Instate foes collide in Midwest Region

Mar 22, 2015 - 2:25 PM Omaha, NE (SportsNetwork.com) - A state will be divided on Sunday, as second- seeded Kansas takes on fellow Sunflower State powerhouse, seventh-seeded Wichita State in a Midwest Regional showdown at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

The winner of this game will move into next week's Sweet 16 against Notre Dame.

The Jayhawks picked up their 11th straight Big 12 regular-season crown this year, but failed to make a clean sweep in the league when they fell to Iowa State (70-66) in the Big 12 Tournament title game. It didn't take long for Bill Self's squad to get back in the win column though, as the Jayhawks made light work of New Mexico State to open up its NCAA Tournament on Friday, 75-56. Kansas is participating in its 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament and 44th overall. The Jayhawks are now 97-42 in the event all-time, with three national titles in 1952, 1988 and 2008.

The Shockers have long lived in the shadows in their home state, with Kansas seizing most of the spotlight. However, the Missouri Valley Conference regular season champs are not to be taken lightly. Gregg Marshall's squad enters this contest with 29 victories on the year after knocking off Indiana in a shootout on Friday, 81-76. The win improved the Shockers' tournament record to 14-12 in 12 appearances in the Big Dance.

Despite residing in the same state and pulling from the same geographical recruiting area, this is just the 15th meeting between these two teams all- time and first in 22 years (1993). Kansas has won five straight matchups and holds a 12-2 series lead.

A patient team at the offensive end of the floor, Wichita State is much more comfortable playing its stifling brand of defense to impose its will at that end of the floor. It has been a highly successful approach this year, as the Shockers hold foes to just 56.4 (top-10 nationally) on .398 shooting from the floor. The team also holds an impressive +4.0 turnover margin. Three of the five starters average double figures for WSU, starting with junior guard Ron Baker's 15.0 ppg. Fellow junior Fred VanVleet does a little bit of everything, netting 12.7 ppg, while leading the team in assists (174) and steals (60). Senior forward Darius Carter adds 11.1 ppg to round out the trio.

The Shockers got a career-high tying 27 points from VanVleet that fueled their 81-point effort against Indiana on Friday. VanVleet was 9-of-18 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line in the win. Baker poured in 15 points in support, while Zach Brown came off the bench to tally 11. The game was really decided inside and at the free-throw line. The Shockers outscored the Hoosiers 44-24 in the paint and knocked down 29-of-34 charity tosses.

The Jayhawks haven't put up gaudy offensive numbers this season, but rather have utilized a number of contributors to distance themselves in most games. That was definitely the case against New Mexico State. Kansas shot the ball well at a .540 clip, but only Frank Mason III netted double figures, finishing with 17 points. Nine other players scored in the game for Kansas, as Perry Ellis chipped in nine points, followed closely by four others with eight points each.

On the season, Kansas is averaging a modest 71.3 ppg on .442 shooting. Defensively, the team is yielding just 64.4 ppg and holding opponents under 40 percent shooting (.394). Ellis, an All-Big 12 First-Team member, leads in both scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg). Mason is next in the scoring column and the only other Jayhawk in double figures with 12.5 ppg. Wayne Selden Jr. (9.7 ppg) Kelly Oubre Jr. (9.3 ppg) are just under that mark.