Friends University vs Wichita State prediction: Jordan Frison and Wichita State's rebuilt backcourt get a home tune-up
With less than half of last season's minutes back, the Shockers' NAIA guest is a chance to see the transfers between a Tahoe trip and Austin Peay.
- Wichita State should control this NAIA visitor; the real interest is how the new transfer guards share the ball and the shots.
- Watch Jordan Frison, who shot 45.5% from three at Chattanooga last season, in his first home game as a Shocker.
- No spread or total has been posted; the 95-65 Wichita State win in 2023 is the one result on record for this series.
A backcourt built from the portal
Wichita State won 24 games last season, then lost its engine. Kenyon Giles, who scored 19.1 points a game, is gone, and players on this season's roster account for just 45.1% of last season's minutes. That makes last season's team numbers a loose guide at best.
The answer came from the transfer portal. Jordan Frison, a 6-foot guard and the first portal addition, posted a 62.9% effective field goal percentage (a shooting measure that counts threes 1.5 times) at Chattanooga. George Mason transfer Jahari Long has impressed Paul Mills in practice with his assist-to-turnover ratio, and Dayton's Bryce Heard adds depth. Friends offers a low-stakes look at how those pieces fit.
Second chances inside
One trait worth watching for carryover: Wichita State grabbed 38.5% of its own misses last season, 5th in Division I. Center Will Berg, back after averaging 8.1 rebounds, is the returner most tied to that identity. Against an NAIA frontcourt, a repeat of that glass work would point to the style surviving the roster churn.
Familiar faces, crowded week
Friends coach Nick Jones, hired in June, spent eight seasons at Wichita State before three at Washburn, so he knows this building well. The game sits between the Shockers' Nov. 8 neutral-site date with USC in Lake Tahoe and a Nov. 14 home game against Austin Peay, which invites a deep rotation.
Health is the open question. As of late October, Jaret Valencia was limited while recovering from Achilles surgery and center Noah Hill had returned to practice after a broken foot. Wichita State hasn't said how much either will play.
Key players
- Jordan Frison (Wichita State): Last season at Chattanooga he averaged 16.4 points and shot 45.5% from three.
- Jahari Long (Wichita State): He started all 33 games at George Mason last season, averaging 3.9 assists.
- Will Berg (Wichita State): Last season he posted a 126.7 offensive rating with 8.1 rebounds a game.
- Michael Gray Jr. (Wichita State): He started all 36 games last season but shot just 31.1% from three.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 45.1% | Less than half of last season's minutes are back, so the new arrivals carry the team. |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive rebound % last season | 38.5% | Ranked 5th in Division I, the Shockers' clearest strength last season. |
| Frison 3-point % | 45.5% | His Chattanooga shooting last season makes him the likeliest new scoring hub. |
| 2023 meeting | 95-65 | A Wichita State win over Friends at Charles Koch Arena on Nov. 12, 2023. |
Friends University vs Wichita State: quick answers
When is Friends University vs Wichita State?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.