Wichita State’s Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet rest up after going all out against Indiana (VIDEO)

Ron Baker craved two things Friday evening: Powerade and spaghetti.

He consumed large quantities of both.

The Wichita State junior did so after the Shockers defeated Indiana in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, setting up a much-anticipated matchup with Kansas on Sunday. The game took a lot out of him. When it was over, he felt dehydrated and battled cramps.

“I don’t think I have ever been so tired or exhausted after that game against Indiana,” Baker said Saturday. “Their style of play was tough on a kid that played 37 minutes, which was me.

“It was the first time this season I cramped up after a game. So I was pretty exhausted to say the least.”

Rest, relaxation and recuperation can be important for players during the NCAA Tournament, when teams play two games in three days. One minute, they can be scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds in a victory, the way Baker did against Indiana. The next, they can be preparing for the Sweet 16.

Wichita State did not face many quick turnarounds during the regular season, though it did play on back-to-back days at the Diamond Head Classic and the Missouri Valley Tournament.

For Baker, getting his energy level back up to where it normally is as quickly as possible was pivotal. Eliminating his cramps was also a must. Fortunately, he did not need to eat mustard or pickle juice, common cramp busters, to do so.

“I have just been drinking a lot of fluids, getting a lot of carbs at the hotel, resting up,” Baker said. “Coach has got a pretty light practice planned today, then we will be ready to go Sunday.”

When Wichita State hasn’t been at CenturyLink Center, he has been off his feet.

He treated Friday evening and Saturday morning as opportunities to refuel.

“I drank a lot of Powerade and water,” Baker said, “and then I ate a big plate of spaghetti for dinner.”

Fred VanVleet followed a similar routine.

Like Baker, the Wichita State guard was on the floor for 37 minutes against Indiana, leading all scorers with 27 points. He also sent out four assists, grabbed two rebounds and stole two passes.

It was a fantastic all-around effort from a player that Kansas coach Bill Self described as “a true point that knows how to run a team.”

But it left him fatigued 48 hours before he was set to take the floor again.

“I was pretty exhausted,” VanVleet said. “It was a fast-paced game. The way I was attacking the rim and coming back and trying to contain, it was wearing on me. Luckily, I feel a lot better after a win.”

VanVleet spent his downtime drinking water and taking naps. He also watched some basketball.

It’s not the way he envisioned kicking off his preparation for Kansas. Baker and VanVleet want to put as much into their next game as they did their last.

“By game time we will all be ready to go,” VanVleet said. “There is nothing stopping us.”

This story was originally published March 21, 2015 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Wichita State’s Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet rest up after going all out against Indiana (VIDEO)."