Wichita State will have a tough time repeating it’s undefeated regular season. WSU will face at least seven teams early in the season that finished last year in the top 100 in the basketball power index (BPI), three of those teams in the top 50.

WSU opens the season at home against New Mexico State, which finished No. 78 in the BPI and fell in the NCAA tournament to San Diego State in overtime.

The Aggies lost just two players from last year’s squad, one of which was a starter. The NMSU squad is young, as 11 of 15 players are either freshman or sophomores — expect WSU to force the Aggies to make mistakes.

WSU then travels to Memphis. The Tigers were a No. 8 seed in last year’s dance and won its first round game against George Washington before being bounced out by No. 1-seeded Virginia.

Memphis is an experienced team, having only three freshmen — expect the Tigers to do everything they can to defend their court.

Wichita State will host Tulsa, a No. 13 seed from last year’s tournament, on Nov. 29. This year’s Tulsa squad does not have a single senior, but still returns four of five tournament starters.

The Shockers will travel to Salt Lake City to play Utah before hosting Alabama and St. Louis.

The Utah Utes and Alabama Crimson Tide both missed the tournament last season, but are expected to bounce back this season. Utah finished No. 38 in BPI and Alabama No. 86.

The match-up with St. Louis at Intrust Bank Arena might be the toughest of the bunch.

The Billikens were a No. 5 seed last year and lost in the second round to Louisville. Had both St. Louis and WSU won their second round games, they would have met in the tournament.

The Shockers won the regular season meeting in St. Louis 70-65 behind Ron Baker’s 22 points, six rebounds and four steals.

WSU was up just one point with 14 seconds left in the game, but clutch play from Fred VanVleet and Chadrack Lufile extended the Shocker lead and ultimately closed out the victory.

St. Louis would certainly like to return the favor of last year’s home loss, which is what makes it such an attractive matchup.

Wichita State’s non-conference schedule will be difficult, but matchups like these are what the selection committee is looking for come March — WSU just needs to deliver the Ws.