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Not a Total Shock (2016 NCAA Tournament Recap, Day 1)

PROVIDENCE, RI – Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall was proud that, once again, his Shockers went up against one of the “brand names” of college basketball and delivered on the biggest of stages.

“Over the past four years, though, Wichita State has been creating its own brand (e.g. Play Angry), one that’s just as recognizable as that of the blue bloods of the game and what they’ve built over decades on end.

The WuShock brand grew a little more after their 65-55 win over Pac-12 perennial power Arizona to advance to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, where it will face another household name in college sports: Miami (FL).

Including the Shockers’ First Four win on Tuesday vs. Dayton, Marshall and the Shockers have won nine NCAA Tournament games over the past four tournaments, currently tied with Michigan State and Wisconsin for second-most tourney wins during that span. (Only Duke, with 10, has more.) Marshall also has a tournament win from his days at Winthrop, and tonight’s triumph gives him a nice round number of 10 career NCAA Tournament wins as head coach.

After the win, in which guards Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet combined for 29 points, Marshall stopped by for a one-on-one interview, as he explained why this win vs. the Wildcats was special, as well as the evolution of his frontcourt and turning the disappointing fact of having to play in the First Four and possibly using that as motivation during this tournament run.


[Cover photo (Marshall) courtesy of Maddie Meyer/Getty Images]

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