Before this week began, Wichita State walked around with the swagger of a confident, championship bound team. That was before Colt Ryan scored 29 points in a loss Wednesday night.
Evansville dropped the Shockers from a grabbing no worse than a share of their second straight Missouri Valley Conference regular season title to wondering what's next.
That loss sets up a winner take all showdown with Creighton in Omaha, Saturday at 1 p.m. A win for Wichita State and they take the regular season title. A loss gives it to Creighton and puts the Shockers at-large chances for the NCAA tournament in question.
Many analysts have them in but as a very low seed, some even have them on the bubble hoping for something good over the next two weeks.
Creighton holds the all time record with the Shockers and are 17-2 since 1993 but Saturday gives Wichita State a chance for back to back wins in Omaha. It's also a chance for WSU to sweep the Bluejays in a season.
"It was a very nice feeling walking out of there last time," said Gregg Marshall. "It's going to be difficult - but every road game is. There is pressure on both teams and somebody is gonna win and somebody is gonna lose."
They outlasted and out-toughed Creighton at the Roundhouse back on January 19th in a game for the ages. Wichita State will need that same effort on the road.Carl Hall registered a double double at Koch Arena last time, joined by 15 points from Malcolm Armstead and 13 from Cleanthony Early.
WSU will be battered from Wednesday's loss but not debilitated. If Colt Ryan scored 25 points, Shockers have their share and momentum going on the road.
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When Wichita State beat Creighton on January 19th, it looked another great installment in the rivalry between both schools.
This Saturday in Omaha, it could be the final meeting in Missouri Valley play ever.
With the formation of the Catholic-7 league, Creighton could be wooed away from the MVC to the new league for more money and arguably better opponents.
Gregg Marshall, his Shocker team and Wichita State fans would argue with that.
Many insiders say Creighton is out the door but if they go, they will have to pay up. MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin told Eyewitness Sports this week that if they leave this year, Creighton will forfeit all financial distributions from 2012-13.
So even more than the final MVC game between the two storied schools, there is a lot on the line.
