Shockers make move: Wichita State leaving MVC for AAC

The school, which has been a member of the MVC since 1945, does not have a football program but it is a powerhouse in men's basketball.

Wichita State has been to six straight NCAA tournaments and reached the Final Four in 2013.

"The addition of Wichita State in basketball and Olympic sports extends our conference's national footprint, enhances our national profile and strengthens our position as a leader in intercollegiate athletics," said Mike Aresco, the conference's commissioner.

Wichita State President John Bardo said joining the conference will not only improve the school's athletic standing, it also will allow it to improve academics by making new connections with other top research universities.

"The Valley has always been resilient and progressive in the face of these changes, and we have never been defined by a single institution," the league said in a statement.

Because it did not give the required two-year notice for leaving the MVC, Wichita State will have to forfeit its share this year's conference revenue distribution.