-/rv WICHITA STATE (6-0) vs. -/rv WEST VIRGINIA (5-0)
CANCUN CHALLENGE | RIVIERA BRACKET FINAL
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27, 2019 | 7:30 P.M. CT (8:30 P.M. ET)
CANCUN, MEXICO | HARD ROCK HOTEL RIVIERA MAYA
TV: CBS SPORTS NETWORK (CBS All-Access)
RADIO: KEYN 103.7 FM (GoShockers.com/Listen)
SERIES: FIRST MEETING
 
Two of the nation's 34 remaining unbeatens go head-to-head for the Cancun Challenge title when the Wichita State Shockers (6-0) take on the West Virginia Mountaineers (5-0) on Wednesday evening.
 
The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network with the team of Brett Dolan and Pete Gillen.
 
Mike Kennedy and Bob Hull describe the action on Shocker Radio. Fans can tune in locally on KEYN 103.7 FM or stream the Shockers from anywhere in the world at goshockers.com/Listen.
 
Go behind the scenes throughout the week by following @GoShockersMBB on twitter and Instagram.
 
For more information on the 2019 Cancun Challenge visit the tournament's website: CancunChallenge.Net
 

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OPENING TIPS:

• The Shockers defeated South Carolina, 70-47, in Tuesday's semifinal round. Erik Stevenson scored all 19 of his points in the first half to help WSU to a 41-22 lead at the break. The Shockers forced 19 turnovers and held the Gamecocks to 32.1% shooting from the field.
• This is the first ever meeting between WSU and WVU.
• WSU is looking to become the first two-time champion in the Cancun Challenge's 12-year history. The Shockers won the 2012 title, defeating DePaul (75-62) and Iowa (75-63). Four months later, they reached the Final Four.
• Wichita State is 6-0 for the first time since its historic 35-0 start to the 2013-14 season and for just the 12th time in school history.
• Tuesday's win jumped the Shockers to No. 11 in KenPom's defensive efficiency rankings. Opponents are shooting just 38.1% from inside the arc (8th nationally).
• This is WSU's fifth regular season tournament final under Gregg Marshall (2007-Pr.). In addition to the 2012 Cancun title, the Shockers won the 2013 CBE Classic in Kansas City and were runners-up a the 2014 Diamond Head Classic and 2017 Maui Invitational.
• WSU has not allowed more than 63 points in a game this year and has held all six of its opponents under 40% from the field.
• Seven Shockers are averaging at least 7.0 points-per-game. 10 Shockers are playing 10+ minutes-per-game.
• WSU opened the 2018-19 season 8-11 but has since won 20 of its last 24 games.
• The head coaches -- Gregg Marshall (507) and Bob Huggins (864) -- have combined for 1,371 victories. Just 10 active coaches (including Marshall and Huggins) have over 500 wins and a .700+ percentage.
• Marshall is 7-5 against Big 12 competition at WSU with wins in seven of the last 10 encounters. The Shockers travel to Oklahoma State (Dec. 8) and host Oklahoma (Dec. 14) next month.

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CANCUN CAPSULE:

• WSU won its only other appearance in the Cancun Challenge in November, 2012. That year the Shockers defeated Western Carolina (79-63) and Howard (69-50) in campus games, then took care of Depaul (75-62) and Iowa (75-63). The title was WSU's first outside of Wichita in a regular season tournament since winning the 1963 All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City.
• Four months after winning the 2012 Cancun Challenge, ninth-seeded Wichita State made its run to the 2013 Final Four, defeating Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, La Salle and Ohio State along the way. Malcolm Armstead (a member of the all-tournament team in Cancun) was the West Regional MVP.
• WSU's championship roster in Cancun featured three future NBA players: Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet and tournament MVP Cleanthony Early.
• Six of the last seven Cancun Challenge champions have gone on to make the NCAA tournament: Bradley (2018), Purdue (2016), Maryland (2015), UNI (2014), Wisconsin (2013) and Wichita State (2012).

 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS:

• WSU and West Virginia have never met but came close on a couple of recent occasions during the NCAA tournament. Both teams lost 2015 Sweet 16 games in Cleveland (WSU to Notre Dame and WVU to undefeated Kentucky). The 2018 bracket called for a second round matchup between No. 4 seed WSU and No. 5 WVU in San Diego, but the Shockers were upset by No. 13 Marshall University.
• Both sides rank among the national leaders in rebound margin and field goal percentage defense.
• West Virginia was picked fifth out of 10 teams in the Big 12 preseason poll, released back in October. 6-foot-9 forward Oscar Tshiebwe was named preseason freshman of the year, and Derek Culver was honorable mention all-conference.
• The Mountaineers (15-21) accepted a 2019 CBI bid and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2018-19. It was the school's 15th postseason appearance in 16 years.

 

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A SHOCKER WIN WOULD…
… Give them their first in-season tournament title since 2013 when they won the four-team CBE Classic in Kansas City.
… Make them the first repeat champion in Cancun Challenge history (2008-Pr.).
… Make them 7-0 for the first time since their historic 35-0 start in 2013-14.
… Make them 7-0 for only the 11^th time in school history (third time under Marshall).
… Give them 11-consecutive regular season wins going back to Feb. 28.
… Make WSU 4-0 all-time in Cancun Challenge games (8-0 including preliminary games).
… Give them four-straight wins against "Power 5" schools.
… Make Marshall 8-5 vs. the Big 12 with wins in eight of his last 11 encounters.
 
A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD…
… Snap a six-game winning streak and saddle them with their first loss of the 2019-20 season.
… End a 10-game regular season winning streak going back to Feb. 28.
… Be their first Cancun Challenge setback (7-1 including prelims).
… Give WVU a 1-0 lead in the all-time series.
… Be less good than a win.
 
UP NEXT:
The Shockers won't see action for another eight days. They play host to Central Arkansas next Thursday, Dec. 5 at Charles Koch Arena. The 7:05 p.m. CT tip airs locally on YurView Kansas with streaming available in all 50 stats at YurView.com/Kansas.