Nobody who was watching the First Four game between Vanderbilt and Wichita State would call it a pretty game, but Wichita State came out on top and will live to fight another day. This game was billed as one of the best First Four games ever because of the Shockers' experience and the Commodores' talent, but Wichita State won the game fairly easily, as they pulled away in the second half.
Next up for Wichita State now is the Arizona Wildcats, a team that many people were surprised only got a six seed. No matter who the Wildcats ended up playing, it was going to be a rough draw because both teams are very capable, but the Shockers might present the bigger challenge.
Yes, Vanderbilt has talent, but they have underachieved all season and were lucky to even get in the tournament. This Shockers team gives it their all every time they are on the floor, and they play with a ton of pride. Arizona is the 17th ranked team in the nation, according to the final AP poll, but they will have their hands full in their first NCAA tournament game.
Before the game Tuesday night, Wally Szczerbiak called Arizona the best six seed he has ever seen. While Arizona has had a very good season, they better bring their A-game come Thursday night because Wichita State is capable of pulling off this upset. The Wildcats will likely enter the game as the favorites, but this Shockers team should not be overlooked because they have been here before, and they are a team led by veterans.
Wichita State was one of the last teams to get into the tournament because they struggled early in the season. The reason for those struggles was mostly because of an injury to star point guard Fred VanVleet, who is back now and ready to lead the team on what he hopes is one last tournament run.
The Shockers defeated Vanderbilt Tuesday night by 20 despite the fact that they did not shoot well as a team (37 percent), and their two stars didn't have particularly great games. VanVleet had 14 points and seven assists, but he shot just 6-15 from the field while Ron Baker was just 3-11 from the field for 14 points.
It is fair to expect both of these players to shoot the ball much better in the next round, and if they do, they are a real threat. The Shockers play smothering defense, and their seniors are proud players who just want to keep playing basketball for their school, so that should not be underestimated. This game, which tips off at 8:20 Eastern time on Thursday, could be one of the best in the round of 64.
