2024-25 Top 144 Previews Men's Basketball

[WuShock Reaper]

2024-25 Top 144 Previews Men's Basketball

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/mens-basketball/top-144-previews

"Check in everyday to see where your team ranks in The College Sports Madness Top 144 team previews. We will unveil a new team each day with an in-depth preview until the announcement of #1 on the opening day of the season. Don't just see where your team is ranked, see who they will match up against in the NCAA Tournament. The Madness also projects where teams will appear in the field of 68. When teams are unveiled, they will be added to The Madness Bracketology Page."

Previous Rankings for WSU

Year	Rank		Year	Rank
2024	101		2018	46
2023	91		2017	5
2022	106		2016	37
2021	44		2015	14
2020	84		2014	13
2019	56		2013	15

Non-Conference	2024	2023
DePaul	No rank	No rank
Florida		58
Kansas City (UMKC)	No rank	No rank
Kansas State		42
Minnesota		No rank
Monmouth	No rank	No rank
Montana State	No rank	No rank
Northern Iowa	108	No rank
Saint Louis	No rank	No rank
Wake Forest		77
Western Kentucky	No rank	No rank

AAC Conference	2024	2023
Charlotte	117	No rank
East Carolina	No rank	No rank
Florida Atlantic	78	12
Memphis		47
North Texas	80	74
Rice	No rank	No rank
South Florida	No rank	No rank
Temple	112	No rank
Tulane	No rank	No rank
Tulsa	No rank	No rank
UAB	83	57
UTSA	No rank	No rank
Wichita State	101	91

[WuShock Reaper]

#117 CHARLOTTE MEN'S BASKETBALL 2024-2025 PREVIEW

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22977

Charlotte 49ers
Conference Rank: #7 American


2023-24 Record: 19-12, 13-5
2023-24 Postseason: None
Coach: Aaron Fearne
Coach Record: 19-12 at Charlotte, 19-12 overall

Key Departed Players:
Lu’Cye Patterson, Guard, 14.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 apg
Igor Milicic Jr., Forward, 12.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 bpg
Dishon Jackson, Center, 11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.7 apg
Jackson Threadgill, Guard, 5.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg

Key Returning Players:
Nik Graves, Junior, Guard, 10.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.8 apg
Robert Braswell IV, Senior, Forward, 6.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Isaiah Folkes, Senior, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.2 apg
Dean Reiber, Senior, Forward, 3.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Rich Rolf, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Key New Players:
Kylan Blackmon, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Coastal Carolina
Ben Bradford, Freshman, Guard
Nika Metskhvarishvili, Senior, Forward, Transfer from Louisiana-Monroe
Jeremiah Oden, Senior, Forward, Transfer from DePaul
Nick Richart, Freshman, Forward
Giancarlo Rosado, Senior, Forward, Transfer from Florida Atlantic
Aleks Szymczyk, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Florida
Jaeshon Thomas, Junior, Guard, Transfer from JC

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBC/CBI

[WuShock Reaper]

#112 TEMPLE MEN'S BASKETBALL 2024-2025 PREVIEW

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/22986

Temple Owls
Conference Rank: #6 American

2023-24 Record: 16-20, 5-13
2023-24 Postseason: None
Coach: Adam Fisher
Coach Record: 16-20 at Temple, 16-20 overall

Key Departed Players:
Hysier Miller, Guard, 15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg
Jordan Riley, Guard, 11.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg
Jahlil White, Guard, 10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg
Sam Hofman, Forward, 5.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 apg

Key Returning Players:
Steve Settle III, Senior, Forward, 8.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.0 bpg
Shane Dezonie, Senior, Guard, 7.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Matteo Picarelli, Senior, Guard, 7.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
Zion Stanford, Sophomore, Guard, 6.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg
Quante Bery, Sophomore, Guard, 2.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg

Key New Players:
Dillon Battle, Freshman, Forward
Jameel Brown, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Penn State
Elijah Gray, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Fordham
Lynn Greer III, Senior, Guard, Transfer from St. Joseph’s
Mohamed Keita, Junior, Center, Transfer from Tulsa
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Senior, Guard, Transfer from New Mexico
Holden Pierre-Louis, Freshman, Forward
Aiden Tobiason, Freshman, Guard
Christian Tomasco, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Hofstra

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBC/CBI

[forevershockerfan]

Temple and WSU were 6-6 until last Season. This matchup was always competitive. Last Season we were 0-2 in the series. I truly thought we now be 8-6 rather than 6-8. We lost one game by 6 and one by 7. Time to flip the script.

