Wildcat fans are all in on The Big Tournament
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – For college basketball fans, it doesn’t get any better than The Big Tournament.
“I’d like to say they could go all the way, but I definitely see them in the Final Four,” said Rose Mary Saunders as she watched the Kansas State University women in the tournament Friday. They’re a true team of players. They really are. They cover each other; when one is down, the other one picks them up.”
Rose Mary and her husband, Steve, were at Walk-Ons in West Wichita to see the KSU women. They are not alone.
“Very informed about the K-State women. We have a lot of fans that come out here, especially on the weekends to watch the games,” said Walk-Ons GM Kirk Keling. “It’s just everybody is looking for the upset as well as seeing their favorite teams do well. But I think everybody wants to see a 15 knock off a number two.”
Other fans are excited to see more people watching, particularly women’s hoops.
“I feel the women’s teams have just broken out,” said basketball fan Randy Davis. “When I was growing up in the 80s, you saw them, but this is different. There’s a lot more diversification right now. So I mean, that’s really going to accentuate the sport.”
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Another big fan of women’s hoops is Nickerson, Kansas native Ava Jones. Jones is on the Iowa women’s team. She’s not playing this year because of a traffic accident. But is says she is watching history unfold right now when it comes to women’s basketball.
“I see it on social media all the time,” said Jones who is thrilled to see Iowa star Caitlyn Clark breaking the all-time NCAA scoring record for both men and women.
“We’ve had some amazing players. Generational players like Caitlyn that helped the game grow,” said Jones. “Hopefully we will see more of this in the future.”
Jones used to go watch WSU women’s basketball games when she was younger and likes the progression of women’s hoops.
“The crowds were so much smaller then,” said Jones.
And she definitely likes the progression of Iowa fans at the games where she is getting her degree.
“Everybody loves the women’s basketball team,” said Jones. “They are insane. The most insane crowds I’ve ever seen.”
As for Saunders, she’s just out cheering on the Wildcats, hopeful for another win in the big tournament.
“General society just finally realizing that women can play these sports,” said Saunders. “Go Cats!”
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