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No-brainer here with Arizona the higher seed and Sean Miller 7-1 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament as a head coach.
The @MSFT_Business BPI prediction gives Arizona a 55% chance to beat the winner of Wichita State-Vanderbilt pic.twitter.com/V8hALif50f
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 15, 2016
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Teams given a reprieve like Wichita State and Vanderbilt are usually dangerous because of their newfound confidence.
going by the seed list, Wichita State and Tulsa were the beneficiaries of SMU and Louisville being ineligible
— Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS) March 13, 2016
Coaching mismatch tonight. Also, Wichita State’s total body of work more impressive.
Money pouring in on Wichita State, from -2 to -3.5 already. Marshall vs Stallings is checkers vs chess. Shockers. Lock.
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) March 13, 2016
Wichita State’s senior guard trio of Fred VanVleet (center), Ron Baker (right) and Evan Wessel puts a scare into any head coach in March Madness.
Wichita State is bringing it tonight! pic.twitter.com/2pg3Sh0HI2
— Rudy Rodriguez (@RRodriguez62) March 15, 2016
Let the hyperbole begin.
Tonight's game between Vanderbilt and Wichita State is the best game in the history of the First Four. Two teams that have Sweet 16 ability.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 15, 2016
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NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST FOUR
VANDERBILT (19-13) vs. WICHITA STATE (24-8)
When: 6:10 p.m.
Where: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
TV/Radio: TruTV
Vanderbilt has a projected NBA lottery pick in 7-foot junior center Damian Jones, who averages 14.2 points and 6.9 rebounds, and another skilled big man in 7-1 junior Luke Kornet, who averages 8.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.
Wichita State's success guarding 7-footers collides with new challenges.https://t.co/QlTwCmRJL5 pic.twitter.com/U2GhDRznOv
— Paul Suellentrop (@PaulSuellentrop) March 15, 2016
If Vandy wins tonight, it will be “Anchor Down” — the Commodores’ slogan — against “Bear Down” — the Wildcats’ fighting cry on Thursday night.
Congrats to @VandyMBB & @KevinStallings on making the @NCAA BBall Tourney. Time to Dance! #AnchorDown #TheR15E pic.twitter.com/0DQWbrYoFe
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) March 13, 2016
Now that these teams are in, this does not mean as much. Forty minutes separate them from the next round.
Worst strength of record among teams in the field:
Tulsa (66th)
Vanderbilt (61st)
Wichita St (56th)
Syracuse (55th)
VCU (54th)— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 13, 2016
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The Madness begins tonight.
Here we go! Your Shocker men take on Vanderbilt at 8:10 p.m. CDT tonight (Tuesday, March 15)! #watchus #marchmadness pic.twitter.com/Hw1e4J7Dn9
— Wichita State (@WichitaState) March 15, 2016
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Seth Greenberg projects Arizona advancing to the Elite Eight, where it will face Kansas, so his analysis here is but an appetizer for the Wildcats.
Big Game Breakdown @VandyMBB @GoShockers My take https://t.co/aSxFvDqiab
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) March 14, 2016
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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