2015 NCAA Tournament: Wichita State Shocks Kansas 78-65

For the first time since 1993 the Kansas Jayhawks and Wichita State Shockers were set to face off in the battle of in-state rivals. Only 162 miles separate the two campuses. The two teams were playing for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen where the winner would face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Wichita State was the seventh seed in the Midwest Region while Kansas was the two seed. Many people believed the Shockers received too low of a seed as they won the Missouri Valley Regular Season Championship and finished the year 28-4. Kansas finished the season 26-8 winning the Big 12 regular season title.

In the round of 64, Wichita State defeated Indiana 81-76 while the Jayhawks blew out New Mexico State 75-56 setting up the highly anticipated showdown.

With Kansas Governor Sam Brownback in the stands, both teams started off slow as the score was 17-14 with 7:43 minutes left in the first half. Kansas guard Frank Mason III was the star for the Jayhawks up to this point in the game scoring nine of the Jayhawks’ 17 points. With 3:50 left until halftime, Kansas held a 24-19 lead and was holding the Shockers to 32 percent shooting.

The Jayhawks were looking to extend their lead but suddenly they went cold. Wichita State junior point guard Fred Van Vleet led his team on a 10-2 run and went into the locker room with a 29-26 lead. Junior guard Ron Baker contributed with eight points for Wichita State in the first half. The Jayhawks only shot 32 percent from the field in the first half and the Shockers shot 37.5 percent.

The second half was a complete turnaround for Wichita State. The Shockers opened on a 12-5 run highlighted by a couple layups by Van Vleet and a three pointer by Evan Wessel. Wessel finished with 12 points, all on three pointers in the second half.

The young Jayhawks failed to keep up with the veteran Shockers as their deficit grew larger. Wichita State shot an incredible 59 percent in second half and held a double digit lead for the majority of that time. Every time Kansas cut into the Wichita State lead the Shockers would come right back and make a play of their own.

With 4:53 left, Kansas Coach Bill Self used his last timeout as he was grasping for momentum to turn in his team’s favor.  With 2:40 left in the game, Kansas point guard Frank Mason fouled out with 16 points. From that point on, Wichita State basically ran down the clock to punch their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.

Senior Tekele Cotton made several key plays for Wichita State finishing with a game high 19 points. Van Vleet finished the game with 17 points, six assists and six rebounds.

Kansas forward Perry Ellis and guard Devonte Graham each had 17 points for the Jayhawks in the loss.

The Shockers finished the game shooting 49 percent including making an incredible 10 three-pointers. Kansas only made six from behind the arc and finished the game shooting 35 percent.

After the game, Kansas Coach Bill Self said, “I’m proud of our team, we had a nice year.  We tried to the very end. We’re not going to walk out with our heads down. This happens in the tournament.  Our guys were ready to play.  They were just better.”

After the win, Wichita State Coach Gregg Marshall said, “It’s a great day to be part of Shocker Nation. We’re going to have a real fun plane ride home.”  Coach Marshall also added that Van Vleet was emotional after the game because he had lost his grandmother earlier in the week.

Wichita State advance to play Notre Dame on Thursday in the Sweet Sixteen.

 

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove; Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hugs guard Evan Wessell and knocking the Kansas Jayhawks out of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.