Kansas and Wichita State, two schools separated by 161 miles of highways and rolling farmland, first played a basketball game more than 100 years ago. Yet they have faced off just 14 times — and not since 1993 at Allen Fieldhouse.
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Kansas would win the first three contests, while Wichita State would score a 54-49 victory over Kansas at the Roundhouse on Jan. 6, 1987. One season earlier, then-Kansas coach Larry Brown had weighed in on the series, saying: “It’s stupid for us not to keep playing Wichita.”
That sentiment would change during the early years of Roy Williams, who racked up five straight blowout victories over Wichita State from 1990-93. The Shockers had fallen on hard times. Williams insisted on a two-for-one series, with at least two games at Allen Fieldhouse for every one in Wichita. The Shockers said no.
Two decades later, the Wichita State program is back in the top 25. Coach Gregg Marshall has led Wichita State to a Final Four in 2013 and an undefeated regular season last year. But back in Lawrence, the idea of rekindling the series is still a nonstarter.
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“I think it was great for Wichita State,” Turgeon said of the series. “I don’t think it was that good for Kansas. They played nine times; in Wichita, they just remember the one.”
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article14640722.html#storylink=cpy
Interesting article -- Wichita State is the only reason I'm even somewhat paying attention. Indiana -- Wichita State was literally the only game I watched so far. I feel in love with their defensive & rebounding style -- they had some great interior players in their final 4 run, only team to really challenge Louisville -- dominated them the entire game until mistakes from full court pressure as well it seems like they were afraid when they saw they were getting close to a team who was like Kentucky with Davis or UConn with Okafor--clearly the best though I picked Georgia Tech to win the Final that year -- only time I ever got the two title teams correct though my bracket was a mess everywhere
I have a local friend from Kansas. Big Chiefs fan, roots for Kansas rooted for Wichita State in recent years. Just tonight--I don't know why he said in-front of others "I think" Wichita State was in the Final 4 last year with Kansas & K-State. Could be misremembering but I remember this time last year he lost interest after both Wichita State & Kansas were eliminated within the first few rounds. The challenge they gave Louisville was nothing to sneeze at though, it sucks they lost because a lot people pre-judged the match-up based on the prestige of the school name when D & rebounding gives you a more consistent chance for an underdog than getting lucky behind the 3-point line -- that wasn't Wichita State's style and loved them for it.
However, NIT after Arizona State defeated UConn and the CIT with Northern Arizona knocked off Grand Canyon University (very new division 1 program under coach Dan Marleje -- but with little parity at-the-top & even all-conference Jahii Carson leaving to become a 2nd round pick now playing in Australia professionally there isn't much -- catch a quick glimpse of future superstars for 1 year or college stars who overestimated their success -- Jahii Carson easily led Arizona HS bball in scoring, led to the Sun Devils to a tournament -- only Ike Diogu or Harden & really good teammates who didn't stick around managed to do that recently)
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article14640722.html#storylink=cpy
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