Wichita State's Men's Basketball: National Championship Dreams

has wichita state ever won a mens basketball national championship

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team is the NCAA Division I college basketball program representing Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. The team has had a successful history, with 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Final Four twice, the Elite Eight four times, and the Sweet Sixteen six times. In the 2013-14 season, the team had a remarkable 35-0 start, the best men's Division I start ever, and won their first MVC tournament title since 1987. With a strong following, averaging over 10,000 fans per game, the Wichita State Shockers have become a perennial contender for the national championship. But has Wichita State ever won a men's basketball national championship?

Characteristics Values
Team Name Wichita State Shockers
University Wichita State University
University Location Wichita, Kansas
Division NCAA Division I
Number of NCAA Tournament Appearances 16
Number of Final Four Appearances 2
Number of Elite Eight Appearances 4
Number of Sweet Sixteen Appearances 6
Home Court Charles Koch Arena
Home Court Capacity 10,506
Conference Missouri Valley Conference
Number of Conference Titles 5
Number of All-Americans 3
Undefeated Seasons Yes, in 2013-14
NIT Championships 1
Consecutive Years in the NCAA Tournament 6
National Championships 0

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Wichita State Shockers' NCAA Tournament appearances

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team is the NCAA Division I college basketball program representing Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. The Shockers have enjoyed several successful seasons, making 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament, including two Final Four appearances, four Elite Eight appearances, and six Sweet Sixteen appearances.

The Shockers' first Final Four appearance came in 1965, where they lost to UCLA 89-108. Nearly 50 years later, in 2013, they made their second Final Four appearance, losing to Louisville by a score of 68-72. In the 2012-13 season, the Shockers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight, upsetting top-seeded Gonzaga and then defeating La Salle 72-58.

The 2013-14 season was historic for the Wichita State Shockers. They achieved a 35-0 start, the best men's Division I start ever at the time, and spent most of the season in the top 10 rankings. They won their first MVC tournament title since 1987 and finished with a ranking of second in both final major media polls, the highest final national ranking in school history.

In addition to their NCAA Tournament success, the Shockers have also performed well in the NIT (National Invitation Tournament). In the 2010-11 season, they won the NIT championship as a 4 seed, defeating Virginia Tech and Alabama. The following season, they improved further, winning the regular-season MVC title and earning a ranking of #14 in the coaches' poll and #15 in the AP poll.

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Wichita State's Final Four appearances

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team is the NCAA Division I college basketball program representing Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. The Shockers have made 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Final Four twice, the Elite Eight four times, and the Sweet Sixteen six times.

The Shockers made their first Final Four appearance in 1965, losing to UCLA 89–108. They made their second appearance in 2013, losing to Louisville 68–72. In the 2012–13 season, the Wichita State University Shockers, under sixth-year head coach Gregg Marshall, finished the season 30–9 and 12–6 in Missouri Valley play, finishing in second place. They advanced to the championship game of the Missouri Valley Tournament, where they lost to Creighton. In the 2013 NCAA tournament, the Shockers upset top-seeded Gonzaga to move on to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006, followed by a 72–58 win over La Salle for their first Elite Eight appearance since 1981.

The 2013–14 season proved to be historic and possibly the greatest season in Shocker history. The Shockers cracked the top 10 at #2 in the nation in both major polls, the highest ranking that late in the season in school history. They played their home games at Charles Koch Arena, which had a capacity of 10,506. They were in their 69th season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team's 35–0 start was the best men's Division I start ever, beating the 1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels, who began the season 34–0.

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Wichita State's home court advantage

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team has a strong history in the sport, with 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Final Four twice. They play their home games at Charles Koch Arena, which has a capacity of 10,506 and was inaugurated for the 2003-04 sports season. The arena was originally known as the "Roundhouse" due to its circular design, which provides excellent sightlines and close proximity to the court for fans. In 2012, the Shockers averaged 10,391 fans per game, ranking 38th nationally.

The arena was renamed in honour of Henry Levitt, a civic leader and supporter of Wichita State, and underwent a major renovation in 2002 with funding from Koch Industries. The complex is now known as the Henry Levitt Athletic Complex and includes various facilities for sports and student services.

In addition to Charles Koch Arena, the Shockers occasionally play at the Intrust Bank Arena, the second-largest indoor arena in Kansas, with 15,004 seats. While the team has a strong following and a historical home-court advantage, recent seasons have seen a dip in their performance at home, with a record of 1-5 in conference play at the time of writing.

Despite this, the Wichita State Shockers have a rich basketball history and a passionate fan base that continues to support them. The team's performance and home-court advantage have fluctuated over the years, but they remain a prominent force in college basketball.

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Wichita State's 2013-14 season performance

The 2013–14 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team had a historic season, representing Wichita State University in the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games at Charles Koch Arena, with a capacity of 10,506, and were in their 69th season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The team was led by seventh-year head coach Gregg Marshall, and they had a remarkable start to the season, going 35–0. This was the best men's Division I start ever at the time, surpassing the 1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels who started 34–0. Wichita State spent most of the season in the top 10 of both major polls, even rising to #2 in late February.

The Shockers continued their dominant run by winning their first MVC tournament title since 1987. They finished the regular season with a remarkable 31–0 record, becoming the first men's Division I team ever to achieve this feat. They were also the first team to finish 18–0 in the Missouri Valley Conference since the 1985–86 Bradley Braves. This success led to them being ranked second in both final major media polls, the highest final national ranking in school history.

However, some analysts attributed their success to a relatively easy schedule compared to previous teams that finished the regular season undefeated. Nonetheless, Wichita State's performance in the 2013-14 season was exceptional, and it will be remembered as one of the best seasons in the program's history.

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Wichita State's 1964 season performance

The 1964–65 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team represented Wichita State University in the 1964–65 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. They played their home games at the University of Wichita Field House, which was officially renamed Levitt Arena in 1969. This was their 20th season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and 59th season overall.

The 1964–65 team was led by first-year head coach Gary Thompson, who guided the Shockers to their first-ever No. 1 ranking on December 14, 1964. The team finished the season with an impressive 21–9 record, going 11–3 in Missouri Valley play to finish in first place. This earned them a bid to the 1965 NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.

During the tournament, the Shockers defeated Southern Methodist and an Oklahoma State team led by Henry Iba in the Midwest Regional. However, their journey ended in the Final Four in Portland, where they faced the defending national champion UCLA Bruins and lost by a score of 108–89. Despite falling short in the Final Four, the 1964–65 Wichita State Shockers left a lasting mark on the program's history, setting a new standard for success.

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team has a rich history, with 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Final Four twice, the Elite Eight four times, and the Sweet Sixteen on six occasions. The team has a strong following, with a high average attendance, and their home court, Charles Koch Arena, has been ranked highly for its advantage in college basketball.

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Frequently asked questions

No, Wichita State University's men's basketball team has never won a national championship. However, they have made it to the Final Four twice, the Elite Eight four times, and the Sweet Sixteen six times. They also had an undefeated regular season and an NIT championship during their seven-year run from 2011 to 2017.

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team has made 16 appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament. They are a perennial tournament contender and have a strong following, with an average of over 10,000 fans per game during the 2012-2013 season.

The Wichita State men's basketball team has had several notable achievements. They have won five conference titles, had three All-Americans, and achieved an undefeated 35-0 start to the 2013-2014 season, which was the best men's Division I start ever at the time. They also reached the Final Four in 1964 and were ranked #4 in the final Coach's Poll of the 2012-13 season.

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