Vanderbilt Commodores vs Wichita State Shockers Point Spread Picks

Vanderbilt has the big men, but tourney action is about guard play and Wichita State has huge edges in the backcourt. Wichita struggled early in the season with injuries but got healthy in mid-season, on a 19-3 straight-up run. They are led by All-American guards Ron Baker (14.2 points per game) and Fred VanVleet (12.0 ppg, 5.7 assists per contest), going 30-5 last year and 24-8 this season despite those early injuries. Head coach Gregg Marshall is in the Big Dance for the 12th time and is one of just 11 coaches in history to lead two different schools to five or more NCAA bids. The Shockers have won at least one game in three-consecutive trips and are 7-3 over that span. Last year's team defeated Indiana and Kansas to reach the Sweet 16. This season Wichita finished tops in the Missouri Valley Conference in defense (59.2 ppg), field goal defense (.385%) and in scoring margin (+14). Vanderbilt has lost two in a row, including the last game to Tennessee as 12-point chalk. Take Wichita State on the moneyline.