Dave Clark, and Tom Groeschen

Cincinnati

UPDATE: Wichita State was unanimously voted into the American Athletic Conference for the 2017-18 season on Friday morning, joining the UC Bearcats and 10 other teams in men's basketball.

“Wichita State will create an immediate competitive lift to our league. We look forward to competing against the Shockers," UC director of athletics Mike Bohn told The Enquirer's Tom Groeschen.

"Wichita State is a great addition to our conference," UC men's basketball coach Mick Cronin said. "Coach (Gregg) Marshall and his teams are among the best in the country year in and year out. The Shockers are committed to basketball from top to bottom, including a great fan base. Even though I know how good they are, it is exciting to see them join the American and strengthen our conference. I love to see a move for basketball reasons.”

Wichita State will join the AAC in all sports except football effective July 1, giving the American both a 12-team football and basketball league. Currently, Navy is a football-only member of the AAC. Wichita State discontinued its football program after the 1986 season.

What Wichita State's conference move means for the AAC, Missouri Valley

Some reactions via Twitter:





Earlier reporting: The American Athletic Conference board of directors will vote Friday to determine whether it will admit Wichita State and if it will happen for next season, ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported Wednesday, citing a source with direct knowledge.

Katz reported last week that the Shockers may join the AAC as soon as next season.

More from Katz:

Wichita State needs 75 percent of the votes for admission. The AAC is expected to add the Shockers and unless there is a hiccup for the 2017-18 season. Another source with direct knowledge said the Shockers want to go for next season and are willing to pass up all of its previous NCAA tournament units from winning games in the tournament to leave before the 24 month deadline to the Missouri Valley Conference without a penalty.

Earlier this week, Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook listed Wichita State's odds to win the NCAA men's basketball championship next season at 20-1. (Odds for both UC and Xavier are 80-1.)

Wichita State is ranked No. 8 in USA TODAY Sports' super early preseason top 25 for the 2017-18 season. UC is ranked No. 24.

The Enquirer's Paul Daugherty wrote in March - after UC and SMU each earned No. 6 seeds in the NCAA Tournament - that the Bearcats need to get out of the AAC.

Cronin, speaking with Cincinnati-area reporters before the Bearcats' postseason banquet Wednesday night at the Original Montgomery Inn, was asked about the Wichita State situation.

"If we were to add anybody to our league that would enhance our basketball profile, I think it would be great for our league," Cronin said. "Whether it's Wichita State or whoever they may be talking about, as far as enhancing the basketball in our conference, I'd be all for it."

Get the latest UC sports news. Download the Bearcats app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.