BracketBusters loss a year ago fresh on the minds of Wichita State
Motivation can be a powerful tool, just ask Shaka Smart.
Wichita State seniors Garrett Stutz (left), Joe Ragland (middle) and Toure Murray (right).
Scott Wyant
Staff Writer
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PORTLAND, Ore.–Motivation can be a powerful tool, just ask Shaka Smart.
Last season Smart’s Rams captivated the college basketball world, playing the disrespect card handed to VCU’s squad from the national media. This season it was the 30-foot Sherrod Wright buzzer beater and then premature warmups from the George Mason Patriots.
Tomorrow the motivational factor may favor the Rams second round opponent, Wichita State.
A season ago the Rams and Shockers squared off in the annual ESPN BracketBuster. The two black-and-gold squads battled back-and-forth the entire night.
VCU, down one point, put the ball in the hands of senior guard Joey Rodriguez, who drove the length of the floor only to miss the layup as time wound down.
Wichita State thought they were out of the woods but the officiating crew determined the junior guard Joe Ragland had fouled Rodriguez on the way to the hoop.
The senior guard is gone, but Shockers senior center Garrett Stutz hasn’t forgotten that game.
“It’s something that’s been in the back of our minds for a long time now,” Stutz said. “There’s definitely still some (motivation). I won’t call it a rivalry, but still some motivation for us.”