Following the Shockers to Dayton? Keep these things in mind

For years, fortunate Wichita State fans have looked at the teams headed to the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, and felt sympathy for those schools’ fans making the quick trip.

Sunday afternoon, Shocker fans were receiving the sympathy after WSU was placed in a Tuesday night First Four game against Vanderbilt. Game time is about 8:10 p.m., and the winner faces Arizona on Thursday in Providence, R.I.

Thinking about making the trip? Think quickly.

At 6 p.m. Sunday, a one-way flight to Dayton on Monday was $442. It’s one-way, of course, because with the “In for a penny, in for a pound” philosophy, you may want to head to Providence for Thursday’s first-round game. (Pessimists can buy a round-trip ticket, Wichita to Dayton and back, for $858.)

The drive to Dayton isn’t awful. It’s 792 miles of interstate and will take about 11 1/2 hours. Along the way you can shake your head in disgust at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center and put the window down in Terre Haute, Ind., and scream, “We own you, Sycamores!”

A Wichita-to-Dayton-to-Providence drive, if you’re wondering, is 1,573 miles. One way.

Tickets for the two-game session Tuesday are $127.50 and are available at ncaa.com/tickets.

This story was originally published March 13, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Following the Shockers to Dayton? Keep these things in mind."