Wichita State Shockers vs. USF Bulls: Conference Title Game Preview

The Shockers and Bulls meet in the American Conference championship with an NCAA Tournament bid on the line.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:40am

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The Wichita State Shockers (22-10) and the USF Bulls (24-8) will face off in the American Conference championship game on Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama. Wichita State advanced to the title game after defeating Tulsa 81-68, while USF routed Charlotte 86-64 in the semifinals. The Shockers and Bulls split their regular season series, with each team winning on the other's home court.

Why it matters

This matchup will determine the American Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Wichita State is seeking its first Tournament appearance since 2021, while USF is looking to make the Big Dance for the first time since 2012. The winner will earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament field.

The details

Wichita State has been led by the hot shooting of guard Kenyon Giles, who has scored 22+ points in 7 of the last 8 games. The Shockers have won 7 straight games and covered the spread in 5 consecutive outings. USF, the No. 1 seed, has won 10 games in a row and the Under has cashed in 8 of their last 9 games. The teams split their regular season meetings, with each winning on the other's home floor.

  • The championship game will tip off at 3:15 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Wichita State defeated Tulsa 81-68 in the American semifinals on March 14.
  • USF routed Charlotte 86-64 in the American semifinals on March 14.

The players

Kenyon Giles

Wichita State guard who has been on a scoring tear, averaging 22+ points per game over the last 8 contests.

Wes Enis

USF guard and son of former Penn State and NFL player Curtis Enis, scored 24 points in the semifinal win over Charlotte.

Joseph Pinion

USF guard who also scored 24 points in the semifinal victory over Charlotte.

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What they’re saying

“Kenyon Giles has really been carrying us lately. We're going to need him to keep that up if we want to punch our ticket to the NCAA Tournament.”

— Gregg Marshall, Wichita State Head Coach (Wichita Eagle)

“This is the opportunity we've been working towards all season. We're excited to compete for the conference championship and earn our way into the Big Dance.”

— Brian Gregory, USF Head Coach (Tampa Bay Times)

What’s next

The winner of Sunday's championship game will receive the American Conference's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup features two teams hungry to return to the NCAA Tournament, with Wichita State looking to end a 5-year drought and USF aiming to make its first appearance since 2012. The outcome will come down to which team's star players - Kenyon Giles for the Shockers and Wes Enis/Joseph Pinion for the Bulls - can lead their squad to victory and punch their ticket to the Big Dance.