Shockers Face Gaels in Critical Matchup at Battle 4 Atlantis

WICHITA, Kan. — In a highly anticipated game, the Wichita State Shockers are gearing up to face the Saint Mary’s Gaels in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament on Wednesday. This matchup is significant for the Shockers, who come in with a 4-1 record, as they take on a strong opponent.

The game is set to air on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. Central time. The Gaels, with a perfect 6-0 record, are viewed as the toughest challenge for Wichita State this season. They have made four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and hold a powerful offense.

Last season, Saint Mary’s achieved 29 victories and currently leads the nation in 3-point shooting, making 45.6% of their attempts. Wichita State’s head coach, Paul Mills, acknowledged the significance of facing tough teams early in the season, saying, “These are the tests you want. You want to be able to play in these games.”

The Shockers will look to capitalize on their shooting performance, having made 38.8% from beyond the arc. However, they enter this game after a narrow loss to Boise State, where they fell 62-59. Mills highlighted the need for resilience in the face of that adversity to perform well against the Gaels.

Wichita State guard Mike Gray Jr. expressed confidence, stating, “We’ve had adversity hit already. So anything that happens in this game, we’ll be ready for it.”

This game is expected to showcase two elite rebounding teams. Saint Mary’s is known for its solid defensive rebounding, while the Shockers excel in securing offensive rebounds. Currently, Wichita State secures 41% of their missed shots, which will be critical against the disciplined frontcourt of Saint Mary’s.

Mills has challenged his team to elevate their physical play to compete with Saint Mary’s size and discipline. He emphasized, “The most important team is yours. We need to focus on us and make sure we’re doing all the things necessary to win the tournament.”

As the Shockers prepare for this important game, both teams will aim to assert their dominance and gain momentum in the early part of the season. The result of this matchup could hold significant implications for their college basketball campaigns.