Wichita State basketball: Shockers secure sixth straight NCCA Tournament bid

The Wichita State basketball team rolled through the Arch Madness Tournament in dominant fashion with a championship victory over the Illinois State Redbirds.

In an early defensive battle, the Shockers were able to capitalize on a rough shooting performance from the Redbirds. Wichita State took control of the game early and also forced several Redbirds into foul trouble. Three Redbirds fouled out which resulted in the Shockers taking 37 free throws. They shot 70 percent from the line, making 26 total.

Illinois State won eight in a row and entered the tournament as the no. 1 seed, but Wichita State was still favored to come out victorious. The Shockers entered the MVC Tournament as the no. 2 seed after winning 12 straight to close the season. Both teams were co-champions in the regular season.

The Shockers rolled through the tournament by winning each game by an average of 20 points. Conner Frankamp was a huge reason for Wichita State’s success, making 11 three-pointers throughout the tournament. a game high 19 points.

Additionally, he was on fire from deep again and went 3-for-6 from three-point range resulting in a game-high 19 points. Markus McDuffie and Landry Shamet scored in double figures as well for the Shockers.

Paris Lee was named the MVC Larry Bird player of the year but did not get a lot of help from his teammates. While he did everything he could to keep the Redbirds competitive the team did not get any shots to fall. They shot just 29 percent from the floor and 21 percent from three-point range.

Next: 5 most underrated players in college basketball

With the win, it gives the Shockers a 30-win season for the fifth time in school history. It’s the fourth time under Head Coach Gregg Marshall in the last five years. As a result of the loss, Illinois State will have to wait to see what its at-large fate will be.