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Ohio State Buckeyes coach Thad Matta, center, instructs in a huddle against the Wichita State Shockers during the second half of the finals of the West regional of the NCAA tournament at the Staples Center. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights - Wichita State shocked Ohio State and advanced to the Final Four on Saturday
- Syracuse reached the Final Four, while nemesis Georgetown is at home watching
- The Big Ten Conference had four teams in the Sweet 16 and now only one team remains
Welcome to another session of Bracket Briefing, our attempt to provide you with essential information on the Big Dance — highlighting the Florida Gulf Coasts of the college basketball world, and forecasting the Wichita State moments before they happen.
Teams left in the field: 6
Soundtrack: Before you read any further, take a listen to this morning's jam of the day, which honors the Wichita State Shockers.
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket with scores
CINDERELLA WATCH: Handing out awards
The first word: Less than a week ago, the Big Ten Conference was sitting pretty atop the college basketball world — featuring four league teams positioned in each region with a legitimate shot of reaching the Final Four. The scenario seemed unlikely, even though the conference has been strongly considered the toughest in the country based on depth and quality. But Ohio State's stunning loss to Wichita State in the West Regional left Michigan — playing in a 2:20 p.m. clash against Florida — as the only Big Ten remaining, hence putting the league in jeopardy of being shut out from the Final Four. If the Wolverines lose today, as the Buckeyes did Saturday and Michigan State and Indiana did in their Sweet 16 clashes, does that mean the Big Ten's season was a bust? Hardly. Yet with the Big East sending eight teams to the NCAAs and the potential to fit two teams in the Final Four, there's backing to the overrated conference talk that would likely spark up from those outside of Big Ten country. Sure, the league has been lamented in success, but hardly decorated with the most important hardware. The last Big Ten national title? Michigan State's 2000 team. Four teams have reached the national title game since then — Indiana (2002), Illinois (2005), Ohio State (2007), Michigan State (2009) — but they all came up short.
PREVIOUSLY: Who's the top coach in Elite Eight?
COACHES WAR: Legendary game unites Coach K, Pitino
Quote to note: "Last year, we were watching all this on television. Now I'm looking at a hat that says 'Final Four Atlanta' with my team on it. ... It feels good, and it feels even better that I could experience it with these guys who had to struggle so hard to get here." — Cleanthony Early, Wichita State.
HIGHLIGHTS: BEST ACTION FROM ELITE EIGHT 
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall celebrates cutting down the net after beating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State head coach Thad Matta reacts during the first half. Wichita State led 35-22 at the break.]()
Ohio State head coach Thad Matta reacts during the first half. Wichita State led 35-22 at the break. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Wichita State's Cleanthony Early look to get a handle on a loose ball in the first half.]()
Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Wichita State's Cleanthony Early look to get a handle on a loose ball in the first half. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall shoots over Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall shoots over Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot on Ohio State's Amir Williams in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot on Ohio State's Amir Williams in the first half. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas (1) and center Amir Williams (23) defend against Wichita State's Carl Hall in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas (1) and center Amir Williams (23) defend against Wichita State's Carl Hall in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot over Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot over Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas in the first half. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Ron Baker goes up for a layup against Ohio State's Evan Ravenel in the first half of their Elite Eight matchup in Los Angeles.]()
Wichita State's Ron Baker goes up for a layup against Ohio State's Evan Ravenel in the first half of their Elite Eight matchup in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead dribbles the ball in front of Ohio State forward Evan Ravenel (30) and Shockers forward Carl Hall (22) in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead dribbles the ball in front of Ohio State forward Evan Ravenel (30) and Shockers forward Carl Hall (22) in the first half. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas shoots against Wichita State's Ehimen Orukpe in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas shoots against Wichita State's Ehimen Orukpe in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Tekele Cotton (32) and Ohio State's Aaron Craft go after a loose ball in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Tekele Cotton (32) and Ohio State's Aaron Craft go after a loose ball in the first half. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Amir Williams gets the opening tipoff against Wichita State's Cleanthony Early to start the West Regional final in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Amir Williams gets the opening tipoff against Wichita State's Cleanthony Early to start the West Regional final in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim cuts down the net after the Orange defeated Marquette 55-39 to win the East Regional and advance to the program's first Final Four since 2003.]()
