Wichita State set to play regional Big 12 opponent in closed basketball scrimmage

The secret is already out for the annual behind-closed-doors scrimmage opponent for the Wichita State men’s basketball team.

According to a source with direct knowledge, the Shockers are slated to take on Oklahoma State in a practice day at Koch Arena on Saturday, October 12.

The two regional programs recently completed a four-year series in the regular season with WSU winning both times in Stillwater and the Cowboys emerging victorious both times in Wichita. The series ended in 2022 with Oklahoma State winning 59-49 at Intrust Bank Arena.

With no international exhibition tour this summer, the scrimmage against the Big 12 foe will mark the first outside competition for this year’s Shocker team.

The scrimmage will take place one week following Shocker Madness, as the team will make its public debut in a short intrasquad scrimmage at Koch Arena on Oct. 5. The Shockers are slated to open the regular season at Western Kentucky on Nov. 4.

In coach Paul Mills’ second season, WSU will try to bury the memory of last season’s 15-19 record with five key returners back in center Quincy Ballard, wing Harlond Beverly, guard Xavier Bell, guard Bijan Cortes and forward Ronnie DeGray III. The Shockers believe they have landed a strong recruiting class that features transfers in point guard Justin Hill (Georgia), forward Corey Washington (Saint Peter’s), sharpshooter A.J. McGinnis (Lipscomb) and big man Zane Meeks (Arizona State), an international addition in Croatian big man Matej Bosnjak and two freshmen in Zion Pipkin and T.J. Williams.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is under a transition with first-year head coach Steve Lutz. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Lutz was actually in the Roundhouse this past season — leading an eventual NCAA tournament-bound Western Kentucky team in a 71-61 loss to the Shockers.

While there was a heavy roster turnover from last year’s OSU squad, Lutz did manage to retain senior shooting guard Bryce Thompson (11.6 points). He also landed the No. 54 transfer portal class, per On3, including highly-touted transfers in Khalil Brantley (La Salle), Arturo Dean (Florida International), Davonte Davis (Arkansas), Robert Jennings (Texas Tech), Brandon Newman (Western Kentucky), Abou Ousmane (Xavier) and Marchelus Avery (UCF).

The matchup against OSU continues the recent trend of WSU scrimmaging power-conference opponents before the season. The Shockers have played Iowa (2023), Nebraska (2019) and Oklahoma State (2018) and Texas Tech (2021) in recent years.

With 10 known opponents for the 2024 nonconference slate, WSU is expected to add two more games — likely “buy game” opponents at Koch Arena — before releasing its full schedule.

2024 Wichita State men’s basketball known schedule

Saturday, Oct. 5: Shocker Madness at Koch Arena

Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Oklahoma State (closed scrimmage)

Monday, Nov. 4: at Western Kentucky

Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Montana State

Thursday, Nov. 14: vs. Northern Iowa

Monday, Nov. 18: vs. Monmouth

Friday, Nov. 22: vs. Saint Louis (at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.)

Thursday, Nov. 28: vs. TBD in ESPN Events Invitational (at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.)

Friday, Nov. 29: vs. TBD in ESPN Events Invitational (at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.)

Saturday, Dec. 14: at DePaul

Tuesday, Dec. 17: vs. Kansas City

Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. Kansas State

Home only: East Carolina, Tulane and UAB

Away only: Florida Atlantic, Rice and Temple

Home and away: Charlotte, Memphis, North Texas, South Florida, Tulsa and UTSA