Sweet 16 Baby!

Yes, you read that right. For the first time in 25 years. The WSU Shockers are headed to play in the Sweet 16 next week. Being a longtime Shocker fan, this is one of the coolest things that's ever happened in my lifetime. My mom, Jason & I have had a blast during the whole tournament. Yesterday we added some other friends to our party and cheered the Shockers on at AJ's Sports Bar. Then about 10 last night, Jenni, Jason, Breanna & I headed to the airport where we met up with Thad, Trisha, Robert & Uncle D. to welcome the Shockers home. I couldn't begin to fullydescribe what this was like. There were hundreds of excited fans, 2 buses, several cops, at least 2 of the 3 major television stations, several welcome home signs and memories I'll have for the rest of my life. Breanna & Jason both scored interviews. Pretty awesome. Below you'll find the article that goes with the above picture.

Win earns Shockers a spot in Sweet 16
BY PAUL SUELLENTROP
The Wichita Eagle

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The uniforms said Tennessee and the NCAA Tournament selection committee ranked the Volunteers as the second-best team in the Washington Regional.

To Wichita State, it was a lot like playing Drake, which was the perfect starting point for one of the biggest victories in the program's history.

The Shockers, playing with their usual calm and unselfishness, are going to the Sweet 16 after Saturday's 80-73 victory over No. 18 Tennessee at the Greensboro Coliseum.

"It's an awesome feeling," WSU junior Kyle Wilson said. "I know they're probably whooping and hollering back in Wichita."

So are fans all over the Missouri Valley Conference and those who root against the football-juiced super conferences that so often dominate college athletics. The Shockers knocked down the SEC two days after beating Seton Hall of the Big East, and nobody's going to question WSU or the Valley this March.

When it was over, WSU coach Mark Turgeon talked to CBS with his Shockers behind him. Fans -- many not alive in 1981, the last time WSU advanced this far -- cheered and hugged and cried. Those composed enough to organize themselves chanted "MVC, MVC, MVC" and "Sweet 16."

"Our guys just wanted it," Turgeon said. "They've done it all year -- they've figured it out, and they figured it out today."

Yes, at some point the Shockers figured out calm and teamwork can beat almost any other approach. Tennessee devoted its defense to center Paul Miller and guard Sean Ogirri for much of the game. So WSU forward P.J. Couisnard scored 20 points, and Kyle Wilson added 17.

"We approached it like any other game," Ogirri said. "They're like teams in the Missouri Valley. They're big-name schools, but we've beaten teams in the same fashion."

Seventh-seeded WSU (26-8) will play third-seeded North Carolina or 11th-seeded George Mason on Friday night at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C.

The story of Saturday's victory started three seasons ago, when WSU began a stretch of eight games against MVC opponent Drake. Its coach is Tom Davis, the man who hired Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl and taught him the full-court press they both still use. WSU studied the Volunteers (22-8) and felt confident.

"It really helps playing Drake," Turgeon said. "Only having one day to prepare, it was easier for us. I don't know if it was easy, but it was easier."

The Volunteers depend on turnovers to fuel their offense -- opponents average 18. WSU turned the ball over 13 times and rarely got rattled. The Shockers shot 50 percent and scored at least 80 points for the second straight NCAA game.

"We kind of like being pressed," WSU forward P.J. Couisnard said. "It gets us up and down and we can score a lot of points."

The Shockers built a 30-25 lead at halftime with little contribution from Ogirri and Miller, the scoring heroes of Thursday's 86-66 win over Seton Hall. The Vols took them away, so Wilson came through with 10 first-half points; Couisnard added eight.

WSU led at the half, but Turgeon wasn't happy with his team's execution. The Shockers figured it out. Their second-half performance was worthy of the Sweet 16. WSU made 14 of 21 shots, 5 of 7 threes and 17 of 21 free throws. Tennessee played well in the second half; WSU played close to perfect.

