Notre Dame
vs.
Wichita State
Sweet 16
Pick – Analysis
3/26/15
This wasn’t the matchup Notre Dame expected after an overtime win over Butler, but it won’t be any easier for them. Wichita State outmuscled a bigger Kansas team on Sunday en route to a 13-point upset win.
The Irish have had two extremely physical matchups to open the Tournament, yet still prevailed in the face of adversity. Unfortunately, this Game won’t be any less physical. The Shockers got the matchup with the Jayhawks they’d been pining for, for years, and really took it to them.
Wichita State is going to be the experienced underdog that lost in the Round of 32 as a 1-seed last season, while Notre Dame is going to have the story on its side after head coach Mike Brey’s mother passed away before the last Game.
The matchup favors Notre Dame in this Game as the two are fairly similar in build and what they do. The difference being UND has one of the most efficient offenses in the country and WSU plays a little tougher on the defensive end. This should still be higher scoring than the previous Games Notre Dame has had in the Tournament. And for the first time for the Irish, the other team won’t have a size advantage against them.
There will be all kinds of great matchups to watch in this Game, mainly at the guard spot. Fred VanVleet and Demetrius Jackson will get each other. VanVleet probably has the advantage, but it is only slight, and that’s only because he means more to his team than Jackson does. Ron Baker will probably mark up on Jerian Grant, but that could easily change throughout the Game. As seen in the Kansas Game, this Shocker team is not going to back down no matter the situation. They didn’t have to go against a guy like Grant on the Jayhawks, though.
Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant is one of the best isolation players in the country as he can create for himself, whether going to the hoop or pulling up for a shot. Zach Auguste gets the edge down low for the Irish against Darius Carter and whoever else, but it won’t be easy. The Shockers really held their ground in the paint and on the boards against a much bigger Kansas team in their last win. Notre Dame isn’t a great rebounding team in the first place, so that could be an advantage.
Neither team will expect much from their benches, only for breathers and it would be a surprise if these teams got into foul trouble with the way they play. Wichita State can spread the floor with Four guys outside of Carter and that really hurt the Jayhawks as they hit 10 three-pointers in that win. Notre Dame’s similar build will make that harder though, as they also have Four guys that can shoot and defend on the perimeter.
This Game might come down to what role players are hitting their shots. Steve Vasturia (20 points) and Evan Wessel (12 points) were extremely vital to their teams in Round of 32 wins. Tekele Cotton and Pat Connaughton are also guys that play important roles.
The Shockers are a hard-nosed, experienced squad that is hungry to continue in the Tournament. The Irish will be playing for their coach and have the better offense. If Notre Dame holds strong on the boards and contests open shots, they’ll have the edge with the best player on the cOurt, Jerian Grant. Then again, will the Irish be able to stop VanVleet?