What started as a cute underdogs tale, is now the most captivating story in all of college basketball. In a 20-point rout of Bradley University, the Wichita State Shockers became the first college team to ever reach 30-0. The Shockers have stamped their name in the history books, bolstering the winningest regular season in the history of collegiate basketball.
It seems that we cross this bridge every year in the college basketball world. A mid-major (a university not in a “power six” conference) dominates their negligent competition, and are put into the national spotlight. Often these “under-the-radar” squads are subject to too much praise, and when thrown against finer competition, fall short of expectations (New Mexico’s first round loss to Harvard last year, anyone?).
It’s nearly impossible to imagine Wichita State falling to the same ill fate as previous mid-major hopefuls. This Shocker team is unlike any in the history of the sport. They dominate, and they do it with swagger. They have now slid into the 2nd overall spot in the national ranking, moving ahead of the likes of Arizona, Duke, and Syracuse. A number of college hoops fans will question the Shockers poor schedule and lack of experience in nail biting games. Those fans have a lot to learn. The 2014 Wichita State Shockers are the real deal, and they have all of the pieces to make a run at a national championship. Here’s why:
Experience
In a league where athletes only participate for a four-year span, experience is perhaps the most important asset for any given team. With the rise in scrutiny and evaluation in amateur basketball, less and less college teams bolster any experience. The premiere college hoops programs have become NBA waiting rooms. Teams like Kentucky and Kansas only have three seniors combined on their respective rosters. This is by and large not the case for Wichita State, a team who carries four seniors on their roster alone.
In the 2013 NCAA tournament, the Wichita State Shockers played their way into the Final Four, subsequently destroying every bracket on this side of the moon. This weighs in large for the Shockers, as they go into this years tournament with the taste of success still fresh in their minds. Many of the NCAA’s best players were in high school at this time last year, and Final Four experience is something only Wichita State can boast. There will be a lot of extra pushing and shoving come playoff time; Wichita State hasn’t cleaned those scrapes, and are looking to show them off this March.
Versatility
A good basketball team can attack you at every angle on both sides of the floor. Wichita State is a good basketball team. Their attack is led by senior Cleanthony Early, a stretch wing who can bang down low, but also step out and hit a deep jumper. Paired with stellar freshman point guard Fred VanVleet, who is so poised he makes Tyler Ennis look like Raymond Felton. Topped off with quality role players in Fred Baker, Nick Wiggins (older brother of Kansas sensation Andrew Wiggins), and Tekele Cotton, who all can both shoot and attack the rim. These Shockers can beat you up and spread you thin, and they are possibly the most versatile team in the country.
Swagger
When watching the squad from rural Kansas, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell that they haven’t played an RPI top 25 team all year. This team plays with hunger, competitiveness, and confidence. The Shockers don’t just beat teams, they blow them out of the water. In their 30 game stretch this season, Wichita State has won by under ten points just four times, an absolutely remarkable feat. The players are enjoying the process, posing on the cover of magazines and making the rounds at neighboring universities.
Too much swagger can often hurt a team. Let us not forget that John Wall and Demarcus Cousins were once on the same Kentucky roster. That’s a swag disaster. But, combining your discipline with a little college-kid confidence never hurt anyone.
Wichita State is crossing into new territories. While mid-major success in the tournament isn’t rare– three of the last Final Fours have featured mid-major teams– no team has been this dominant throughout their regular season. The Shockers have been in the spotlight for almost the entirety of the season, and they have yet to shy down.
Selection Sunday is less than a month away, and Wichita State is firmly inside of the number one seed conversation. After they danced their way into the Final Four last year, this team has not felt the hangover; something that can’t be said about Butler and Florida Gulf Coast. Expect to see Wichita State back in the Final Four again, because this Shockers team is, well, shocking.
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Main Photo Credit: Peter Aiken
