Wichita State's basketball team leaves Friday afternoon to continue the program's biggest move since 1945. That year, the Shockers swapped McPherson, Baker and Bethany for Tulsa, Oklahoma A&M and Creighton when it joined the Missouri Valley Conference.
On Saturday, the eighth-ranked Shockers (10-2) debut in American Athletic Conference play at Connecticut (7-5). They swap the MVC, which possesses one team in the top 80 of the Pomeroy rankings, for the American and six teams in the top 80.
The difference is stark and, from the moment the move became official last spring, Shocker coach Gregg Marshall talked about the upgrade in size, speed and athletic ability on the rosters.