Wichita State Named Preseason Conference Favorite
The American Athletic Conference coaches selected Wichita State to win the upcoming men's basketball championship.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Basketball
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Wichita State topped the preseason coaches poll, securing 140 points and nine first-place votes. Memphis followed in second place with 131 points, while South Florida rounded out the top three.
Why it matters
The ranking signals high expectations for Wichita State as it leads the conference field for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The selection reflects the program's strong position within the league following its arrival in 2017.
Wichita State collected nine of 12 available first-place votes to claim the top spot in the poll. Memphis finished in second place with four first-place votes among its 131 total points.
The players
Wichita State
This university basketball program joined the American Athletic Conference in 2017.
Kenyon Giles
The guard averaged 19.1 points per game last season and made 125 three-pointers.
Je'Shawn Stevenson
The North Texas guard was honored as the preseason Player of the Year.
Felipe Quinones
The Florida Atlantic guard was named the preseason Freshman of the Year.
The details
Wichita State successfully placed three players on the preseason all-conference teams. Despite the team's top ranking, guard Kenyon Giles was notably excluded from these squads following a September 23 court ruling in Indiana regarding his eligibility.
Timeline
Wichita State was last picked as a conference favorite during the 2016-17 season.
Wichita State joined the American Athletic Conference in 2017.
WSU finished second in the preseason coaches poll in 2017-18.
A court ruling granted Kenyon Giles eligibility relief on September 23.
The preseason coaches poll was released in October 2026.
Season Trajectory
The selection as the preseason favorite establishes Wichita State as the team to beat for the league title. This ranking puts significant pressure on the roster to meet high expectations compared to its 2017-18 preseason runner-up finish.
Wichita State's top standing will likely dictate the focus of betting markets and preseason power rankings across the conference. Meanwhile, the ongoing uncertainty regarding Kenyon Giles' eligibility creates a significant variable for team rotations and backcourt performance.
The takeaway
The preseason coaches poll highlights Wichita State as the clear frontrunner for the conference title this year. While the team remains in a strong position, the ongoing eligibility saga surrounding key contributors continues to influence the outlook for the season.
What happens next
A final eligibility ruling for Kenyon Giles is projected to potentially occur in January.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming season, visit the Basketball page.
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