Elite 8 West Region: Wichita State 70, tOSU 66

[Newton_14]

Use this thread as the pre-game, in-game, and post-game discussion for Ohio St vs Wichita St.

[NashvilleDevil]

I guess the question for this game are; will Ohio St's end game fortunes continue?

[pfrduke]

I guess the question for this game are; will Ohio St's end game fortunes continue?

Bigger question might be whether they will need them.

[Newton_14]

Here is the thread again for the second game today. Ohio St - Wichita St

[CDu]

Come on, Shockers!

[subzero02]

This will be a very interesting first half... 3 final four tickets remain

[uh_no]

This will be a very interesting first half... 3 final four tickets remain

OSU rolls.....but then again, i picked marquette...

[dukelifer]

OSU rolls.....but then again, i picked marquette...

Or may get rolled. Shockers are shocking right now.

[TNDukeFan]

Coach Paulus pulls Coach Motta away from the refs at halftime...

[subzero02]

Are the buckeyes done?

[TruBlu]

OSU rolls.....but then again, i picked marquette...

Please tell us that you're picking Louisville tomorrow.

[uh_no]

Please tell us that you're picking Louisville tomorrow.

yessir.

http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/en/entry?entryID=7650158

[striker219]

yessir.

http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/en/entry?entryID=7650158

I'm liking our odds a lot better now, thanks!

[uh_no]

I'm liking our odds a lot better now, thanks!

i do what little i can!

[77devil]

i do what little i can!

Where are the Huskies in your bracket? Oh wait.

[Newton_14]

To quote the infamous Billy Packer, "This game is Ovah!"

Wichita St is just playing too strong for OSU on both ends of the court. No comeback in this one.

[OldPhiKap]

To quote the infamous Billy Packer, "This game is Ovah!"

Wichita St is just playing too strong for OSU on both ends of the court. No comeback in this one.

Looking good, but 12:30 left

[gocanes0506]

If this game goes like it is, the midwest final is a national championship. Should be a great game and they will be the highest seed remaining.

[NashvilleDevil]

To quote the infamous Billy Packer, "This game is Ovah!"

Wichita St is just playing too strong for OSU on both ends of the court. No comeback in this one.

Ohio St has one more run in them.

[dukelifer]

Ohio St has one more run in them.

Wichita State needs to make shots or the game pressure will kill them. Not looking good for them.

[NashvilleDevil]

Wichita State needs to make shots or the game pressure will kill them. Not looking good for them.

They look disjointed and Ohio St is living at the free throw line in the second half. Been huge in slowing the game down.

[BlueDevilBrowns]

Ohio St has one more run in them.

If OSU wins this game, it must be their year.

It's on Coach Marshall to pull his team back together now.

[NashvilleDevil]

If OSU wins this game, it must be their year.

It's on Coach Marshall to pull his team back together now.

I was just thinking that if they pull this off.

[dukelifer]

If OSU wins this game, it must be their year.

It's on Coach Marshall to pull his team back together now.

Players are making mistakes - beginning to think about it- looking really bad now

[NashvilleDevil]

This one's over. Ohio St will win this by 5-6 points.

[_Gary]

Between the choke job from Kansas yesterday, and the choke job Wichita State is treating the nation to right now, I have to wonder how many cats have been sacrificed by Big 10 fans over the last 24 hours. This is just utterly ridiculous. Both Michigan and Ohio State have been handed the most incredible "gifts" I think I've ever witnessed in the NCAAs. It's just insane how Wichita St. is folding.

[hurleyfor3]

I'm trying to think of a less deserving Final Four team in history than tOSU if they win this. Bucky in 2000?

[SCMatt33]

Total choke job right now. Wichita is being so passive with the ball while the refs have a very tight whistle. If they had been strong with the ball at all, they'd have the parade going to the line, instead, OSU has had a parade to the line. Incredible.

[hurleyfor3]

And people think WE'RE floppers? Oh my god.

[dukelifer]

Total choke job right now. Wichita is being so passive with the ball while the refs have a very tight whistle. If they had been strong with the ball at all, they'd have the parade going to the line, instead, OSU has had a parade to the line. Incredible.

Wow - pressure is crushing them now

[ChrisP]

Colossal choke job by Wich St. I can't look away, but I will feel really sorry for them if they end up losing this one.

[_Gary]

Biggest joke job ever if they lose this game! And to answer hurley's question, I honestly can't think of any team in the last 30 years that will be less deserving of a Final Four spot than this Ohio State team should they win this game.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

Can't believe how slowly they are brining the ball up. That last one was a 10 sec violation they didn't call. Boy...

