When the season ends for Kansas, it doesn’t just move the needle in the Sunflower State, the college basketball nation takes notice.
When the Jayhawks lose before the Sweet 16, it becomes an even bigger deal. Throw in the whole in-state, previously unplayed rivalry game angle and you’ve got all sorts of intrigue surrounding KU’s Round of 32 loss to Wichita State on Sunday in Omaha.
Below is some of the Twitter chatter, photos, stories — and trash talk — that showed up after the Shockers bounced Kansas from the NCAA Tournament.
Magical moment 4 Shocker nation takes away pain of losing last yr to UK-W over KANSAS is a real Hoops Hysteria feeling 4 WSU #Dickievpicks
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 22, 2015
Don’t look now but one more win apiece and it’s UK-Wichita State in the Elite Eight with another undefeated season on the line.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 22, 2015
Are 3 or 4 AD’s out there who passed on Gregg Marshall for power conference jobs. Spent time with him in Feb. He’s MONSTER coaching talent!
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) March 22, 2015
Game epitomized Kansas problems all year. No identity, no oomph. Asked Self what team identity was at Big 12: “I should know that by now.”
— Dana O’Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) March 22, 2015
22 yrs since Shockers had chance to play Kansas / handle this special moment Shocker fans with class / Gregg Marshall stock keeps rising
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 22, 2015
What a win for Wichita State. That may not make up for the Kentucky game last year, but it’s a damn fine consolation prize.
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) March 22, 2015
Let me say this @CoachBillSelf did amazing job this yr to win Big 12/this was not a vintage Jayhawk team #Dickievpicks @franfraschilla
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 22, 2015
Awesome performance by Wichita State. Dominated Kansas. Now headed to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in three years.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 22, 2015
Fred VanVleet will fly from Omaha to his home in Illinois to attend his grandmother’s funeral tomorrow. He’ll rejoin Wichita State Tuesday.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 22, 2015
Since 2005 KU is 1-3 against the Missouri Valley in the NCAA tournament.
— ShockerHoops.net (@ShockerHoops) March 22, 2015
Kansas now has the most first-weekend losses as a No. 2 seed in tourney history. http://t.co/uKhh1L5Qrq pic.twitter.com/G8vCPzjxXF
— Sporting News College Basketball (@sn_ncaab) March 22, 2015
Congrats to The Shockers..should never have doubted them..too tough for Kansas..
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) March 23, 2015
#WichitaState Head Coach Gregg Marshall’s wife: “I have better definition in my arms then KU!” Man, I love basketball #NCAATournament
— Kristen Rodgers (@KristenERodgers) March 22, 2015
Wichita on ball defense best I’ve seen in the tourney..to quote Roberto De Vicenzo “what a stupid I am” for doubting
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) March 23, 2015
http://twitter.com/lukewinn/status/579802934986334208
http://twitter.com/Waffles1776/status/579789542191841281
“We had a chance to validate how good our league was. We haven’t done it. The reality is in the numbers.” KU coach Bill Self on the Big 12
— Jason King (@JasonKingBR) March 23, 2015
Gonzaga is the only program besides Kansas that has reached the round of 32 each of the past six years.
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) March 23, 2015
Hey ohhhhhhhh here we go!
Shockers still dancing… #MarchMadnesshttps://t.co/Dy1IlAtxfH— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2015
With a Sweet 16 bid and a visit from the governor, Wichita State is king of Kansas. Column: http://t.co/DzTCpFFj7G pic.twitter.com/zV1MIHPjNG
— Brian Hamilton (@_Brian_Hamilton) March 23, 2015
Nine of Sweet 16 coaches have taken teams to the Final Four: (Coach K, Williams, Pitino, Izzo, Calipari, Huggins, Ryan, Kruger, Marshall).
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) March 23, 2015
I spent weekend in Feb. hanging with Gregg Marshall & Shockers. Sat in locker room, behind bench, etc. Not 10 better coaches in country.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) March 23, 2015
The VBDI says my top five players for the 1st wk. of tourn. r Okafor, VanVleet, Alford, McConnell, Wiltjer.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 23, 2015
Jeff Eisenberg went as far as to include one Kansas player in his [“Best and worst of the NCAA tourney’s opening weekend”][1] feature.
Spoiler alert: The Jayhawk didn’t land in the best category.
Repost: Best and worst of the NCAA tournament’s opening weekend — http://t.co/fZ1gY8suyl “
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) March 23, 2015
Wayne Selden Jr. received the unappealing label of “Player who shrank in the spotlight”:
> “Selden scored a quiet six points in a
> victory over New Mexico State on
> Friday and then went scoreless on five
> shots in a 78-65 loss to Wichita State
> two days later. Granted Kansas’ game
> plan was to pound the ball inside
> against the smaller Shockers, but
> Selden still acknowledged after the
> game that he had let down his team by
> not being aggressive on offense and
> not playing well on defense.”
A couple of former KU players felt pretty good about their Jayhawks before the game, but since then we have social media silence on the subject.
Let’s find out who’s the best team in Kansas is @Clearly_BallLyf #AllenFieldHouseOmaha #RockChalkJayhawk
— Cole Aldrich (@colea45) March 22, 2015
I kno KU better not lose this game. That’s all Imma say
— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) March 22, 2015
[1]: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/best-and-worst-of-the-ncaa-tournament-s-opening-weekend-163153927.html
