(St. Louis, MO) – Does “Team” defeat “Talent”? That’s the question for Sunday’s game between Wichita State and Kentucky. Wichita State is defined by terms like family, team and brothers. The barnstorming Kentucky collection of McDonald’s All-Americans is defined by terms like talent, size and wingspan.
Wichita State is the number one team in the Midwest Region of the NCAA’s national tournament, but they will likely be the underdog coming into the contest that will send one team to Indianapolis and a ‘Sweet Sixteen’ designation and the other home to their campus to ask penetrating questions.
The Shockers have no discernible star. Their third leading scorer (Fred VanVleet) was the Missouri Valley Conference’s Player of the Year. Their fourth leading scorer (Tekele Cotton) was the MVC’s MVP of the conference tournament. Their second leading scorer (Ron Baker) was a walk on and their leading scorer (Cleanthony Early) keeps telling people it’s all about team.
They rotate three players in the post position and one of them, Chadrack Lufile told me they call each other the ‘three headed monster’ and they’re happy with the shared load.
Kentucky, well they are a collection of NBA draft picks. Power forward Julius Randle has been on the front page of the ESPN college basketball site practically every day. Seven foot Willie Cauley-Stein is projected as a high NBA pick and the Harrison twin guards are ‘can’t miss’ prospects too.
So the question is can ‘team’ and ‘chemistry’ overcome DNA and off the charts talent.
Sunday, we will find out.
VanVleet, Early and Lufile respond to questions about the talent of John Calipari’s barn-storming future pros. VanVleet says the Harrison twins are really talented. Early gushes about the ability of Randle and Lufile, says it’s one of the biggest days of his life to get to play Kentucky.
Blue bloods versus Blue Collar.
Tradition versus Upstarts
What about the size disadvantage at virtually every position? These three Shockers don’t seem to mind.
It’s all on the line Sunday in St. Louis.
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