Seniors Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet helped Wichita State reach a Final Four as freshmen, post an undefeated regular season as sophomores and get to the Sweet 16 as juniors. As seniors, they ensured the Shockers’ season would continue on Tuesday when they scored all 11 of their team’s points to start the second half, breaking a 30–30 halftime tie and giving Wichita State a lead it would not relinquish en route to a First Four win over Vanderbilt in Dayton. Baker and VanVleet each finished with 14 points.
Why it matters
The Shockers had to sweat out a week on the bubble after losing in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament semifinals to Northern Iowa on March 5, and some felt they didn’t belong in the field.