Wichita State Shockers: Role Players Step Up In Omaha
By Grant Cohen
For 22 years, the Wichita State Shockers have been drooling for a match up against the historic Kansas Jayhawks. The Shockers got more than they bargained for Sunday, as Wichita State dismantled the Jayhawks 78-65 to advance to their second sweet 16 in three years.
Shockers head coach Gregg Marshall had been attempting to put Kansas on the schedule for years with no such luck. Bill Self squashed any chance of that happening, according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, saying that he would like to schedule games in LA, Chicago, and Indy, where he can recruit talent from.
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Self and the Jayhawks could not avoid the rising powerhouse Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska and the Shockers were in drive from the end of the first half until the final buzzer.
Tekele Cotton led all scorers with 19 points while Fred Van Vleet showed why he is one of the better point guards in the country, scoring 17 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists.
Cotton was a pest on the defensive end of the floor, holding Kelly Orube Jr to only nine points and switching to guard Wayne Selden Jr, holding him scoreless on five shot attempts.
Perry Ellis and Devonte Graham added 17 each for Kansas, but the Jayhawks were held to only 35% shooting thanks to Wichita State’s 8th ranked defense in points per game (56 ppg).
Shocker forward Evan Wessel was the difference maker for Wichita State, scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Usually averaging four points and a 34% shooter, Wessel was left open on numerous of occasions by the Jayhawks, daring him to drain it from downtown. Four out of the six times that Wessel nailed down a three gave the Shockers a much needed boost to stay out in front.
This Wichita State Shocker team may look like another Cinderella story, but it is just the opposite. They are an elite program playing angrier than ever.
All of these stats came from the NCAA’s official website and ESPN.com.
The loss to Wichita State Sunday gives the Kansas Jayhawks their second straight third round dismissal and a record of 1-3 against Missouri Valley Conference teams in the NCAA tournament since 2006.
Wichita State will face three seeded Notre Dame in Cleveland on Thursday for a shot at the Elite Eight and number one ranked Kentucky. If the Shockers make it to the Elite Eight, you better believe they’re going to be hungry for revenge against the team that wrecked their perfect season last year.
This Wichita State Shocker team may look like another Cinderella story, but it is just the opposite. They are an elite program playing angrier than ever.
Next: Wichita State Shockers: Kings Of Kansas
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