Wyoming Accepts NIT Bid, Set to Face Wichita State

Cowboys prioritize playing basketball as long as possible, despite declining invitations from other programs.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:19pm

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Despite many college basketball programs declining invitations to non-NCAA Tournament postseason events, the Wyoming Cowboys have accepted a bid to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Head coach Sundance Wicks explained that as basketball coaches, they have a duty to normalize playing basketball for as long as possible, rather than opting out. Wyoming will now travel to Kansas to take on the Wichita State Shockers in the first round of the NIT.

Why it matters

In an era where many programs prioritize efficiency and money over continuing to play, Wyoming's decision to embrace the NIT opportunity stands out. Wicks emphasized the importance of coaches and players normalizing playing basketball for as long as they can, rather than declining postseason invitations.

The details

Wyoming accepted the NIT bid after several other programs, including San Diego State and Boise State, declined their invitations. The Cowboys will face Wichita State, who finished second in the American Athletic Conference with a 22-11 overall record. The Shockers are led by guard Kenyon Giles and forward Karon Boyd, and feature a 7-2 center in Will Berg. This will be Wyoming's first postseason appearance since their last NCAA Tournament berth in 2022.

  • The NCAA Tournament field was announced on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Wyoming will face Wichita State on Tuesday, March 18, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

The players

Sundance Wicks

The head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys, who explained the team's decision to accept the NIT bid.

Kenyon Giles

The leading scorer for the Wichita State Shockers, averaging 19.4 points per game.

Karon Boyd

A forward for the Wichita State Shockers, averaging 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Will Berg

The 7-2 center for the Wichita State Shockers, who leads the team in blocks with 1.4 per game.

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What they’re saying

“We will always accept an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament. If we don't ever get an NCAA automatic qualifier bid or an at-large bid in March Madness, we'll always accept this, because it is our civic duty as basketball coaches of basketball players to normalize playing basketball as long as you can, because that's what we get paid to do nowadays.”

— Sundance Wicks, Head Coach, Wyoming Cowboys

“This is what we need to normalize, and this (NIT) field is outstanding. It is like Mid-Major Madness, and I love it. Kudos to Auburn for accepting the bid. That's outstanding.”

— Sundance Wicks, Head Coach, Wyoming Cowboys

What’s next

The winner of the Wyoming-Wichita State matchup will face either Oklahoma State or Davidson in the next round of the NIT.

The takeaway

Wyoming's decision to embrace the NIT opportunity, rather than decline it like many other programs, demonstrates their commitment to normalizing playing basketball for as long as possible. In an era where efficiency and revenue often take priority, the Cowboys are prioritizing their passion for the game and providing their players the chance to continue their seasons.