ESPN's Jason King picks his early top 25 for 13-14 season

[wushock27]

He has us at #11...


11. Wichita State Shockers: There's a strong chance that next season's Shockers could be even better than the unit that lost to Louisville in the Final Four. Losing bruising forward Carl Hall and court leader Malcolm Armstead will hurt, but Gregg Marshall's team will return all of its other key pieces. Cleanthony Early, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds against Louisville, is an NBA-caliber small forward. Ron Baker ignited the Shockers' NCAA tournament run with his prowess from beyond the arc and point guard Fred VanVleet logged valuable minutes as a freshman backing up Armstead at point guard. Tekele Cotton is a returning starter who helps set the tone defensively. Standout shooter Evan Wessel, who redshirted this season, also returns. Look for 6-foot-9 Louisiana-Lafayette transfer Kadeem Coleby to replace Hall in the paint. Coleby has spent the past season working out with the Shockers and Marshall couldn't be more impressed. Chipola (Fla.) Junior College transfer Earl Watson will also be in the mix down low.

[Capitol Shock II]

That's what I'm talking about. Finally somebody seeing the light. Placing us right outside the top 10 early makes it difficult for others to ignore us in their top 20 predictions.

[wushock27]

They have KU at #20, and said that it's possible to not even include them in the top 25! Love it!!

[DUShock]

Preseason polls help with hype and it is nice to be getting some love so early in the preseason. Good times...

[wushock27]

Louisville is losing top 3 from their team now... Smith is going pro...

“When you go out, you want to go out with a national championship,” Smith Sr. said. “He’s got five rings: back-to-back Big East, back-to-back Final Four, national championship. What other way to go out?”
So that’s it?
“That’s it.”
He’s gone?
“He’s gone.”

[molly jabali]

WSU should reject any KU overtures to play until they get a top 25 program!:)

[shocker51]

I didn't see Creighton in the top 25 or even listed as additional teams to watch. LOL

[Aargh]

These polls count a lot! The July recruiting period is when Marshall will be avaluating players for the '14-'15 recruiting class. A F4 and a pre-season ranking in the top 15 means a lot to a recruit.

[another shocker]

He has us at #11...


11. Wichita State Shockers: There's a strong chance that next season's Shockers could be even better than the unit that lost to Louisville in the Final Four. Losing bruising forward Carl Hall and court leader Malcolm Armstead will hurt, but Gregg Marshall's team will return all of its other key pieces. Cleanthony Early, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds against Louisville, is an NBA-caliber small forward. Ron Baker ignited the Shockers' NCAA tournament run with his prowess from beyond the arc and point guard Fred VanVleet logged valuable minutes as a freshman backing up Armstead at point guard. Tekele Cotton is a returning starter who helps set the tone defensively. Standout shooter Evan Wessel, who redshirted this season, also returns. Look for 6-foot-9 Louisiana-Lafayette transfer Kadeem Coleby to replace Hall in the paint. Coleby has spent the past season working out with the Shockers and Marshall couldn't be more impressed. Chipola (Fla.) Junior College transfer Earl Watson will also be in the mix down low.

no mention of darius carter

[wushock27]

That's fairly recent news...

[another shocker]

usa today '13-'14 poll (out this morning) also has the shockers pegged at #11

"the shockers cannot be taken out of the nationally ranked equation if gregg marshall is coaching them."

[TxShox]

Meanwhile, over at CBSSports.com, they published their "Early Top 25 (and one)" and listed the Shockers at #25. They also, mistakenly, list Ehimen Orukpe as a notable player to return.

[another shocker]

That's fairly recent news...

i know. that's just it. 'wait til jason king/cbs/espn or whomever talking heads, gets THAT news. i loved carl hall's defense, especially.. 'never forget him.

but carter and coleby is what replaces hall and orukpe. anybody looking for the shockers to be down could be mistaken.

[wushock27]

Sporting News has us at 21, while VCU is 13... Makes no sense... Sigh

[Shox21]

Maybe VCU doesn't lose much and they think we will take a step back for losing Hall and MA.