Wichita State vs. LaSalle March 28 Free Pick
Wichita State remains as the lone Valley team standing after Creighton bowed out against Duke in the Round of 32. They take on surprising LaSalle in a battle of mid-major powers.
Free Pick
I’ve been watching Wichita State all year and I’m psyched to see them here with a great chance to advance to the
regional final. I’ve covered most
of the key guys for the Shockers at some point or another in this blog during the course of the year so we can
go right into this matchup.
Straight up, I don’t like this draw for LaSalle really at all. For the first time in the tournament, the Explorers probably won’t be the most athletic team on the floor. Couple that with the fact that Wichita State thrives against jump-shooting teams. The Shockers are great at closing out on shooters – you won’t survive in the Valley unless you are. Malcolm Armstead and Cotton are extremely quick and agile and Ron Baker makes up for slightly less quickness with his length and intelligence.
While Wichita starts Orukpe and Carl Hall, they prefer to play star sixth man Cle Early at the stretch power forward spot with Hall at the five in crunch time. This lineup matches up a little better with LaSalle who starts five guards and does not have much of any inside presence. I expect Hall to have a monster game in this one. Versatile enough to get out and guard all the way on the perimeter, Hall makes a living banging underneath the basket. He is a little undersized but Hall makes up for it with an unparalleled desire and motor. Think Ben Wallace with a little bit more offensive emphasis.
Wichita State has proven to be tough enough to take down the likes of Pittsburgh and skilled enough to take down Gonzaga. Now, in their easiest test of the Dance, they need to be focused enough to beat LaSalle in a game they are favored in. I’m taking Greg Marshall and the Senior leadership of Hall and Armstead against a team that has made the Sweet 16 primarily due to hot outside shooting. I love the Shockers in this game and will probably look to play them in some way as we get closer to tip. Shockers moving on to the regional final and for a right to play for a spot in the Final Four.
Free Pick: Wichita State -3.5