Wichita State enters a new-look American Athletic Conference as one of the veterans, for what's that is worth.
Six schools join the conference this season. There are eight holdover schools, including Wichita State, and three of those coaches are in their first season and three more in their second. Among the six newcomers, all from Conference USA, two coaches are in their first season.
That is a lot of new as teams begin the 18-game unbalanced conference schedule.
The Shockers (8-5) open their seventh season in the American against newcomer North Texas (7-5) and first-year head coach Ross Hodge at 8 p.