Report: Wichita State would leave for AAC if invited

Wichita State would accept an invitation to the American Athletic Conference if the conference decides to expand, a university source told Andy Katz of ESPN.

Currently a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Wichita State feels the conference has hurt its reputation when it comes to qualifying for the NCAA basketball tournament.

The Shockers went 30-4 this season, winning the MVC regular season and conference tournament titles, but were assigned a No. 10 seed by the selection committee.

Wichita State then defeated higher No. 7 seed Dayton and then lost by three points to No. 2 seed Kentucky.

If the AAC were to invite the university, something it reportedly could do soon, it would not officially happen until the 2018-19 season, where Wichita State would join as a full-time member with all Olympic sports, as the Shockers do not sponsor football.

Currently at 11 full-time members, Wichita State would give the AAC 12 basketball playing schools, as Navy gives the conference 12 football playing schools.

A source told Katz it would take a 75 percent vote from the current conference membership to add a new member.

If the Shockers were to leave, it would be the second blow to a once strong basketball conference, as Creighton left in 2013 for the Big East.

Since 2013, Wichita State has reached the Final Four, had an undefeated regular season, earned a No. 1 seed, and made six consecutive NCAA tournaments.

However, if the Shockers did not win the MVC tournament this year, there was some concern Wichita State would not have been selected as an at-large bid, something MVC commissioner Doug Elgin mentioned along with his worry over losing the Shockers to conference realignment.

As well, the move would come at a time when the AAC's TV rights are set to expire in 2020 and adding a national brand would improve contract negotiations were the conference to sign with a new TV outlet.