As we get set for March Madness at Top Bet, we’re taking a closer look at the college basketball teams that will affect your bracket the most: the favorites. We’ve already looked at Syracuse, and today we move on to the Missouri Valley’s Wichita State.
Wichita State Shockers Preview
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Wichita State has lived up to its billing with 30 straight wins to start its season and in the process has climbed as high as No. 2 in the AP rankings. There seems to be no stopping the Shockers, who are dead-set on winning it all this season.
Key to Success – Defense
It sounds like a cliché that a team’s success is hinged on its defense, but with the Shockers there’s no choice but to heap praises on their ability to protect the hoop. Wichita State is 15th in scoring defense (60.4 PPG) and 36th in blocks (5.2 BPG), while holding their opponents to 39.8% shooting, ranked 35th overall.
MVP – Fred VanVleet
VanVleet could easily go unnoticed in a sea of college point guards that NBA prognosticators are buzzing around. Even on his own team, VanVleet is at times overshadowed by Cleanthony Early or Ron Baker, but that doesn’t diminish VanVleet’s role in the Shockers’ pursuit of an undefeated season. Furthermore, without him, the Shockers’ offense would be getting a great deal less from Early and Baker, as VanVleet leads the team and the conference in assists with 5.2 per game.
Achilles Heel – Lack of Top 25 Competition in the Regular Season
Outside of the Shockers’ win against No. 10 St. Louis back in December, Wichita State has yet to fight another team in the Top 25. Their strength of schedule has been ridiculed incessantly and with a conference schedule chock-full of teams with RPIs of 150 and above, gauging the Shockers continues to be a struggle. In the NCAA Tournament, the Shockers’ inexperience against top competition could be the cause of their premature demise.
Season Highlight – Tekele Cotton’s Huge Slam
Call Wichita State guard Tekele Cotton anything but un-athletic. During the Shockers win over Illinois State last January, Cotton keft a mark with this soul-crushing dunk. Full extension. Vicious throwdown. Delightful.
Prediction
The Shockers went all the way to the Final Four last season but could wind up getting bounced anywhere from the Round of 32 to the Elite Eight round in the coming March Madness. Wichita State is priced at +1000 to win the NCAA title, which makes them a longer shot than Syracuse, Kansas, and Arizona, all teams that are ranked lower than Wichita in the AP poll.
Get in the college hoops action and bet on this year’s March Madness with Top Bet today.
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