Early top 32 for 11-12

[1972Shocker]

I think Creighton will be the favorite followed by Indiana State.

My guess is Shocks will be picked to fnish 3rd in the pre-season poll.

Can they exceed these expectations? No doubt.

Will they? That's why they play the games.

[ShockBand]

I would like to think being picked third or so and using that as chip-on-the-shoulder motivation would work. When this year's team finally decided to get a "we'll show them" attitude, the results flowed.

[KC Shox]

I must be missing something. We lose our inside presence in Blair and Durley and the experts are predicting us to be nationally relevant and close to Top 25 consideration?

EO is no where near being a reliable and consistent contributer to the team offensively and defensively. GS has skills no doubt, but he still lacks quickness, power, agility and gets into foul trouble and we have yet to see how well he will react when he finally does start playing over 25 minutes per game. Carl Hall, who the heck knows.

It's just surprising to see so many media members pumping up the Shox given our depth takes a hit and more importantly our inside game is a big question mark.

I believe next season's team is capable of being another 20 game winner and make a run at the NCAA's/NIT, but replacing Durley and Blair is easier said than done IMO and we will all be surprised to see how much we will miss AE's defense and GH's tenacity too.

[Shox21]

...and we will all be surprised to see how much we will miss AE's defense and GH's tenacity too.

I, for one, will not be surprised at all. I KNOW I will miss both. I think both added a lot to this team that, more times than not, went unnoticed.

[RoyalShock]

Those aren't the only places saying we are supposed to be good....

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/column...ndy&id=6299371

From that write up:

Wichita won the NIT and returns nearly every key player.

:shock: :lol: :shock: :lol: :shock: :lol: :shock: :lol:
Andy, Andy - it's spelled R-E-S-E-A-R-C-H

He did. He looked up the points-per-game and saw that we only lose one of our top six scorers. So that must surely mean we only lose one key player.

Katz clearly didn't watch us this year or read any of the NIT press about how balanced we were.

[60Shock]

I'd like to get ahold of some of the stuff these sports guys are drinking. Can't knock it though as perhaps these comments may very well lure in a couple of very excellent recruits who want to sign up for the ride. Hope someone close to home is reading these pre-season raves as well.

[wsushox1]

We'll be fine. Anything lower than second in the Valley next year will be a disappointing season.

[WINGdingBALLfling]

We'll be fine. Anything lower than second in the Valley next year will be a disappointing season.

whats the record for getting second in consecutive seasons? If we get second next year it will be tough to think about.

[1979Shocker]

It's going to be hard next year to duplicate this season road record, but I think our home record will be better.

[shocker3]

Re: Early top 32 for 11-12

More publicity for the Shox: http://tourney.si.com/2011/04/05/aft...-2/?xid=cnnbin

Got me thinkin...will/should we be a preseason top 25 in the fall?

WOW, #18 that is pretty impressive. The benefits of the impressive NIT championship run are still coming in.

[fuball7]

It's going to be hard next year to duplicate this season road record, but I think our home record will be better.

The valley part will be better but we have a tougher non conference schedule coming in. thank god

[jocoshock]

Those aren't the only places saying we are supposed to be good....

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/column...ndy&id=6299371

The Shockers will be the pick to win the Missouri Valley and a team no big boy will want to play.

Pre-season favorite shows how much he is not paying attention to the Valley. Creighton, Indiana State and Northern Iowa will definitely have something to say about that.

I predict we will get Top 25 votes early, but when the Valley starts, a couple of losses will end that. I definitely think it is possible that we could win the Valley and make the tournament, but it is far from a given and at least somewhat less likely than it should have been this year, unless the Valley as a whole improves significantly.

:goshocks: :goshocks:

[BCSCat]

It's the same media that ranked us 3rd this year so take it all with a huge grain of salt. Didn't work out so well for the 'Cats and frankly (no pun intended) I would rather be under ranked at the start of the season. You guys will be good - Marshall is a very good coach and as long as the losses can be over come (see: KSU loss of Clemente) WSU will be fine.

[Ta town]

Those aren't the only places saying we are supposed to be good....

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/column...ndy&id=6299371

The Shockers will be the pick to win the Missouri Valley and a team no big boy will want to play.

Pre-season favorite shows how much he is not paying attention to the Valley. Creighton, Indiana State and Northern Iowa will definitely have something to say about that.

I predict we will get Top 25 votes early, but when the Valley starts, a couple of losses will end that. I definitely think it is possible that we could win the Valley and make the tournament, but it is far from a given and at least somewhat less likely than it should have been this year, unless the Valley as a whole improves significantly.

:goshocks: :goshocks:

I see UNI being less of a factor next year than this year. Losing alehgwhatever will be very tough to replace.

[lilshock]

We will be better next year. Yes I said it. You can call me what you want but you remember I said, WE WILL BE BETTER NEXT YEAR!!! Playing ten is not always a good thing. I would rather play the good players 30 mins. We wont have some of the players to slow us down on offense next year. We started every game this year playing 3 on 5.