[fan345678]

I'm trying to think of a less deserving Final Four team in history than tOSU if they win this. Bucky in 2000?

NC State, 1983?

[hurleyfor3]

NC State, 1983?

No. Beating UVa in the regional final is plenty of cred.

[SCMatt33]

When the brackets were released, there was unanimous agreement that the West was by far the weakest region. No matter the outcome of this game, it has certainly live up to that reputation.

[dukelifer]

No. Beating UVa in the regional final is plenty of cred.

What a shot by the Freshman!

[Eternal Outlaw]

I'm trying to think of a less deserving Final Four team in history than tOSU if they win this. Bucky in 2000?

Wisconsin beat a 1 and a 4 on their route, Ohio State can get there with their best seed win being against a 6. Really don't see the argument on how Wisconsin didn't deserve it by how they got there.

[Newton_14]

As I stated earlier, this one is Ovah. OSU goes down..

[hurleyfor3]

Wisconsin beat a 1 and a 4 on their route, Ohio State can get there with their best seed win being against a 6. Really don't see the argument on how Wisconsin didn't deserve it by how they got there.

Actually, we agree here.

[chrishoke]

This one's over. Ohio St will win this by 5-6 points.

NOT!

[dukelifer]

NOT!

Not yet

[SCMatt33]

How huge is that second free throw look right now. 3 points with 6.8 with the way Wichita has had trouble imbounding would be an eternity. 4 points is a LOT more comfortable.

[hurleyfor3]

OK, congrats to Wichita State.

I would have been very, very angry had tOSU won this one.

[BlueDevilBrowns]

OSU, don't be stunned, be SHOCKED!

[dukelifer]

How huge is that second free throw look right now. 3 points with 6.8 with the way Wichita has had trouble imbounding would be an eternity. 4 points is a LOT more comfortable.

Wow- did about everything to give it away but the Shockers are moving on- NC State redux?

[NashvilleDevil]

NOT!

I grew up in Ohio and am not a big fan of Ohio St. I think they are overrated in football and basketball and they have one of the most obnoxious fan bases in sports. I was doing my best to reverse jinx their run.

[1 24 90]

Where is Cameron with the Don Imus avatar? I want to revel in the OSU loss with you and all the rest of Ohioans who don't cheer for the Buckeyes. As someone who lives in Columbus, I am so glad Duke outlasted OSU. Now there's only one thing that can make me feel even better. GO GET 'EM DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NashvilleDevil]

Where is Cameron with the Don Imus avatar? I want to revel in the OSU loss with you and all the rest of Ohioans who don't cheer for the Buckeyes. As someone who lives in Columbus, I am so glad Duke outlasted OSU. Now there's only one thing that can make me feel even better. GO GET 'EM DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't live in Ohio but grew up there and had to hear about the Bucks all the time

[matt1]

This also means that, if we beat Louisville, we get to play the only 9-seed that's has ever played in the Final Four. I know that I should not say this, but tomorrow is the real National Championship Game, just like the SEC Championship was in football.

[Dukeface88]

This also means that, if we beat Louisville, we get to play the only 9-seed that's has ever played in the Final Four. I know that I should not say this, but tomorrow is the real National Championship Game, just like the SEC Championship was in football.

Actually Pennsylvania made the Final Four as a nine seed in 1979, although that was before the 64-team format.

[dukelifer]

This also means that, if we beat Louisville, we get to play the only 9-seed that's has ever played in the Final Four. I know that I should not say this, but tomorrow is the real National Championship Game, just like the SEC Championship was in football.

Not sure why. The other side has legit teams

[BD80]

Can Paulus now announce he is joining Collins at NW?

[CDu]

This also means that, if we beat Louisville, we get to play the only 9-seed that's has ever played in the Final Four. I know that I should not say this, but tomorrow is the real National Championship Game, just like the SEC Championship was in football.

You do realize that there are 3 top-10 caliber teams left in the other half of the draw right? Tomorrow's game features the two best teams left, but next weekend is far from a victory lap for the winner.

[BlueDevilBrowns]

Now that OSU is gone, if Duke wins tomorrow, it would be the 1st time since 2006 that no teams from the previous year's Final 4 return the next year.

[BlueDevilBrowns]

You do realize that there are 3 top-10 caliber teams left in the other half of the draw right? Tomorrow's game features the two best teams left, but next weekend is far from a victory lap for the winner.


