Shockers Do Just That by Beating Tennessee, 80-73

The group of fans wearing Wichita State yellow and black was loud and rowdy and saying it proud:

“MVC,” they shouted. “Sweet 16.”

“MVC, Sweet 16.”

Wichita State had received a No. 7 seeding, the highest of four teams selected from the Missouri Valley Conference this year.

Some analysts expressed dismay that the conference, full of schools from the relatively lightly populated middle of the country, had received as many bids as the Atlantic Coast, Big 12 and Pacific 10 conferences. Others were equally surprised that the Shockers, regular-season champions, were seeded no higher than seventh.

That second group seems to have more expertise.

For the first time in 25 years, Wichita State (26-8) advanced to the Sweet 16 with an 80-73 upset of second-seeded Tennessee on Saturday in a second-round Washington Regional game. The Shockers will next play the winner of today’s game between North Carolina and George Mason.

The Volunteers (22-8) were given their lofty seeding despite losing four of their last six games coming into the tournament.

And, indeed, Wichita State was more in possession of inside power and outside shooting, of enough poise to withstand a flurry of Tennessee pressure, and enough aplomb to behave as if it belongs among the final 16 teams in the tournament.

“We do everything as a team,” Wichita State Coach Mark Turgeon said. “We’re a team offense, team defense. Our motto is ‘Seize the moment.’ ”

Tennessee led, 63-58, after C.J. Watson made two free throws with 5 minutes 42 seconds left. After trailing for most of the first half, the Volunteers played at a faster pace, made harder cuts and took better shots during the first part of the second half, and seemed to take command.

After a Wichita State timeout, one in which sophomore Matt Braeuer said Turgeon “really challenged us to start guarding and we did finally starting guarding them hard,” the Shockers went on the winning run.

Two shots epitomized Wichita State’s performance. Karon Bradley, a transfer from Marquette, made the go-ahead shot with two minutes left after fighting through two defenders and using two solid screens to get open for a 12-footer. And, with Wichita State leading, 67-65, just to make sure the Volunteers had no doubts about which way the momentum would stay, P.J. Couisnard took a step back to give himself space from defender Dane Bradshaw and made a three-pointer after his team had run the shot clock under eight seconds.

With 1:05 left, the Shockers led 70-65 and the celebrating had begun among their fans.

“Tonight was a game I thought we could get,” Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl said. “So we’re real disappointed.”

Bradshaw was still stunned 20 minutes after the game. “When we were up five, I thought we had them where we wanted them. I’m still not sure what really happened.”

What happened was that Wichita just played better. Couisnard scored a team-high 20 points on only seven shots. He made six.

“When you have 20 points on seven shots,” Turgeon said, “you’ve almost had a perfect day. He had it going. And he also did a great job getting the ball inbounds all day. That’s not easy.”

It had been 18 years since Wichita State was last in the tournament until the 2006 bids were handed out last Sunday.

“We were sweating a little,” center Paul Miller said. “Now, this is one of those moments I’m never going to forget. It’s something you never understand until you’re actually here.

“You see it on TV and you see teams going to the Sweet 16 and winning big games in the tournament. To be a part of that means a lot.”