Shockers in Cancun Challenge for 2012

[DistrictBaller]

VCU is going to be in the Battle 4 Atlantis this year. It's absolutely STACKED.

Hope we can get some Shockers watching to root us on in taking down some blue-bloods! It helps the Shocker RPI for VCU to do well in this!

[kcshocker11]

I've stayed at Atlantis-got the Tee Shirt. Great place 4 a tourney

[45otseoj]

I went last year with Illinois State. If you have any questions, let 'em rip!

[EB 22]

It's too bad the travel packages aren't even that good of a deal. I've been to cheaper and possibly nicer all-inclusive resorts.

[Kung Wu]

Hope we can get some Shockers watching to root us on in taking down some blue-bloods! It helps the Shocker RPI for VCU to do well in this!

I'll root 'em on, but I want to see a proper handshake after the match from ol' Short Shake Shaka.

[DistrictBaller]

I'll root 'em on, but I want to see a proper handshake after the match from ol' Short Shake Shaka.

LOL! Don't let a handshake eat you up! I'm sure Gregg doesn't. FWIW Shaka doesn't care much for Gregg, but it makes no difference in the grand scheme of things. There is a lot of respect for Wichita State's program and I've heard him say so. He really respects the fan base and passion you all display. He mentioned that you guys are a 'mid-major' with high-major resources.

I hope some of you Shocker fans are able to make it to Richmond for the game. It should be a doozy!

[_kai_]

LOL! Don't let a handshake eat you up! I'm sure Gregg doesn't. FWIW Shaka doesn't care much for Gregg, but it makes no difference in the grand scheme of things. There is a lot of respect for Wichita State's program and I've heard him say so. He really respects the fan base and passion you all display. He mentioned that you guys are a 'mid-major' with high-major resources.

I hope some of you Shocker fans are able to make it to Richmond for the game. It should be a doozy!

I think that makes us a major program in a mid major league, but that's just my 2 cents.

[DistrictBaller]

I think that makes us a major program in a mid major league, but that's just my 2 cents.

No doubt, I think the resources, salary, fan base are all major. Meaningful national success needs to follow for more casual basketball-fans to probably give a team in a mid-major league the benefit of the doubt.

Creighton fits the description the best in the MVC, but Wichita State is poised to be right there with them with some NCAA success.

If not for the ridiculous distance I would have been a big fan of Creighton and/or Wichita State joining the Atlantic10. It seems like Creighton actually had some informal discussions but still being that far out of the conference footprint is tough. I think the A10 easily becomes the best non-BCS basketball conference in the country now with Butler and VCU joining the ranks, and I think a school like Wichita State being closer to the east coast would have been an absolute shoo-in to join as well.

I've always respected your fans and school and I think VCU fans will always remember Wichita State for what our games against you guys in 2011 and 2012 meant for our program. I look forward to welcoming you guys this fall and while I'm not sure that we'll ever see our schools match up as long as Shaka and Gregg are coaching at each school after this is over, you'll always have my respect and well-wishes.

[_kai_]

No doubt, I think the resources, salary, fan base are all major. Meaningful national success needs to follow for more casual basketball-fans to probably give a team in a mid-major league the benefit of the doubt.

Creighton fits the description the best in the MVC, but Wichita State is poised to be right there with them with some NCAA success.

If not for the ridiculous distance I would have been a big fan of Creighton and/or Wichita State joining the Atlantic10. It seems like Creighton actually had some informal discussions but still being that far out of the conference footprint is tough. I think the A10 easily becomes the best non-BCS basketball conference in the country now with Butler and VCU joining the ranks, and I think a school like Wichita State being closer to the east coast would have been an absolute shoo-in to join as well.

I've always respected your fans and school and I think VCU fans will always remember Wichita State for what our games against you guys in 2011 and 2012 meant for our program. I look forward to welcoming you guys this fall and while I'm not sure that we'll ever see our schools match up as long as Shaka and Gregg are coaching at each school after this is over, you'll always have my respect and well-wishes.

We have a very similar basketball history with VCU now that we did with Mason back in 05,06,07. Sadly for us, it was more of the same noise. Disappointment on our end. I'm looking forward to the return game this year.

[DistrictBaller]

As are we. Being fans we all obsess over seemingly minute things that mean nothing in the long run and develop animosity which fuels the passion that makes college basketball so awesome. For Wichita St. fans it's Shaka's short handshake, for VCU fans the Carl Hall recruitment where up until the signing day itself he was nationally reported to be committed to VCU and our coaches were waiting for his LOI and he signed with Wichita St. Not a huge deal in the long run, but much like something as trivial as a handshake, fans remember that stuff and file it away for later.

It should be as electric an atmosphere as we'll have next year. We've sold out a school-record 18 consecutive home games and that doesn't look like it's going to end anytime soon. It's going to be a great environment against some great competition. I humbly think we're right up there with Koch arena as far as the atmosphere. It's an absolute hornet's nest and had the best atmosphere for college hoops in the CAA. VCU should be a top 25 team and Gregg Marshall has absolutely reloaded and while they won't be as respected nationally as they were last year early on, I suspect they will be making a lot of noise once the newcomers start to settle in.

[SubGod22]

I'm not sure how respected we were nationally early on last year anyway. It was all about Creighton and it wasn't until later in the season that we started to get our much deserved recognition. I think this year will probably play out just about the same.

[DistrictBaller]

I agree. With Doug McDermott being a national player of the year candidate this past year and likely this upcoming year, all eyes will be on them. Wichita State loses a whole lot of talent so they'll be under the radar. I actually know Nick Wiggins from his high school days playing in the same high school region in Toronto. The kid is a stud. You'll love him. Fred Van Fleet is a guy that is on some top 100 lists and we all know that Marshall can flat out recruit. I would not be surprised to see your season trend much like last year's.

Hopefully the losing to VCU can continue as well ;). We lose Brad Burgess from last year's team and return everyone else and bring in a decent recruiting class including Burgess' little brother Jordan who is a consensus ESPN/Rivals/Scout 4-star recruit. We'll be pretty battle-tested early on as we're going on one of those preseason overseas trips that will give us 10 extra days of practice. I believe the game is scheduled for November 13th which is really early, so hopefully our summer experience will give us a leg up and you guys will still be getting your young guys acclimated to D1 ball. It doesn't hurt that we're at home either. We usually win there as we have the 11th highest home winning percentage in the country at 85.79%, two spots behind Kansas and 2 spots ahead of Creighton: http://www.rpiratings.com/homecourtrec.php

I hope ESPN picks up the game! It would be great to showcase a NCAA tournament rematch in as raucous an environment as the Siegel Center will have that night!

[ShockTalk]

I'm not sure how respected we were nationally early on last year anyway. It was all about Creighton and it wasn't until later in the season that we started to get our much deserved recognition. I think this year will probably play out just about the same.

Very early on, that lack of recognition was on the Shocks stumbling a little in PR to Alabama and/or Temple. We didn't play well and going 1-2 didn't impress anyone. However, I do think that the December 4th stomping of UNLV shortly after their win over #1 (at the time) UNC had the Shocks in the spotlight pretty early on.

[RussDaBus]

Does anyone have an idea what tickets cost to the actual games in Cancun? I found a relatively inexpensive hotel and flight but not sure about the tickets and ease of getting them.

[WuShock Reaper]

We should expect the Cancun Challenge pairings announcement sometime over the next five weeks. Here are the previous announcement pairings dates from previous tournaments:

2011 - 05/31/11
2010 - 07/08/10
2009 - 06/11/09
2008 - 09/16/08