"We couldn't stop them in the half court," Pearl said. "They did a wonderful job of executing. They got great looks and made shots, which put too much pressure on our offense to score every time down the floor."

WSU led most of the second half, then gave the Vols life. Tennessee, down 58-54, scored nine straight points. The press bothered WSU, and the Shocker missed three shots and the front end of a one-and-one by Ogirri.

Down 63-58 with 5:42 remaining, the Shockers put the perfection back in their game with a series of plays that put the march to D.C. in their March.

Guard Karon Bradley beat the press with a short jumper to end Tennessee's scoring streak and cut the lead to 63-60. Wilson took a charge from C.J. Watson with 4:31 to play. Ogirri tied it by curling around a screen for a three-pointer with 4:17 remaining.

"We were down three, and Coach felt like we needed a three to get back in it," Ogirri said. "I was going to shoot it whether he was on me or not. I didn't shoot too well today, but I ended up knocking it down."

The Vols regained the lead off a lob to center Major Wingate. Couisnard replied with a drive down the lane.

"We just made huge shots," Turgeon said.

After a turnover, Bradley drove with the shot clock running down and made a fadeaway near the lane for a 67-65 lead. Dane Bradshaw missed a three and Ogirri rebounded.

The Shockers gave the ball to Couisnard and called a play for him to do what he could. He looked inside, and faked a drive. That opened him up for a three-pointer from the top of the key with the shot clock running down. He made his fourth in four attempts for a 70-65 lead with 1:05 to play.

That was the last highlight the Shockers would need. They made 8 of 10 free throws in the final 51 seconds to stay out of range of Chris Lofton's three-point shooting. Couisnard finished it off with a steal and pass to Ryan Martin for dunk that sent the Shockers to the Sweet 16 in style.

"I think we were in a position where we had them where we wanted them, and we were telling each other not look back from there," Bradshaw said. "We obviously didn't play well after that."

WSU did, scoring 22 points in the final 5:37. Five Shockers scored, and they held the Vols to 10 points.

"All year long we've won close games down the stretch, and we've made tough shots down the stretch to win those close games," WSU guard Matt Braeuer said.

WSU did it again, and now it's one win from the Elite Eight and two from the Final Four.

Here We Go Shokcers, Here We Go

We survived Round 1 at The Big Dance. I'm so happy. My & Jason took the day off yesterday so we could go to a watch party at the Marriott hosted by Jocks & Jills Sporting Goods & B-98 FM. We had a blast. Tomorrow were going to be watching at AJ's Sports Bar. Wish us luck. I'll attach the last Eagle Article below. Enjoy! Go Shockers!!!!




YES! Shockers move on to face Tennessee
BY FRED MANN
The Wichita Eagle
GREENSBORO, N.C. - As Shocker fans headed to the concession stands at halftime, Matt Campbell didn't budge. Wichita State led Seton Hall by 16 points in the Shockers' first NCAA Tournament game since 1988, and he was tense.

"I'm not going," he told his family as they headed to the exit. "I don't want to screw everything up."

So he stayed in his seat, bouncing his leg up and down, staring at the court.

Campbell didn't move, and the Shockers didn't lose.

Instead, they handed Seton Hall of the Big East Conference an 86-66 drubbing Thursday for their first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years.

About 450 Shocker fans formed a large, quivering slab of yellow in one corner of the Greensboro Coliseum, watching the game in nervous anticipation, emotions rolling up and down, as the Shockers moved into a quick lead, built it to 20 points, held off a few Seton Hall rallies in the second half, and pulled away at the end.

Among the happiest fans were six WSU students who had driven 21 hours from Wichita in a rented minivan to cram into a single room at a $40-a-night Holiday Inn. They'll be living there through the weekend now that the Shockers have another game to play on Saturday, against Tennessee at about 2:40 p.m.

"It's a combination of the fact that we won our first NCAA game in years, the fact that I knew I didn't have to drive back home tomorrow and the fact we did make such a long drive to get here, that it was awesome to see," said Jason Thomas, one of the students.

