麻豆传媒

The following is a column by Shelby Reynolds, a student assistant in 麻豆传媒's Strategic Communications office and managing editor of The Sunflower, 麻豆传媒's student-run newspaper. 

It鈥檚 been a week since the heartbreaking loss to Illinois State.

Since then, fans are impatiently awaiting Selection Sunday to find out what seed the Shockers will get and where they鈥檒l travel in the NCAA men鈥檚 basketball tournament. Most are crossing their fingers for an appearance in Omaha, Neb., rather than Jacksonville or Columbus.

And after witnessing Shocker Nation in St. Louis, Mo., last weekend, now I see why.

It was the first time I鈥檝e traveled with the team, and I was astounded by the amount of black and yellow I saw on the streets of St. Louis and in the stands of the Scottrade Center.

Fans came from far and wide to see their team compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Tournament. And our Shocker faithful made one heck of an appearance.

Everywhere I went in St. Louis 鈥� restaurants, airports, street corners, the Arch 鈥� I was guaranteed to come across dozens of Shocker fans. There was an excited frenzy on the streets and on the concourse of Scottrade. But besides the dedication, they鈥檙e also just genuine, friendly people.

There鈥檚 a sense of camaraderie among Shocker Nation that I鈥檓 convinced doesn鈥檛 exist anywhere else (yeah, maybe I鈥檓 a little biased). Wichita State fans are cut from the same cloth -- tireless, blue-collar, authentic folks who work hard to succeed and look out for one another.  It鈥檚 in our DNA.

And Gregg Marshall鈥檚 team reflects that mentality. Our guys on the court are diligent, don鈥檛 take 鈥渘o鈥� for an answer and have a passion for victory. 

They 鈥淧lay Angry,鈥� and our fans 鈥淐heer Angry.鈥�

Perhaps that鈥檚 why last week鈥檚 loss was so heartbreaking. As Shocker fans, we identify with the players we travel miles for, take off work for and cheer on until the final buzzer. 

The team鈥檚 losses are the fans鈥� losses. The team鈥檚 victories are the fans鈥� victories.

Come Sunday, Shocker Nation will make travel plans for the tournament, no matter the location. I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檒l make it to cheer on the team (as a cash-strapped student, I鈥檓 hoping for Omaha). But whether it鈥檚 Florida, Ohio, Thailand or Mars, I know a large number of fans wouldn鈥檛 miss it for the world.

Go ahead, NCAA, seed us far from home. We鈥檒l show up. You can鈥檛 take away that home-court feel. Even then, our guys know we鈥檒l be cheering with just as much passion from our couches at home.

Cheer Angry, folks, and thanks for a great time in St. Louis.

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麻豆传媒 learns it's seeding and matchup in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament during The Selection Show, airing at 5 p.m., Sunday, March 5 on CBS.