Wichita St. @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 20, 2015 ) Indiana 76, Wichita St. 81

Sixth-seeded Wichita State will look to become the first team in the NIT’s 82-year history to defeat the top three seeds during regional play when it visits top-seeded Indiana in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Shockers were 1-6 during American Athletic Conference play after a loss to Connecticut on Jan. 26, but they’ve won 13 of 16 since after eliminating third-seeded Furman and second-seeded Clemson in the first two rounds of the NIT.

“If you would have told me in January we would have won five games on the road and it would be March 24th and we would still be playing in the NIT with a chance to go to Madison Square Garden,” Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall told reporters after a 63-55 victory over Clemson Sunday. “I would have bet you anything in the world that it’s not going to happen.” Guard Dexter Dennis finished with nine points and 11 rebounds Sunday, but it was his defense on Clemson guard Marcquise Reed that made the biggest impact as the freshman held the ACC’s third-leading scorer to a 5-for-20 shooting performance while the Tigers shot 28.3 percent from the floor - the lowest by a Shockers’ opponent this season. Indiana has become accustomed to playing in tight contests as nine of its last 13 games have been decided in the final minute and Saturday’s second-round match against Arkansas was no different as the Hoosiers hung on for a 63-60 victory behind team-highs of 18 points, 11 rebounds and three steals from Devonte Green. “He’s making a lot of plays. He’s shooting the ball extremely well, with great confidence,” Indiana coach Archie Miller told reporters regarding his junior guard. “I think we’ve won six out of seven, and we probably don’t win any of them without Devonte’s ability on both ends of the floor, and I give him credit.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT WICHITA STATE (21-14): Center Jaime Echenique has saved his best basketball of the season for the NIT’s first two rounds as the junior has combined to score 34 points on 15-for-18 shooting while tying career-highs on Sunday with three steals and two 3-pointers. Senior Samajae Haynes-Jones had a crucial turnover late in Sunday’s contest - one of seven the Shockers committed over the final seven minutes - but hit a clutch 3-pointer to make it a two possession game with under a minute left and finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Markis McDuffie is averaging 18 points during two NIT games, which is on par with his team-leading season average of 18.3.

ABOUT INDIANA (19-15): The Hoosiers may be without leading scorer Romeo Langford (16.5 points per game), as the freshman has yet to play in the NIT after sustaining a back injury against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament. Senior Juwan Morgan registered 15 points with seven boards Saturday and is the squad’s only other double-figure scorer (15.4) as well as its leading rebounder (8.3). Junior De’Ron Davis had his highest scoring performance off the bench since netting 12 points on Feb. 2 against Michigan State as the 6-10 forward scored 10 points in 21 minutes Saturday.

TIP-INS

1. The winner will face either Lipscomb or North Carolina State in the semifinals on April 2 at Madison Square Garden.

2. McDuffie has already attempted more 3-pointers in a single season then any Shockers player before him (228) and is fourth in makes (79) - closely trailing former teammates Ron Baker (80) and Landry Shamet (84).

3. This will be Wichita State’s first ever visit to Bloomington, Ind. and the first time these programs have met since the seventh-seeded Shockers eliminated the 10th-seeded Hoosiers from the NCAA Tournament in 2015.

PREDICTION: Wichita State 79, Indiana 75