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Many Shocker fans will watch the NCAA tournament from home. As players gear up for the big dance, some fans find themselves stranded in Wichita.
Bob Hanson with the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission wanted to take about 100 people on a chartered flight to Salt Lake City. He joined forces with the WSU Alumni Association and planned the trip. But Hanson was shocked to find out the interest was not as great as last year. "The planes are expensive and we just didn't have enough so we had to cancel it," said Hanson.
75 people got an email Tuesday morning telling them they needed to make other plans. Hanson, like many others, will watch the game from Wichita. "They told us at the ticket office that ticket sales were down a little bit and I think one thing that has to do with it is that they are Thursday, Saturday games," said Hanson.
Players hope to win game one and get more fans to Salt Lake City by the weekend. "Just make a run, a Cinderella story. I think we can hang with anybody so we've just got to show up," said Freshman player Zach Bush.
Nothing could ruin the moment for Senior Malcolm Armstead. "You dream of this as a kid, growing up in your backyard tying to shoot buzzer beaters for game winners, stuff like that. But actually being able to be a part of the NCAA tournament and not having to go and watch, being a part of it and playing in it is something I've dreamed about my whole life. So now it's here. You have the opportunity, so take advantage of it," said Armstead.
The men's basketball team left Koch Areana at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday. Eyewitness News Reporter Lauren Seabrook talks to the team tonight at 6.