On Sunday in Omaha, the small school beat the big school. However, it was also the experienced and battle-tested team that beat the young and talented team.
The experience of the Wichita State Shockers showed nearly the entire game against the Kansas Jayhawks on both sides of the ball. It carried them to a memorable win in the first staging of this in-state game since 1993. It also lifted the Shockers to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons.
*
While Kansas has one senior on its entire roster, the Shockers start two seniors and two juniors. Additionally, Wichita State has tournament and big-game experience. Though the Jayhawks have the benefit of McDonald’s All-Americans, experience will almost always win in March. The main benefit Kansas had was a significant size advantage over the Shockers. However, the Jayhawks were never able to exploit this. Though the Jayhawks did outrebound Wichita State by six overall and nine on the offensive end, they were not able to take advantage.
Kansas still jacked up 21 3-pointers, which is different compared to Bill Self squads of the past. KU prefers to shoot a much lower amount of threes per game. Additionally, whereas Kansas knocked down only six 3-pointers, Wichita State canned 10-of-20 from distance. Each one of those shots deflated the Jayhawks while also maintaining a healthy working margin in the latter stages of the second half.
Wichita State had the confidence to knock shots down, but also the awareness to play through its strengths more consistently than Kansas did. Also, once Wichita State settled down from some beginning of the game jitters, it was extremely efficient. The Shockers picked up seven turnovers in the first few minutes of the contest, and gave up only five the rest of the way.
Diversity of offense was another difference in the game, a product of the savvy the Shockers were able to bring to this game. Wichita State placed each starter in double figures, while Kansas did not get much production outside of Frank Mason and Perry Ellis in the starting lineup. Devonte Graham provided a noticeable spark off the bench with 17 points, but it was just not enough help. Too many KU players didn’t show up in this game, frozen by the weight of the moment. Mason also got into foul trouble and missed some time after getting banged up. In these stretches, Kansas just did not have any life and the Shockers stretched the lead each time.
With the Kansas loss, the Big 12 only has a pair of teams remaining in the Dance. With Oklahoma and West Virginia playing later on Sunday, one of the strongest conferences in America in the judgment of many has really struggled in the tournament.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wichita State has done nothing but show how drastically underseeded it was at a seven. A team that entered the tournament undefeated last season has lost only four games this season.
The Shockers will get an opportunity to shock the committee even further when they battle another top conference champion in Notre Dame. The Irish seem to play a similar game to the Shockers, so this game has an opportunity to become a classic battle in Cleveland for the Midwest Regional.
