Why history says Shockers’ first-round bye in AAC Tournament is crucial to title run
Wichita State had a taste of what it’s like trying to win four games in four days last year at the American Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament.
After back-to-back wins, the Shockers came up short in a 66-63 loss to Cincinnati in the semifinals. Dexter Dennis remembers feeling like WSU just simply ran out of gas.
“I can say after last year when we played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, I remember in warmups I didn’t think I could even sweat anymore,” Dennis said, laughing. “I was trying, but it just wasn’t there.”
WSU won’t have to worry about exerting any energy on Thursday in its quest for a tournament title this season, thanks to a 79-57 thumping of Tulsa in the regular-season finale that locked up the No. 4 seed for the Shockers (23-8, 11-7).
Now Wichita State will get Thursday off and await the winner between No. 5 Connecticut and No. 12 Tulane for a 2 p.m. Friday quarterfinal game at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“It’s hard to win three games in three days, but it’s even harder to win four games in four days,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “Our guys will be more fresh going into Friday’s game, but UConn or Tulane will have the nervousness out, the kinks out having played on the floor. There’s no more newness to playing on that court in that building. So there’s a slight advantage to that, but I would prefer not to have to win Thursday to get to Friday.”
A first-round bye has proven crucial in the seven-year history of the AAC Tournament, as no team has won the tournament title without it and only one team has won three games in three days to reach the championship game. In fact, the first or second seed has won the tournament title in five of six years.
No fourth seed has won the tournament title before, but the Shockers know their chances are improved by not having to play on Thursday. According to statistician Ken Pomeroy, WSU has the best chances of winning the tournament championship on its side of the bracket.
“(Winning on Sunday) was big because now we don’t have to play again on Thursday, which gives us another day to rest our bodies and get sharp mentally for this run that we’re hoping to make,” WSU sophomore Jamarius Burton said. “We’re just trying to survive. It’s win or go home at this moment. We have to stay locked in and stay connected and hopefully make a run in this tournament.”
Marshall has plenty of experience winning conference tournaments. He won seven Big South Tournament titles from his time at Winthrop, then guided the Shockers to Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships in 2014 and 2017.
Here’s what the coach had to say about the makeup of a championship team.
“You need to have your defense and your rebounding in your back pocket,” Marshall said. “Everybody needs to be carrying water. There can’t be distractions, can’t be people worried about if they’re in the starting lineup or how many shots they’re getting. They just need to go and play well and help us win. If we do that, like we did against Tulsa, we have a very good chance. We’re a pretty good ball club. But if we don’t do that, then that just takes away from our opportunity.”
Marshall said WSU should enjoy the advantage of having the most fans in the stands this week.
“There’ll be more Shocker fans than anybody else,” Marshall said. “There will probably be more Shocker fans than SMU fans, that’s a challenge to you Mustang fans. Get out there and support the American conference tournament. But I’m betting there will be more Shocker fans than anybody else.”
Echenique makes second team
WSU senior Jaime Echenique was chosen to the all-AAC second team, released on Tuesday. Echenique averaged 12.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 18 conference games as WSU’s foundation.
“I’m happy for Jaime,” Marshall said. “I think he’s had a great year. I don’t know where he came in the voting or how close he was to first team, but I think he was right there. He was very vital for us to get to 23 wins in the regular season. I’m glad he was honored in that way.”
Echenique was the only Shocker included in the three all-conference teams and all-freshman team released on Tuesday. Individual awards will be announced on Wednesday.
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