WSU will play Southern Nazarene, an NCAA Division II school, on Nov. 29, a game that completes its non-conference schedule.

The Missouri Valley Conference portion of the schedule is usually announced in early September, with TV information coming in late September and early October. On Monday, ESPN gave the MVC its preferred matchups and dates, information that starts the process.

The Shockers open the season with an exhibition game against Augusta (Ga.) on Nov. 5.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Wichita State will offer around 80 men’s basketball seats on Monday morning."