Quietly, perhaps surprisingly so, the Tulsa-Wichita State series is approaching what people envisioned when the schools resumed conference hostilities in 2017-18.
The Shockers joined the American Athletic Conference that season and much of the focus landed on Cincinnati and Houston, because of their status, and Memphis' hype.
Tulsa, which shared last season's conference title with those two, is forcing its way into that picture. On Wednesday, the Golden Hurricane visits Koch Arena and the rivalry – sustained mostly by memories of the 1980s – enjoys another chance to heat up.
Wednesday's game matters to the conference race and the hard work of building an NCAA Tournament resume.