'The whole drive up here, I was like, 'If we drive out here and lose the first game...' " said another of the students, Rob Collins. "I just knew we had to win it."

Former Shocker All-American Xavier McDaniel, who made the two-hour drive from his home in Columbia, S.C., sat with the Shocker fans in the stands.

He was proud to watch the school finally get another tournament victory.

"It's a good win for them. I think all of the guys played great," said McDaniel, who played from 1981 to 1985 and became the school's career rebounding and scoring leader.

"For Shocker fans it's something good to talk about, as opposed to something from the past," he said. "We got to go 25 years back to Mike Jones for the last tournament win. We had some good teams since that time, but it's great to be able to talk about something in the future now."

Cheryl Allen flew out with her children, Madison, 7, and Travis, 8. They had to leave her husband, Tim, an accountant, behind.

The family plans an NCAA Tournament first-round trip every year, she said, but this time, sensing that Shockers were going to make it into the tournament, they put off plans and waited to see where the team would be sent.

"We've been waiting for years for this to happen," she said. "This was way worth the trip. It would've been worth it if they'd lost."

After the game, Shocker fans lingered in the concourse, flipped open cell phones and began calling friends back home.

Thomas said his phone was full of text messages from friends who'd seen him on television and wanted to share the experience.

Another student, Drew Gallant, wore a yellow fright wig and black and yellow paint on his face. He held a sign that said, "Where's Creighton?" --a shot at a fellow Missouri Valley Conference team.

He wasn't shy about flaunting the win.

"It says something to all the KU fans and K-State fans in the Big 12 that have doubted the Valley," Gallant said. "We just blew out a team that beat several good Big East teams this year. Our players showed up and played as a team.

"And it's got to mean a lot to the school to see Wichita State's name on ESPN tonight saying how we blew out Seton Hall."

The Big Dance

We made it. After 18 long years, WSU is invited to play in the NCAA tournament. I can't tell you how happy I am to be a Shocker! Selection Sunday has never been more fun. Go Shox!
Here's an article.
Shockers eye Seton Hall
Celebration of bid ends as WSU prepares for Big East's seventh-place team.
BY PAUL SUELLENTROP
The Wichita Eagle
In 1988, Wichita State basketball players Paul Guffrovich, John Cooper, Aaron Davis and Steve Grayer watched the NCAA selection show in their dorm room. When Wichita State appeared on the screen, they bounced around and high-fived each other.

It's been 18 years, but celebrating a spot in the NCAA Tournament doesn't change much. The Shockers ended that drought Sunday when Wichita State popped up on the bracket as a No. 7 seed, matched against No. 10 Seton Hall at 11:20 a.m. on Thursday.

"A lot of high fives and hugs and a lot of back-slapping going on," WSU senior Paul Miller said.

The Shockers gathered Sunday at coach Mark Turgeon's house and ate tacos, fixed by the wives of coaches, before the selection show.

"We had a nice dinner," senior Cameron Ledford said. "Then everything got quiet as we watched the brackets be unveiled. For the most part we were pretty calm."

Ledford said the players jumped up when WSU hit the bracket, then quickly tried to regain composure to hear the opponent. Not that it mattered much -- WSU was in and the Shockers could check that dream off their lists.

"A lot of us have watched that show since we were little boys," Ledford said.

That should be about all the feel-good stuff allowed. WSU (24-8) quickly turned its thoughts to Seton Hall (18-11), the seventh-place team in the 16-school Big East. Turgeon said he's been gathering films of almost every possible NCAA opponent since the Shockers defeated Creighton on Feb. 14.

"I felt like the night Matt (Braeuer) hit the shot against Creighton that we were going to be in the NCAA Tournament and we were going to win the league," Turgeon said. "I told our staff, 'Get the VCRs going, tape every game you can.' "

His coaching staff ended up with one Seton Hall game -- last week's 61-48 loss to Rutgers in the Big East Tournament. He said coaches would watch the tape Sunday night. WSU will end up with three or four Pirates games to study, and Turgeon said he will talk to former assistant Jean Prioleau, now at Marquette of the Big East.

