Fans welcome home Final Four-bound WSU Shockers

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Chanting Wichita State fans wearing shirts emblazoned with messages such as "Play Angry" welcomed home the Final Four-bound Shockers early Sunday.

The Wichita Eagle (http://bit.ly/YM4f22 ) reported that coach Gregg Marshall hoisted an NCAA trophy above his head as he stepped off the team bus around 4 a.m. Hours earlier, his ninth-seeded team upset second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 after he issued a halftime reminder to "play angry."

Wichita State now heads to its first Final Four since 1965.

About 75 fans shouted "Good job, coach!" and "Final Four! Final Four!" during the early morning homecoming celebration at Charles Koch Arena. Some in the crowd held signs that read "Keep calm and Shock on" or "Final 4-Bound."

Marshall chanted along when someone sang the first few words to "War," a fight song introduced by the pep band and a quick hit among fans.

"You don't want to go to war with the Shockers," the song proclaims. "Don't start no stuff, won't be no stuff."

Marshall later likened the fans to family.

"The love that this program is shown by these folks, it's constant," he said. "You can always count on it."

Adam Pusateri said the "small town" spirit of the gathering spurred his trip to campus.

"Everyone roots for the underdog," 25-year-old Pusateri, of Wichita, said. "It's cool to see Wichita State make a mark."

Senior forward Carl Hall said the team is expected to leave midweek to prepare for its Final Four matchup Saturday in Atlanta.

"It just goes to show how the fans all are — how supportive they are," Hall said of the reception.

___

Information from: The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle, http://www.kansas.com

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.