Both schools have enough experience returning at key positions that it’s not too unrealistic to daydream about Free State and Lawrence meeting in the Class 6A state football championship game next fall.

In keeping with the theme of dreaming about great games between regional rivals that might never be played, let’s take a look at one angle of the potential basketball game pitting No. 2 seed Kansas University vs. No. 7 seed Wichita State in Omaha, Nebraska, on Sunday.

The experience factor tends to favor the school that didn’t land big-name high school recruits, and it’s no exception here. Even in the area of NCAA Tournament experience, the Shockers have a big advantage.

Tekele Cotton has played in eight tourney games, Ron Baker and Fred Van Vleet seven apiece. For KU, Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor lead the way with five games apiece.

Players on the Wichita State roster have combined for 629 tournament minutes, KU’s for 238 minutes.

No current KU player has made a three-point field goal in an NCAA Tournament game, combining for 0-for-7. Active Shockers have combined for 25 threes in 63 attempts, a .397 percentage.

KU has had two double-figures scoring games, both against Eastern Kentucky last season. Traylor dominated with 17 points and 14 rebounds in 22 minutes, and Ellis totaled 14 points and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes.

For the Shockers, Baker has had four double-figures scoring games, Van Vleet two, Cotton one.

Baker has been the most prolific tournament performer on either roster. He has averaged 11.7 points and shot .839 from the line and .483 from three. Baker’s first tournament game, in a victory vs. Pittsburgh during his freshman year, he showed jitters, missing all five three-point attempts. Since then, he’s 14-for-24 in the tourney.

The Shockers’ tourney experience and Baker’s 40 points almost were enough to conquer Kentucky last season. KU can overcome an experience deficit vs. the Shockers, but only if its stars align on the same day.