For the Wichita State men’s basketball Elite Eight matchup against Ohio State, the WSU Alumni Association hosted a watch party at Fox and Hound. The event offered Shocker fans a completely different experience than what they may have found elsewhere.

Before tipoff the feeling amongst fans in attendance was purely positive.

WSU senior Brett Simon said he was “expecting a definite WSU win,” adding that he thought the team was going to “win by double digits.”

While in agreement with Simon on a WSU win, student Creighton Bell wasn’t as sure of a big win.

“It’s either gonna be a blowout or three to eight point victory,” Bell said.

As the game began, the mood quickly changed from a calm and relaxing demeanor to one with a mixture of different emotions. With each shot came mass cheers of joy while every missed shot and foul call was accompanied by a collective groan of disappointment.

With WSU in the lead at halftime, the building was full of excitement from how well the team was doing, and attendees were confident about the possibility of WSU moving on to the Final Four in Atlanta.

“It’s exciting. I’m ready to get my ticket to Atlanta,” Pam Fullinwider, director of the National Advisory Council for the WSU Foundation, said.

The team’s momentum dwindled during the second half and fans began getting nervous. With the injuries suffered by the team and questionable calls from the referees, there was a strong sense of anger and disappointment. Every foul called made fans less certain about winning the game.

That nervousness quickly changed to excitement, though, as the buzzer sounded, signaling a WSU win and Final Four berth—the first since 1965.

After the win, WSU senior Schuyler Stump said he was “On top of the world. There’s nothing like it.”

WSU junior Preston Maus may have summed up feelings the best.

“I’m sorry, teachers, but I’m going to Atlanta,” Maus said.

The Shockers’ win left a strong sense of confidence and pride in the air for the accomplishments the team had made.

The watch party afforded these students a chance to feel like part of the team as they all cheered, jeered and watched in amazement as one entity while the team continued its storied run.