2010 Missouri Valley Conference Basketball

Wichita State vs Evansville Basketball Recap

Evansville 65, Wichita State 62

The nickname for Evansville University sports teams is the Purple Aces. On a stunning Tuesday night, the Wichita State Shockers must have been purple-faced as they played a losing hand and got kicked out of basketball's most exclusive poker table... at least for the next month.

Wichita State can still get back to this poker table, which is otherwise known as the NCAA Tournament. Much as James Bond always managed to find his way to the center of the action at a casino, Coach Gregg Marshall's crew from the state of Kansas can work its way back to the Big Dance. However, after this stomach-churning three-point setback in Evansville, Ind., there's only one way the Shockers can join the field of 65: by winning the 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, otherwise known as Arch Madness.

It's that simple, and yet, it's that painful as well for Wichita.

The truth is far less comforting than a future hope or promise that could very well go unfulfilled. Yet, the truth is the only thing a team should consider in a moment such as this one: Simply stated, Wichita State will not be an at-large team in the Big Dance.

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There's just no way the Shockers can make the NCAAs without winning the conference tournament.

Not after becoming the first Missouri Valley team to lose to Evansville this season.

Not after bowing to an opponent whose RPI was almost 300.

Not after coming back to the rest of the pack in the Valley, behind the league leaders from Northern Iowa.

Not after dropping a fifth conference game in 2010.

Not after scoring just 20 first-half points against the Purple Aces, led by head coach Marty Simmons.

It's going to be the longest of bus rides from Indiana back to Wichita for the shaken Shockers.

As for Evansville? Time to throw a party inside Roberts Stadium. A lot of cards will be played, and Purple Aces will be part of the deck for a team that will not go winless in Missouri Valley competition this season.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Staff Writer