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.