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim cuts down the net after the Orange defeated Marquette 55-39 to win the East Regional and advance to the program's first Final Four since 2003. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse's C.J. Fair celebrates with teammates after defeating Marquette 55-39 in Washington to advance to the Final Four.]()
Syracuse's C.J. Fair celebrates with teammates after defeating Marquette 55-39 in Washington to advance to the Final Four. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas celebrates with fans after defeating Marquette in the East Regional final.]()
Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas celebrates with fans after defeating Marquette in the East Regional final. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse players hold up the East Regional trophy after defeating Marquette 55-39 at the Verizon Center in Washington.]()
Syracuse players hold up the East Regional trophy after defeating Marquette 55-39 at the Verizon Center in Washington. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Jim Boeheim holds the East Regional trophy after the 55-39 win over Marquette.]()
Jim Boeheim holds the East Regional trophy after the 55-39 win over Marquette. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse's C.J. Fair, left, celebrates with Michael Carter-Williams after topping Marquette 55-39 in the Elite Eight, earning a trip to the Final Four.]()
Syracuse's C.J. Fair, left, celebrates with Michael Carter-Williams after topping Marquette 55-39 in the Elite Eight, earning a trip to the Final Four. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse players celebrate after beating Marquette 55-39 in the East Regional final in Washington to earn the program's first Final Four berth since 2003.]()
Syracuse players celebrate after beating Marquette 55-39 in the East Regional final in Washington to earn the program's first Final Four berth since 2003. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional final (Washington): Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams (1) and forward James Southerland (back) celebrate in the final seconds of the Orange's 55-39 win.]()
East Regional final (Washington): Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams (1) and forward James Southerland (back) celebrate in the final seconds of the Orange's 55-39 win.
Ohio State Buckeyes coach Thad Matta, center, instructs in a huddle against the Wichita State Shockers during the second half of the finals of the West regional of the NCAA tournament at the Staples Center. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports) Welcome to another session of Bracket Briefing, our attempt to provide you with essential information on the Big Dance — highlighting the Florida Gulf Coasts of the college basketball world, and forecasting the Wichita State moments before they happen. Teams left in the field: 6 Soundtrack: Before you read any further, take a listen to this morning's jam of the day, which honors the Wichita State Shockers. NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket with scores CINDERELLA WATCH: Handing out awards The first word: Less than a week ago, the Big Ten Conference was sitting pretty atop the college basketball world — featuring four league teams positioned in each region with a legitimate shot of reaching the Final Four. The scenario seemed unlikely, even though the conference has been strongly considered the toughest in the country based on depth and quality. But Ohio State's stunning loss to Wichita State in the West Regional left Michigan — playing in a 2:20 p.m. clash against Florida — as the only Big Ten remaining, hence putting the league in jeopardy of being shut out from the Final Four. If the Wolverines lose today, as the Buckeyes did Saturday and Michigan State and Indiana did in their Sweet 16 clashes, does that mean the Big Ten's season was a bust? Hardly. Yet with the Big East sending eight teams to the NCAAs and the potential to fit two teams in the Final Four, there's backing to the overrated conference talk that would likely spark up from those outside of Big Ten country. Sure, the league has been lamented in success, but hardly decorated with the most important hardware. The last Big Ten national title? Michigan State's 2000 team. Four teams have reached the national title game since then — Indiana (2002), Illinois (2005), Ohio State (2007), Michigan State (2009) — but they all came up short. PREVIOUSLY: Who's the top coach in Elite Eight? COACHES WAR: Legendary game unites Coach K, Pitino Quote to note: "Last year, we were watching all this on television. Now I'm looking at a hat that says 'Final Four Atlanta' with my team on it. ... It feels good, and it feels even better that I could experience it with these guys who had to struggle so hard to get here." — Cleanthony Early, Wichita State. HIGHLIGHTS: BEST ACTION FROM ELITE EIGHT Story Highlights
