Your 2012-13 Wichita State Shocker starting line-up

[Kung Wu]

How come nobody is throwing down the all "W" lineup for WSU?

VVleet
Williams
Wessel
Wiggins
White

VVleet -- stare at it ... stare at it. Now try to pronounce it.

[mumdaddy316]

is d will 100%?

[150946shox]

is d will 100%?

As stated above, D Will says he is "on schedule" and was very upbeat. That is not to say he is 100% now, but hopefully will be according to schedule. I hope that means he is 100% by the time practice starts.

[Dave Stalwart]

How come nobody is throwing down the all "W" lineup for WSU?

VVleet
Williams
Wessel
Wiggins
White

VVleet -- stare at it ... stare at it. Now try to pronounce it.

This made my day. I think I better go get a WSU VVleetshockers shirt made...
That, and "When there's trouble you call DW".

[Shocker91]

Starters:

PG - Armstead
W - Williams
W - Wiggins
4 - Early
5 - Hall

Bench:

PG - Van Vleet
Wings - Baker, Wessel, Cotton (in no particular order, based on situation/non-conference performance)
4 - White, Lufile
5 - Lufile, Orukpe

Rationale:

I see Armstead starting at PG because of his leadership abilities, ability to create (4+ APG last two years at Oregon), and overall talent level. Van Vleet will spell him off the bench almost exclusively.

I have Williams and Wiggins on the wings (remember our 2 and 3 play similar roles; in some systems this isn't true, but in ours, it is). D-Will's veteran experience and Wiggins's length are my primary reasons. Wiggins will need time to adjust defensively, as most JUCO transfers do. Behind them, I believe Cotton, Wessel, and Baker will split time. Baker is a shot-maker, Cotton and Wessel can really play D. Wessel may go in when you need to go big, Baker for instant offense, and Cotton for a spark. I think all are capable of playing solid minutes.

I have Early at the 4 because I think he will start there and play there exclusively. What is not being mentioned here is that the competition Early played at the NJCAA III level is abysmal. Most of the players at this level are not college-level players beyond their respective JUCO. The average players here often do not matriculate further, even to the NAIA or Division III level. However, Early is a long, athletic player with a knack for scoring the ball. He is a 4 who can stretch the defense and rebound, and he has enough size defensively to defend the 4 spot in the Valley. For this reason, I think it will take him a little time to adjust defensively; but by Valley season, I believe he should be the obvious starter. Also, it should be mentioned that the other teams who recruited him often target hybrid forward types for their 4 spot: Missouri, San Diego State, and Alabama. I believe that's where Coach Marshall sees him as well, although I'm sure Early hopes he will play more on the wing. White is my backup at the 4 spot and should get his fair share of minutes.

Hall is at the 5 spot for me. Sure, this creates some mismatches for him. We will have to be creative. I just doubt Orukpe's readiness to start from a reaction/savvy/IQ standpoint.

I have Green redshirting. In my opinion, he has to. Marshall will redshirt someone, and it has to be him. Though Mitchell is talented, I don't believe he fits into Marshall's plan, which is why we didn't chase him coming out of Hutch. He is (despite how he is listed) a 5'11" off-guard with the ability to score but limited ability as a passer. His height would be exposed defensively in the Valley when playing on the wing. I don't think we see him unless it's in mop-up time or we have some attrition due to injury.

[Shocker91]

My fault. I forgot to mention Lufile. I believe he comes off the bench at both the 4 and 5, pushing Orukpe into more of a reserve role.

[forevershockerfan]

In terms of starting lineups, mid-game lineups and lineups that finish, it might all be be depicted in 2 common words. "WHOLESALE SUBSTITUTING!!!" We have returning players that know our System well, along with new players that can maybe beat some of these players out along the way.