[WuShock Reaper]

#108 NORTHERN IOWA MEN'S BASKETBALL 2024-2025 PREVIEW

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23003

Northern Iowa Panthers
Conference Rank: #3 Missouri Valley

2023-24 Record: 19-14, 12-8
2023-24 Postseason: None
Coach: Ben Jacobson
Coach Record: 354-233 at Northern Iowa, 354-233 overall

Key Departed Players:
Nate Heisse, Guard, 13.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.4 apg
Bowen Born, Guard, 13.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
Landon Wolf, Guard, 4.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg
Michael Duax, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Cole Henry, Forward, 3.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.4 apg

Key Returning Players:
Tytan Anderson, Senior, Guard, 11.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.0 apg
Jacob Hutson, Senior, Center, 9.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 apg
Trey Campbell, Junior, Guard, 9.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg
Kyle Pock, Sophomore, Forward, 3.8 ppg
RJ Taylor, Sophomore, Guard, 2.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.1 apg

Key New Players:
Leon Bond III, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Virginia
Redek Born, Freshman, Guard
Cade Courbat, Freshman, Guard
Will Hornseth, Freshman, Forward
Wes Rubin, Freshman, Forward
Cael Schmitt, Senior, Guard, Transfer from DIII
Ben Schwieger, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Loyola IL
Max Weisbrod, Junior, Guard, Transfer from DII

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBC/CBI

[forevershockerfan]

They may have as many guards as WSU. 28-28 overall career record it appears.

[WuShock Reaper]

#101 Wichita State Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23032

Wichita State Shockers
Conference Rank: #5 American

2023-24 Record: 15-19, 5-13
2023-24 Postseason: None
Coach: Paul Mills
Coach Record: 15-19 at Wichita State, 121-103 overall

Key Departed Players:
Colby Rogers, Guard, 16.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg
Kenny Pohto, FOrawrd, 8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.2 apg
Dalen Ridgnal, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg
Isaac Abidde, Forward, 3.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Key Returning Players:
Xavier Bell, Senior, Guard, 11.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.4 apg
Harlond Beverly, Senior, Guard, 11.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.1 apg
Quincy Ballard, Senior, Center, 7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 bpg
Ronnie DeGray III, Senior, Forward, 5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Bijan Cortes, Senior, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.0 apg

Key New Players:
Yanis Bamba, Freshman, Guard
Matej Bosnjak, Senior, Center
Justin Hill, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Georgia
AJ McGinnis, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Lipscomb
Zane Meeks, Senior, Forward, Transfer from Arizona State
Zion Pipkin, Freshman, Guard
Corey Washington, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Saint Peter’s
TJ Williams, Freshman, Guard

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBC/CBI

[ShockHat]

How far the mighty have fallen. If we only hit the cbc/cbi, then there’s no hope left.

[ABC]

How far the mighty have fallen. If we only hit the cbc/cbi, then there’s no hope left.

"Expectations" and predictions by third parties ain't the same as results.

[Kung Wu]

"Expectations" and predictions by third parties ain't the same as results.

[WuShock Reaper]

"Expectations" and predictions by third parties ain't the same as results.

"Expectations" and predictions by third parties ain't the same as results.

I think the folks at College Madness do a pretty good job of ranking teams prior to the season. Let's look at where they have slotted the Shockers over the last 10+ years and where KenPom gives his final season ranking:

Year	Top 144	KenPom	Variance
2024	101	??	TBD
2023	91	154	-63
2022	106	102	4
2021	44	94	-50
2020	84	68	16
2019	56	39	17
2018	46	66	-20
2017	5	21	-16
2016	37	8	29
2015	14	13	1
2014	13	13	0
2013	15	6	9
Average	46	53	-7

[forevershockerfan]

#101 Wichita State Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23032

Wichita State Shockers
Conference Rank: #5 American

2023-24 Record: 15-19, 5-13
2023-24 Postseason: None
Coach: Paul Mills
Coach Record: 15-19 at Wichita State, 121-103 overall

Key Departed Players:
Colby Rogers, Guard, 16.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg
Kenny Pohto, FOrawrd, 8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.2 apg
Dalen Ridgnal, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg
Isaac Abidde, Forward, 3.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Key Returning Players:
Xavier Bell, Senior, Guard, 11.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.4 apg
Harlond Beverly, Senior, Guard, 11.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.1 apg
Quincy Ballard, Senior, Center, 7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 bpg
Ronnie DeGray III, Senior, Forward, 5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Bijan Cortes, Senior, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.0 apg

Key New Players:
Yanis Bamba, Freshman, Guard
Matej Bosnjak, Senior, Center
Justin Hill, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Georgia
AJ McGinnis, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Lipscomb
Zane Meeks, Senior, Forward, Transfer from Arizona State
Zion Pipkin, Freshman, Guard
Corey Washington, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Saint Peter’s
TJ Williams, Freshman, Guard

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBC/CBI

Projectection of 5th sounds about right..

[ShockerFever]

I think your rankings are off by a year. There is no way any ranking system had WSU ranked 46th in 2018. They certainly weren’t ranked 66th in the final KenPom either.

[WuShock Reaper]

I think your rankings are off by a year. There is no way any ranking system had WSU ranked 46th in 2018. They certainly weren’t ranked 66th in the final KenPom either.

I hear what you are saying, however, College Madness Top 144 is the preseason ranking. KenPom is the final ranking for the season.

I should have been clearer in my Headings.
Year is really 2018-19 Season:
Top 144 = 46
KenPom = 66
Variance = (-20)

[RoyalShock]

These types of pre-season rankings lost most of their value starting last year. With all the transfers these are mostly like playing darts blindfolded.