There was so much talk about Wichita State's top-rated defense, about the Shockers being the favorite, and the standout play of WSU's two star guards, Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker.
But in the game's opening minutes, Angel Rodriguez and the Hurricanes made an emphatic point.
They had a pretty solid defense and an impressive guard themselves – and they would not be denied a trip to the Sweet 16.
Still, though they had a dominant 21-point lead in the first half, the Hurricanes had to withstand an intense comeback effort from Wichita State to keep its season alive – something it did with a 65-57 win over the Shockers on Saturday afternoon at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.