One more time for kids to flood the railings in hopes of autographs, photos and maybe a pair of game-worn sneakers.
One more time for fans to hear Mike Kennedy on the radio from the place where his banner hangs.
One more time for Koch Arena to shake.
Wichita State, even after a disappointing 70-55 loss to South Florida in Sunday’s American Conference Tournament championship game, will get one more chance to make those things happen.
“When you suffer defeat, there’s a level of disappointment that is just a sinking feeling,” head coach Paul Mills said Monday. “That next day helps, but I think there’s still a little bit of a hangover.
“But because of who they are, knowing who they are and the competitors that they are, there’s excitement to play tomorrow.”
The Shockers (22-11) begin their NIT run at 6 p.m. Tuesday against a Wyoming (18-14) team that has been trending upward in Year 2 of Cowboys coach Sundance Wicks’ tenure. The game will air on ESPNU.
Wyoming comes into the game with its most wins in four seasons and sits in the top 100 of the NCAA NET at No. 99. The Cowboys rebound the ball well, ranking top 100 in offensive rebounds per game (12.09) and pull down 35.6 total rebounds a game. Leland Walker, their top scorer, averages 13.7 points a game.
Wichita State is familiar with Walker, as he dropped 11 points in the Shockers’ win over Florida Atlantic last season.
“They have some players that we’re familiar with,” Mills said. “Looking at their roster, they’re really young. They rebound the basketball (well).”
This season’s NIT run for the Shockers won’t feel like the same scramble that left them with a loss to Oklahoma State at Gallagher-Iba Arena a year ago. That team, which had already conducted exit interviews with some players, and had others who had left for spring break trips, were surprised to learn they made it.
In the postgame press conference after Sunday’s contest, however, Mills said he didn’t believe this season was over. Turns out, he was right.
“It would’ve been a different conversation in our locker room,” Mills said to the media on Sunday.
The Shockers enter as the No. 3 seed of the Tulsa Regional and will advance to play either No. 2 Oklahoma State or Davidson should they win Tuesday. The second-round game will be either Saturday or Sunday.
Wichita State gets such a short turnaround from its last game that Mills hasn’t much time breaking down Wyoming. He said he’s watched two of the Cowboys’ games and is hopeful to get in eight before Tuesday’s shoot-around and film session — where most of the game plan will be made.
After losing to Nevada-Las Vegas March 11 in the Mountain West Conference Tournament, Wyoming will have had six days since its last game. The Shockers are gearing up for their third in the last four.
“They’re (Wyoming) pretty fresh, and with what the staff has shared with me, they’re pretty excited,” Mills said Monday. “That’s what a lot of first-round NIT comes down to: are you excited to play?
“And we check that box, too.”
Upperclassman leadership becomes paramount this time of year. And since “Finish Fridays” during the summer — a test of grit through mile runs and various workout challenges — where chunks of that morning’s breakfast were regular sights, this year’s group began to grow on Mills.
Senior Karon Boyd led the workouts and running, taking the “bull by the horns.” Seniors Mike Gray Jr. and Kenyon Giles discussed what it meant to meet the standard, ensuring the enthusiasm never died.
Week by week, the Shockers prepared for this moment in March long before it was here.
“I just thought to myself, ‘Not only is this a hungry team, but also a basketball team that is growing,’” Mills said. “You can tell their desire to get better.
“Once I know you care about getting better, I like you. That was all the way across the board.”
