The Irish have a travel edge here or as we like to call it, a (not so) neutral court advantage. Notre Dame 236 miles away, but Wichita State 872. If it is possible to have a letdown in Sweet 16, certainly Wichita State beating Kansas would quality. Of course both teams would be looking ahead to Kentucky, but it is a big revenge game for Wichita State who beat the No. 1-seeded and undefeated Shockers 78-76 in the third round in St. Louis a year ago en route to the Final Four.

Irish will have success off the dribble, especially when Jerian Grant is being guarded by Ron Baker. The Shockers struggle with elite penetration teams. To beat Notre Dame, it takes size and offensive skill at the rim, which State has size but not great skill.

The Irish are 7-1 against the rest of the Sweet 16; Wichita State is 0-1. Even as we credit the Shockers for being the best mid-major east of Gonzaga, we also note: They play in the Missouri Valley Conference, which is not the same as the ACC.

Five of the six ACC teams in this Big Dance are still going, and the exception is Virginia, the league regular-season winner. Four Notre Dame players are shooting 40% or better from three-point range.

The Irish get no respect and Wichita State is overrated off their big upset and in a rare, almost unprecedented case of a letdown contest.