I think from a pure entertainment standpoint, a Duke-Syracuse Final would be great(being biased, perhaps).

But now that OSU is gone, the winner of Duke/Ville will no doubt be the CLEAR media favorite going into next week which is a HUGE weight to carry compared to the other 3 teams. I think in 2010, being forgotton really helped us relax as everyone was picking a MSU vs. WV Final.

[Jarhead]

You do realize that there are 3 top-10 caliber teams left in the other half of the draw right? Tomorrow's game features the two best teams left, but next weekend is far from a victory lap for the winner.

I'm figuring we'll handle Louisville properly tomorrow, so we'll get Wichita State first next weekend, and then we play the winner of the Syracuse vs. Michigan game, and that's a tough one to pick, but I'm happy with the potential for us in the final round. I'm pretty good with run on sentences, too

[matt1]

I think from a pure entertainment standpoint, a Duke-Syracuse Final would be great(being biased, perhaps).

But now that OSU is gone, the winner of Duke/Ville will no doubt be the CLEAR media favorite going into next week which is a HUGE weight to carry compared to the other 3 teams. I think in 2010, being forgotton really helped us relax as everyone was picking a MSU vs. WV Final.

No, 2010 was one of the few times that ESPN acknowledged Duke's chance. Going into the finals, we were the favorites. I guess everyone is right that three good teams remain on the other side. I will say that I feel a level of confidence that I have not since 2010. We can outshoot a Syracuse zone, we have more experience than Michigan, and we have the ability to win close games, an ability that Florida lacks.

I think that we beat Louisville tomorrow (though the reverse is certainty plausible). Remember that we had a poor shooting night at the Atlantis, and we still beat them. Louisville is getting too much credit for happening to be the #1 overall seed at the time of Selection Sunday. Then, we are just a better team than Wichita St., and we probably watched a lot of their tape when we scouted Creighton.

Ultimately, the chances probably are that the field wins it all over Duke, but I would take Duke over any one other team.

[Bluedog]

I think from a pure entertainment standpoint, a Duke-Syracuse Final would be great(being biased, perhaps).

But now that OSU is gone, the winner of Duke/Ville will no doubt be the CLEAR media favorite going into next week which is a HUGE weight to carry compared to the other 3 teams. I think in 2010, being forgotton really helped us relax as everyone was picking a MSU vs. WV Final.

I think the game vs wvu was basically a pick em. We weren't the heavy favorite. However, you're right that everybody was saying that whoever wins that game would win the championship. I wouldn't worry about high expectations with this group though. They're used to it, so I don't see any added pressure because of it. I'd welcome being the favorite and I'm sure the guys put plenty of pressure on themselves regardless. In any event, hope we're in that boat because that means a win tomorrow!

[turnandburn55]

Not sure why. The other side has legit teams

Exactly. Florida is #1 in Kenpom. Michigan was ranked #1 earlier in the season as well. 2010 this is not

[gocanes0506]

Basketball gods wouldnt allow a OSU vs Michigan just like they wont allow a Duke vs UNC final. Probably means Michigan is going to win tomorrow.

[rsvman]

VCU and George Mason were both 12 seeds when they made the Final Four.

So it's not unprecedented for a low seed to make the FF.

[1 24 90]

VCU and George Mason were both 12 seeds when they made the Final Four.

So it's not unprecedented for a low seed to make the FF.

FYI: VCU, George Mason & LSU 1986 were all 11 seeds

[sporthenry]

I think that we beat Louisville tomorrow (though the reverse is certainty plausible). Remember that we had a poor shooting night at the Atlantis, and we still beat them. Louisville is getting too much credit for happening to be the #1 overall seed at the time of Selection Sunday.

I don't really think people are giving them too much credit. Many analysts loved Louisville coming into the year. They have guard play that can be great, a big who can control the rim and several secondary scoring options in Harrell, Ware, Hancock and even Blackshear or Behanan.

Isn't to say Duke isn't equally daunting but Louisville is a darn good team.

[Troublemaker]

Exactly. Florida is #1 in Kenpom. Michigan was ranked #1 earlier in the season as well. 2010 this is not

Sounds like 2010 this IS, given how strong that Butler team turned out to be.

[rsvman]

FYI: VCU, George Mason & LSU 1986 were all 11 seeds

Yeah. Thanks for the correction and the addition. I had the seeds wrong.

Main point still stands, though.