Wichita State wrapped up the regular-season as Missouri Valley champions. Thursday they travel to St. Louis to try to claim the conference once again, this time in the course of three days.

The top-seeded Shockers will face the winner of Thursday’s opening game between eighth-seeded Loyola and ninth-seeded Bradley.

Wichita State previously swept both opponents in the regular-season, and by large margins. The Shockers defeated Loyola by an average of 24 points and Bradley by an average of 30 points.

The Shockers won five straight to close out the regular season. They defeated their last five opponents by an average of 26 points, and three by margins better than 30 points.

The Shockers own three MVC tournament championships — one in Gregg Marshall’s tenure — last claiming the title in 2014.

“As good as we’ve been, we’ve only won it once in the last three years,” senior Fred VanVleet said. “It’s just another goal, another thing to keep us hungry.”

 The Shockers tip Friday at noon in the Scottrade Center. The game will be available on ESPN3.