WSU takes down No. 1 Gonzaga to advance to the Sweet 16
SALT LAKE CITY—It was the unmistakable sound of joy that reverberated out of the Wichita State locker room and down the tunnel at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday.
What had been a basketball game moments before quickly turned into euphoria for the WSU coaches, players and fans. There was screaming, there was dancing and there was kissing.
But mostly there was a whole lot of celebrating.
“It just was awesome,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “I really didn’t think about it at all. It was a natural reaction for me, really, hugging the people that I care about and letting them know how much I appreciate everything.”
This sort of joy doesn’t come from winning just any basketball game—it comes from winning arguably the biggest game in school history.
It comes from the Shockers’ 76-70 win over top seeded and No. 1-ranked Gonzaga in the third round of the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional.
The win is the first over a No. 1-ranked team for WSU since 1963 and advances the Shockers to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in school history and first since 2006.
“I want to tip my hat off to the coaches for sticking beside us through the ups and downs. It’s been a long journey, man, and the fans deserve this,” WSU senior forward Carl Hall said. “I really can’t even talk right now. I’m so excited.”
Even having the opportunity to play Gonzaga (32-3) was a big deal, and most across the nation didn’t see it happening.
Before facing the Bulldogs, ninth-seeded WSU had to knock off Big East power Pittsburgh, an eight seed, 73-55 on Thursday.
Odds were against WSU to upset Gonzaga—only four nine seeds had ever beaten a one seed in NCAA Tournament history. Thanks to hot shooting and a relentless determination, the Shockers became number five.
“The only reason I think we won is because we made shots at the end, and that’s what counted,” Hall said. “It was just a blessing to be in this situation.”
WSU was 2-of-20 from 3-point range against Pittsburgh, a statistic that did nothing to hurt the team’s confidence from long range against Gonzaga.
The Shockers made 14-of-28 against the Bulldogs, including their final five 3-pointers of the game, part of an impressive second-half rally.
“When you have teammates like me and (Cleanthony Early) have, telling us to shoot it when we’re open and be confident in your stroke, it definitely helps,” WSU redshirt-freshman guard Ron Baker said. “When they are falling in it is obviously a good feeling.”
WSU trailed 49-41 with 11:53 to play in the game despite having had a lead as large as 13 points in the first half. Gonzaga’s lead didn’t change too much, as the Shockers still trailed by seven points with 6:29 remaining.
With its back against the wall, WSU did what it has done all season in this situation—fight back and play angry.
“We were sluggish getting off the court and the coaches emphasized, ‘Come together now, we gotta push to the end,’” Baker said. “And we came together, and the outcome was in our favor.”
Tekele Cotton, Early and Baker each knocked down a 3-pointer in less than two minutes of each other, before Hall’s jumper with 3:29 to play gave WSU a temporary one-point lead.
Gonzaga responded with a pair of free throws to reclaim the lead, and then WSU took over. Baker followed two of his own free throws with another 3-pointer to give the Shockers a four-point lead.
Free throws were key down the stretch. Freshman guard Fred VanVleet stepped up and went 4-of-4 from the line and added a big 3-pointer in the final 1:28 to help the Shockers finish off the nation’s top-ranked team.
Early and Baker each led WSU with 16 points, while VanVleet had 13 and Hall 10.
Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk led all players with 26 points.
“We did beat the No. 1 team in the country, and the No. 1 team in our region, and that’s just a wonderful feeling,” Marshall said. “We get to go to L.A., and these guys deserve the positive happy accolades and honors and pats on the back that they’re going to get.
“But they have assured me that they’re not satisfied.”
The Shockers will face La Salle at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday in the Sweet 16. The winner will face the winner of Arizona and Ohio State on Saturday for a trip to the Final Four in Atlanta.