Four-game series starts in Wichita next season

WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State has agreed to a four-game series with long-time rival Tulsa beginning with the 2010-11 season, Director of Athletics Eric Sexton and Head Coach Gregg Marshall announced today.

“This is an exciting move to secure a home-and-home series with Tulsa over the next four years,” Sexton said. “This series has provided great drama and entertainment for both schools over the years, and renewing it was important to both programs.”

The first game is set for Dec. 21, 2010, at a yet to be determined time. Wichita State will be in Tulsa at the Donald W. Reynolds Center in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons, while the Hurricane will travel to Wichita in 2012-13.

“This is a game everyone around Wichita tells me is of great interest,” Marshall said. “Both teams are on the upswing, so it is a great time for both parties to renew the rivalry. It is also close enough for fans of both to possibly travel.”

The two teams first played in the series, which Tulsa leads 60-59, twice during the 1930-31 season with each team winning on its opponent's floor by two points, which included an overtime game in Tulsa. Most recently, WSU won the last two meetings after losing 12-straight. The two teams last played during the 2004-05 season in Tulsa with the Shockers taking a 71-66 win. Tulsa was also the Shockers' opponent for the previous season for the dedication of the reconstructed Charles Koch Arena on Dec. 20, 2003.

Tulsa, now a member of Conference USA, became a member of the MVC in 1934-35 until leaving the league following the 1995-96 season, while Wichita State is still a Valley member since joining the conference in 1945-46.

To date, Tulsa has posted a 7-1 non-conference record so far in 2009-10 and is receiving votes in the latest ESPN/USA Today and AP Top 25 with victories over Oklahoma State and Ohio. In four seasons, TU head coach Doug Wojcik has taken a nine-win team and has posted three consecutive 20+ win seasons, back-to-back 25+ win campaigns, advanced to the championship game of the 2008 and 2009 Conference USA Tournament, won the inaugural College Basketball Invitational post-season event in his third season and advanced to the NIT second round in his fourth year.

Wichita State's head coach Gregg Marshall is 9-1 in his third season after leading the Shockers from an 11-win season to 17-17 and a berth in the postseason CBI, the Shockers' first postseason berth since a Sweet 16 run in 2006. WSU plays host to No. 16 Texas Tech this Saturday.