Trying to Earn National Respect

(Indianapolis, IN) – Wichita State is still trying to earn the respect of college basketball fans. Friday’s knife fight of a game with a talented and gritty Dayton Flyer team gave the Shockers ten NCAA Tournament wins in the last five seasons. Now Kentucky awaits in the second round of this year’s edition of March Madness.

The Missouri Valley Conference’s regular season co-champion and postseason tournament champ won its 16^th straight game and improved their season record to 31-4 as they defeated the Atlantic Ten’s Flyers.

These two mid-major programs have gained respect, (both have been to multiple NCAA Tournaments in-a-row) but are looking to truly belong among the so-called ‘power teams’. So being pitted against each other was costly. Wichita’s coach Gregg Marshall has been very vocal about the under seeding of his team and thus how unfair it was of Dayton to have to face such a quality opponent in the opening round. In fact, the odds makers made tenth seeded WSU the favorite over the seventh seeded Flyers.

The odds makers were correct, the Shockers won 64-58, but baskets came at a premium. During the pivotal final twelve minutes of this defensive struggle both teams scored more from the free throw line that from the field. The physical nature of the game and the defensive pressure applied meant many trips to the charity stripe. The two mid-majors were trying to earn a spot at the table once again, but only one would survive this confrontation.

Both teams have explosive offenses, but neither reached the 40% success rate in shooting the ball. WSU ranks fifth nationally in defensive field goal percentage, holding their opponents to .378 and Friday they squeezed the Flyers to a .310.

But they didn’t exactly ‘play angry’ early in this one. The Shockers came out of the starting gate somewhat passive, but coach Marshall says they seemed to find themselves in the second half.

 

 

The Shockers’ offensive output was their lowest since they scored 64 against Bradley twelve games ago.

Zach Brown was the offensive shot in the arm the team needed. The junior wing made all three of his three-point attempts on the way to 12 points, and freshman Landry Shamet who had an uncustomary four turnovers, led the team with 13 points, eight of them coming in those pivotal final 12 minutes.

Center Shaquille Morris scored 10 points in his 14 minutes of foul troubled action. The junior told me after the game, the journey at Wichita State has been a good one and that this Shocker team is as close as any he’s been on.

 

 

Morris’ confession that he and his teammates want to build on the Shocker foundation is a responsibility they take seriously.

So one mid-major’s chance to advance and gain exposure, respect and notoriety comes to an end and another’s continues. Dayton’s head coach Archie Miller and Wichita’s Marshall clearly connected during this weekend in Indianapolis. Their respect for one another is obviously genuine.

Now the Shockers face the mighty Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the tournament for the second time in four years. A chance for national respect once again.

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