Bracket Briefing: Wichita State's 'shock' factor highlights Wild West Regional

USA TODAY Sports provides your March Madness therapy

Wichita State Shockers forward Carl Hall (22), guard Malcolm Armstead (2) and guard Fred Van Vleet (23) hug each other near the end of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at EnergySolutions Arena. Witchita State won the game 76-70. (Photo: Steve Dykes, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights
  • Wichita State's upset victory over Gonzaga was the biggest highlight of Saturday night
  • Butler and Marquette delivered one of the best games of the tournament
  • Eight more games tip off on Sunday afternoon to determine the Sweet 16 field

    Welcome to another session of Bracket Briefing, an attempt to provide you with essential information on the Big Dance — highlighting the Florida Gulf Coasts and Harvards of the college basketball world, and forecasting the Ali Farokhmanesh and Steph Curry moments before they happen.

    Teams left: 24

    NCAA TOURNAMENT: Update bracket

    TV SCHEDULE: Sunday's Big Dance games

    Soundtrack: Before you read any further, take a listen to this morning's jam of the day. In case you're a little more old school, here's something to rock to.

    Wild, Wild West: The No. 1 (Gonzaga), No. 3 (New Mexico), No. 4 (Kansas State), No. 5 (Wisconsin) and No. 7 (Notre Dame) seeds have all fallen in the West regional. That leaves No. 12 Ole Miss/La Salle vs. No. 9 Wichita State and No. 6 Arizona vs. today's winner of Iowa State-Ohio State. If the NCAA committee seeded these teams in the same region on purpose to expose them, we all should send its members a thank-you card for making our March so much madder in the West.

    Daily winner: Wichita State Shockers. Gregg Marshall's group pulled off the third biggest shocker of the NCAA tournament (ahem, Harvard, Florida Gulf Coast) by beating Gonzaga, the first No. 1 seed to fall in this year's tournament. Not to mention, their dance moves are quite remarkable. The Shockers advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006, the year the Missouri Valley sent four bids (should have been five, too). Creighton, the Valley's other bid, gets a stab at punching two Valley tickets to the Sweet 16

    "This is a wonderful moment for our program and our city," Marshall said after the game in a TV interview. "This is the epitome of a team, they don't care about individual stats."

    In case you didn't know, Marshall and the Shockers are going to L.A. So could Marshall Henderson. Yikes.

    ***

    Daily loser: The Stockton family. John's son had a rough game for the Zags. His facial expression says it all.

    Surviving the upset again: Butler and Marquette delivered one of the best games of the tournament Saturday night with a 74-72 thriller with the final decision going to Buzz Williams' squad. This came after Marquette barely snuck away with a second-round victory over Davidson. The David-turned-Goliath Butler simply ran out of miracles against Marquette. Rotnei Clarke's buzzer-beater had given the Bulldogs a November victory over the Golden Eagles, but this one ended with a stumbling three-pointer from big man Andrew Smith that caused Brad Stevens to strike this pose:

    Buzzer-beating revenge is never fun.

    HIGHLIGHTS: 8 OF 16 SWEET SIXTEEN TEAMS

    Marquette Golden Eagles (25-4, 14-4 Big East): Beat Davidson and Butler in second, third round.
    Marquette Golden Eagles (25-4, 14-4 Big East): Beat Davidson and Butler in second, third round.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports
    Related story Fullscreen
    Michigan State Spartans (27-8, 13-5 Big Ten): Beat Valparaiso and Memphis in second, third round.
    Michigan State Spartans (27-8, 13-5 Big Ten): Beat Valparaiso and Memphis in second, third round.  Paul Sancya, AP
    Related story Fullscreen
    Michigan Wolverines (28-7, 12-6 Big Ten): Beat South Dakota State and South Dakota State in second, third rounds.
    Michigan Wolverines (28-7, 12-6 Big Ten): Beat South Dakota State and South Dakota State in second, third rounds.  Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
    Related story Fullscreen
    Louisville Cardinals (31-5, 13-4): Beat North Carolina A&T and Colorado State in second, third rounds.
    Louisville Cardinals (31-5, 13-4): Beat North Carolina A&T and Colorado State in second, third rounds.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports
    Related story Fullscreen
    Arizona Wildcats (27-7, 12-6): Beat Belmont and Harvard in second, third rounds.
    Arizona Wildcats (27-7, 12-6): Beat Belmont and Harvard in second, third rounds.  Steve Dykes, USA TODAY Sports
    Related story Fullscreen
    Oregon Ducks (28-8, 12-6, Pac-12): Beat Oklahoma State and Saint Louis in second, third rounds.
    Oregon Ducks (28-8, 12-6, Pac-12): Beat Oklahoma State and Saint Louis in second, third rounds.  Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
    Related story Fullscreen

    Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: