Bracket busting 2013 also the NCAA tourney thread.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Have you seen this team play dude? I'm just wondering what your take on them was before the tourney started, I remember reading your posts about the MVC and it seemed like you thought Creighton was the shining star in the region (I did too). Did they show potential throughout the season or are they just playing out of their minds right now?

The thing with WSU is,they lost 3 starters (Hall, Baker and Evan Wessel) early in the season to injury. Hall missed the first half of the conference season, Baker missed I think 21 games and just came back for the Valley tournament and Wessel is out for the year. During all of this, they took control of the Valley and held it until the last week. They proceeded to lose 3 close games in the Conference....and then dropped the game in Omaha against Creighton giving the Jays the top seed in the tourney.

It's hard to judge. I'm guessing had Baker and Hall not missed significant time this team would've run away with the conference championship.

They are dynamic. Play great defense, have a +8 rebound margin. They go 10-11 deep every game, which is a huge advantage. All of them (except Orupke) have some offensive game.

The biggest thing, however, is that Gregg Marshall is an outstanding coach.

No question they are playing as well as they have all season, but this team could've easily been a 4 or a 5 had things gone just a little differently for them in terms of injury. I don't hear a whole lot of pundits saying they aren't deserving, which is very surprising to me.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Wichita State certainly benefitted from being in the weakest region (no chance they get through the murderers row of the Midwest), but outside a stretch in the Gonzaga game and the end of the Ohio State game they've really controlled the pace of the games which is really the key in the tournament. Beating Louisville would be an incredible upset with how dominant the Cardinals have been so far, but if they can control the pace like they have and hit the timely shots it can certainly happen. I think it'll be Big East swan song with Syracuse and Louisville.

[DiracSpike]

Man I've been loving watching Baker and Early play, Baker absolutely killed the Zags with his threes. This Marshall guy seems like a no nonsense coach, "play angry" is his motto haha. They'll have to play pretty angry to beat Louisville saturday, even with all the upsets during this tourney it would be hard not to pick that as the potential marquee upset considering how Lville has been crushing.

[Acey]

Spoiler!

[Displaced Flames fan]

Made sure Cleanthony Early and Malcolm Armstead had their shoes before heading to the airport today. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet them. Damn it.

[drew24]

Originally Posted by drew24

Have my doubts about the Shockers being able to keep the game close but they've had a hard road as any imo...

In the last 10 years?

http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/web..._wichita_state

Wichita State this year has been discussed most frequently as the fortunate beneficiaries of a bracket that broke wide open. The West regional was thought to be the weakest and thus most likely to have a surprise contender emerge. So it’s somewhat surprising that Wichita State’s path to the Final Four was far from easy and, in fact, registers as the most difficult in the past 11 years.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Great start for WSU! Go Shockers!

[Displaced Flames fan]

Wichita State up by a point at the half. Shockers dictating what Louisville does offensively. Russ Smith teying to do it all. If that continues I like WSUs chances.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Cinderella my ass!

[Senator Clay Davis]

Wichita State played a flawless 30 minutes but it still wasn't enough. Tough, tough loss.

[octothorp]

Wanted to see Wichita win, but Hancock keyed an impressive momentum swing; between his shooting, penetration, and pressure defense, he was really clutch.

[billybob123]

Big free throws from Hancock as well. Was he also the guy who tied up the rebound when they were up three at the end? Big game from him.

[Drake]

####.... My biggest fear was the perimeter shooting from Michigan. It came to life in the first half.

[DiracSpike]

I've never seen one coach give another props like Pitino gave Marshall after that game, first thing out of his mouth was how well coached WSU is. I wonder which major program gives this guy an offer first.

[Drake]

I can't tell you how ####ing perfect it is that last set play out of a timeout was a ####ing Trevor Cooney drive to the basket....

[Drake]

And Tim Hardaway Jr. should get the Academy Award for best flopper in the tournament....

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Wichita State up by a point at the half. Shockers dictating what Louisville does offensively. Russ Smith teying to do it all. If that continues I like WSUs chances.

They deserved a better fate. Marshall is a great coach and had his team in it to the end. Some of the best BB I have watched in years

[billybob123]

Sad to see such a crappy charge call to end such an intense game.

[drew24]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

I wonder which major program gives this guy an offer first.

I think he's home for the time being. He arguably had a top 10 team last year and just made the Final 4. Wichita State has a great shot at being a "major program" if they aren't already. Also I don't doubt that some AD's don't want to deal with his personality. I hear that's why he was at Winthrop for as long as he was.

Having said that some think that UCLA would've called had Ohio State beaten them last weekend.

[drew24]

An ad Marshall put in today's paper.

Spoiler!