Bob Lutz: Wichita State vs. Kansas? It’s close enough to taste

OK, Indiana. Here’s what we need. We need for you guys to cooperate and lose Friday’s NCAA Tournament game to Wichita State in Omaha.

Here’s why.

For years now, many of us in Wichita have been hoping, wanting, dying to see the Shockers play Kansas. It hasn’t happened during the regular season in 22 years because the Jayhawks don’t like the idea of playing WSU. So while a few of us still bang the drum and hope Bill Self will have an epiphany about the good WSU-KU would do for the state, the sound of the banging doesn’t carry to Lawrence.

But now the NCAA has mandated a potential Wichita State-Kansas showdown and there’s not a darn thing KU can do about it. If the Jayhawks beat New Mexico State (a given, let’s be real) and the Shockers handle Indiana (this one is more complicated), it’ll be KU-WSU on Sunday in Omaha.

And wouldn’t that be something?

So you see, Indiana, it’s your responsibility to look at the greater good. You were 20-13 this season and 9-9 in the Big Ten. You’re lucky just to be in the tournament and some of your best players will return next season. In fact, you don’t have a single senior on your roster. There’s a good chance you could play your best ball Friday and still not have enough to beat the Shockers.

But we can’t risk it.

So, what do you say you just go through the motions Thursday and give us Kansans what we want? We’d sure be appreciative.

The Hoosiers could spoil everything in Omaha by beating the Shockers. Indiana-Kansas in the second round? OK, they’re two of the most successful programs in the history of college basketball. But the Hoosiers have been all over the place since Tom Crean took over as coach in 2008.

There were a couple of Sweet 16s in 2011-12 and 2012-13, but in the other five seasons, Indiana is 65-94. Since starting 15-4 this season, the Hoosiers are 5-9 and their only wins have been against Big Ten bottom-feeders Rutgers (twice), Northwestern, Minnesota and Michigan.

Indiana, I ask: Do you really want to be the fly in the ointment of the first potential NCAA Tournament game between Kansas and Wichita State since 1981? We called that one “The Battle of New Orleans,” and some Shocker fans still wear the T-shirt commemorating that game, a 66-65 Shocker win.

The last time WSU and KU met in the regular season, though – back on Jan. 6, 1993 – Kansas won 103-54 in Allen Fieldhouse. As far as I know, there are no T-shirts commemorating that game.

We need another game worthy of T-shirts, Indiana. We love T-shirts and will wear them for decades.

Kansas has a Wichita kid, Perry Ellis. Wichita State has a Wichita kid, Evan Wessel, and another, Conner Frankamp, who used to play at Kansas. He’s sitting out now after transferring, waiting for his chance that will come in December.

KU and WSU have vibrant, interesting coaches in Bill Self and Gregg Marshall. I want to hear what they have to say about playing one another, but they’re not tipping their hands until the game is set.

Marshall ducked the question Sunday, saying he was focused on Indiana. Of course he is, but I’d give a penny for his thoughts on the possibility of finally playing Kansas.

Self told the media a KU-WSU showdown would appease me (he’s right), then turned his attention to New Mexico State.

Kansas and Wichita State – as well as Indiana and 12 other teams – are stuck in the Midwest Regional with undefeated Kentucky. Everybody says the Wildcats are going to win this thing and become the first team since Indiana in 1976 to finish a season without a loss.

Indiana, you’ve had your fun. You’ve won five national championships, albeit none since 1987. You got to see Bob Knight toss around chairs and other assorted fun stuff for 30 years.

We’ve had our share of excitement in Kansas, too. The Jayhawks won a national championship seven years ago and have won 11 consecutive Big 12 regular-season championships.

The Shockers got to the Final Four two seasons ago, went to 35-0 before losing to Kentucky last season and are probably a spot or two underseeded in this year’s tournament.

Kansas-Wichita State is prime-time stuff. KU is a college basketball giant, but the Shockers are growing like a beanstalk. If these two teams played, it would be difficult to pick a winner.

The Shockers have a better resume than Indiana. They’re a better team than Indiana. They probably don’t need any help beating the Hoosiers and setting up a Sunday game for the ages, a game so many of us are dying to see.

But just in case, Indiana, do us a favor and continue to bring your “C” game. Now wouldn’t be the time to play lights out.

This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Bob Lutz: Wichita State vs. Kansas? It’s close enough to taste."