I have been purchasing College Basketball Mags since I was knee high to a grasshoppa. Lindy's is now in my sweaty hands and here are some thoughts they share.Creighton has a National ranking of #8? Yikes!! Yes they are loaded, but #8? Maybe when it is all said and done in the top 18? Here is the order of predicted finish for the top 5 Valley teams from their Mag. Creighton, Illinois State, WSU, N. Iowa, and Evansville.

Here are some thoughts to ponder? This is a big rebuilding Season for us and maybe the first Season under the Marshall Plan that we do not improve our overall record? Even so, I also doubt we can be as successful as the last 2 Shocker teams on the cold and lonely road. HOWEVER, never bet against our Shocks playing finer than a frog-hair. It is what it is but we will get this party started before it is over.

What does it all mean? We may just take 2nd in the Valley Race and win the Lou?. Last I checked, it is indeed our turn to win the Lou? However, here is where the rubber meets the 21st and Hillside pavement. When will this team really mesh and when will our beloved Shocks become very hard to beat at home or on the road? We have plenty of talent and the Coach we want directing them. If all goes well, we will be not be pretenders but rather contenders. If not, we know we will fight through it all toward the very best we can be. Losing 5 very key vetern players is not always pretty. Even so, hang on to your seats because this will be an intriguing ride. We lost lots of vetern talent and have added lots of young-guns that can play. We will not be intimidated and folk better not take us lightly because we know what that presents for them. PAIN!!!

In conlusion, what is the tipping point to a rebuilding Season? If our D is relentless, we always have better odds to win. One player this mag. overlooked was Wiggins who I believe will be a key Shocker and one of our more consistent scorers. However, they were very high on Fred Van Fleet and that was wise. Can we rebound as good or better as before? Marshall always fields solid rebounding teams. Can we be towards the top in the Valley again in scoring after losing so much fire-power? Will we really peak and mesh together towards the end when it really counts the most? You know what I think? tsk tsk tsk. I think I am an eternal optimist and we have all heard this jazz before. I think we will be better than advertised but there will be some forks in the road and obstacles to encounter along the way. Stay tuned.

[another shocker]

I must say, I'm a bit surprised that Lindy's pegged the Shockers at third in the Valley.

Pretty respectful, considering what the team has lost from last season.

[Mr.Kevin]

Fred will be your starter at PG...take it to the bank. He will be that teams leader from day 1

[Kung Wu]

Nobody's a bigger FreVaVle (Pronounced: Fruh - VOV - ul) fan than me, but there are some seriously experienced, upperclassman talent on this team that he is going to have to beat out. But if he does, we got a seriously game changing HOT ONE in Wichita!!

[1972Shocker]

Nobody's a bigger FreVaVle (Pronounced: Fruh - VOV - ul) fan than me, but there are some seriously experienced, upperclassman talent on this team that he is going to have to beat out. But if he does, we got a seriously game changing HOT ONE in Wichita!!

Hopefully, we will just be calling him the Valve (that drives the engine) in the future. In fact, Fred could be a Multi-Valve model.

[Kung Wu]

Hopefully, we will just be calling him the Valve (that drives the engine) in the future. In fact, Fred lookshe could be a Multi-Valve model.

Ha! All I know is that kid can juuuuke!! He's the human jukebox!

[Mr.Kevin]

Nobody's a bigger FreVaVle (Pronounced: Fruh - VOV - ul) fan than me, but there are some seriously experienced, upperclassman talent on this team that he is going to have to beat out. But if he does, we got a seriously game changing HOT ONE in Wichita!!

Not to be crude but he's been playing against top tier recruits for years who were "more experienced" or more "highly touted" and more often than not will come out on top. His drive and will to win is what sets him apart. It's not IF but WHEN he beats them out.

[Dan]

I can't recall the last time we had a true freshman start at point from Day 1. It's probably the hardest position on the floor to learn. Beating out a Juco all-american/D1 transfer/22 year old man is a tall order. More power to him if he can pull it off.

[pinstripers]

no way