The Pirates, most recently in the NCAA Tournament in 2004, own victories over North Carolina State, Syracuse, West Virginia and Pittsburgh. They dropped games to Duke, Richmond, Northwestern and lost two of three to Rutgers.

Seton Hall closed the regular season by losing three straight, then defeating Cincinnati and winning at Pitt.

Seton Hall guard Donald Copeland and forward Kelly Whitney were named to the 10-man All-Big East second team. Copeland averages 16.1 points; Whitney 15.1 and 8.0 rebounds.

"Very athletic," Turgeon said. "Looking at their stats, they were really good defensively. They were a very good rebounding team, so they sound like us a little bit. I just imagine they're a little taller and they can jump a little higher than we do."

The Shockers left the MVC Tournament with a 60-52 loss to Bradley on March 4. They practiced last week not knowing their next opponent. They can switch their focus to Seton Hall today. The Shockers, with the possible exception of P.J. Couisnard and his sprained left ankle, are healthy and should be rested for Thursday's game in Greensboro, N.C.

"We're definitely motivated, and I think that's shown in the last week of practice," Miller said. "We've really gotten after it and practices have been real competitive."

The Shockers don't want to be satisfied with their first appearance since 1988. As the higher seed, and the MVC's champion, there will be expectations on the Shockers.

"We're a hungry team," Miller said. "We're coming off a loss, so we've got that sitting in the back of our minds."

Ledford said the excitement of the NCAA Tournament won't distract the Shockers from preparing for the game.

"One of our goals at the beginning of the year was to win the next game," he said. "That doesn't matter if it's preseason exhibition games or Missouri Valley Conference games or tournament games. We're going out to win the next game."

One of my own

My favorite flower. How cool???

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist.People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you.You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words.Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What flower are you?
http://ynr.blogthings.com/whatflowerareyouquiz/

Too Funny.

Yes, I borrowed this from Dawn too. Enjoy. Thanks Dawn.

You Are Buffy the Vampire Slayer

"We saved the world. I say we have to party."

Your Inner Pop Princess Is Hilary Duff

"I'm sheddingShedding every colorTrying to find a pigment of truthBeneath my skin" You're sweet and cute, but a little more complex than that.

Who's" Your Inner Pop Princess?

Thanks Dawn, I borrowed your idea!

I AM SUPERMAN!


Superman 85%
Spider-Man 75%
Wonder Woman 75%
Green Lantern 75%
Iron Man 75%
Supergirl 60%
Robin 60%
The Flash 60%
Hulk 50%
Catwoman 50%
Batman 40%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

Borrowed from Kristi's Blog

The first full week of Lent

Time to fast, time to feast:
Lent is a time to fast from certain things - and to feast on others.

It's a season we should...
Fast from judging others, and feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from darkness; feast on the Light.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from fear; feast on unceasing prayer and faith.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.

This is taken from the West Texas Catholic, a newspaper of the Amarillo Catholic Diocese.

Rascal Flatts

Back in February of 2000 I saw my first Rascal Flatt's video. I remember thinking "wow, they're really good. I bet they're going to make it big." Boy was I right. Over the last six years or so, I ve been to a few of their concerts. This past Thursday was the most recent time, Jen W., Jen U., Robert & I went together. We had a blast. For the last 4 years or so it's sorta become a tradition. Jen U. & I have even traveled to see them. Those will always be some of my fondest memories. Every time I see them they get better. If you ever have a chance to see them, they are worth of every penny of the ticket price.

A Bunch Of Silly Little Facts For Fun

A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.

A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.

All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln on the back of the $5 bill.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Babies are born without kneecaps.

They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt"

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.

It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.

Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).

There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."

There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.