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**another shocker** · September 6, 2015, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by forevershockerfan View Post

We could adjust this some now and be more accurate than this will be at the end of the Season when it counts? First of all, move WSU to the top 4 and move KU to around 7-10th. Yes, our quality depth and veteran experienced team gives us a great shot at this. KU has the talent to make the Final 4 but I predict they won't make it this Season. Year in and year out they over rank KU in the Preseason, especially the last 3 Seasons. Next, move Iowa State to somewhere between 11-20th. They have impressive talent returning but now have a new coach who needs time to get settled in. Also, we are told every Season how great the Big 12 is supposed to be, but not so much evidence substantiates that come deep Dance time. Maybe a team such as Louisville can crack the top 10 instead? Maybe we could consider dropping North Carolina and Maryland to between 6th and 10th and move some other teams up. Let me try something here for Pre-Season picks.

1.Virginia 2. Duke 3. WSU 4. Kentucky 5. Arizona 6.
Maryland 7. NC 8. KU 9. Zags 10. Louisville

your list seems more accurate than the sporting news list.. but why virginia at #1?

but i see wichita state moving into the (ap-usa today) top 3 at some point in the season.. after probably being ranked somewhere around #10 in the first poll(s) that come out in november. i believe in fvv as a winner just that much. also, newcomers like shamet, grady, taylor, frankamp etc. means that, in fact, the shockers will take a step forward this year, not back (as some speculate because of the losses of cotton and carter). or: please, basketball gods, let wichita state get another shot at notre dame in november! let's flip that script 180 degrees.

**SHOCKvalue** · September 6, 2015, 10:35 AM

I don't have time at the moment, but a simple study contrasting KU's preseason rankings with final rankings/results would be interesting to say the least.

**FlyingWheat** · September 6, 2015, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by another shocker View Post

your list seems more accurate than the sporting news list.. but why virginia at #1?

but i see wichita state moving into the (ap-usa today) top 3 at some point in the season.. after probably being ranked somewhere around #10 in the first poll(s) that come out in november. i believe in fvv as a winner just that much. also, newcomers like shamet, grady, taylor, frankamp etc. means that, in fact, the shockers will take a step forward this year, not back (as some speculate because of the losses of cotton and carter). or: please, basketball gods, let wichita state get another shot at notre dame in november! let's flip that script 180 degrees.

All depends on the advocare Classic. An early loss will show less forgiveness, but if we take the tourney, I can definitely see it.

**forevershockerfan** · September 6, 2015, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by another shocker View Post

your list seems more accurate than the sporting news list.. but why virginia at #1?

but i see wichita state moving into the (ap-usa today) top 3 at some point in the season.. after probably being ranked somewhere around #10 in the first poll(s) that come out in november. i believe in fvv as a winner just that much. also, newcomers like shamet, grady, taylor, frankamp etc. means that, in fact, the shockers will take a step forward this year, not back (as some speculate because of the losses of cotton and carter). or: please, basketball gods, let wichita state get another shot at notre dame in november! let's flip that script 180 degrees.

Virginia is returning some very solid players but any of these top 10 teams I listed could get hot at the end and win it all. Graduation did hit some of these teams hard and it seems more up for grabs to me than usual. This is the question intriguing me. Are our beloved Shockers to be more ready to go deeper this Season? Yes, we lost Cotton and Carter but with the establishment of our young bigs along with Grady and Bush, will this be enough to overcome the concern some have with our inside game.

Last Season before we faced KU, we were warned that they had us beat inside. That did Not happen and our slots 1,2, and 3 beat them soundly on both sides of the court. This Season, I think Shaq and Grady will step up and on various match-ups we will face, we have Kelly, Nurger, Bush, and McDuffie. If needed, we know Brown and Wessel can play 3 or 4.. In terms of slots 1,2, and 3, I literally would not begin to trade our mix of players for any other team in the whole Country.

Once we reach the Dance, if History repeats, we may have quite a treacherous bracket to contend with. If we are clicking on all cylinders at that time, bring it!!!!!!! It appears to me we will be an improved team because we are so deep and have 5 solid and experienced Seniors leading lots of younger talented players in search of the basketball promised land. We know we can play defense with the best of them and have improved overall shooters and scorers. Look for our rebounding as a team to improve and if that also really happens, watch out!!!!!!!

**im4wsu** · September 6, 2015, 11:39 AM

Last year our 1, 2, 3 slots of FVV, Baker and Cotton meshed perfectly on defense with, respectively, on-ball defense, ball pressure with shot blocking recovery, and the best deny defender in the country. With two back and Brown, Wessel to intimidate from the 3, we should be in pretty good shape.

**ShockdaWorld** · September 6, 2015, 03:20 PM

If Diallo ends up being declared ineligible, I'm not sure KU has done anything to deserve a top 10 ranking. They were beaten handily before the Sweet 16 last year, as has become common place, and if hes ineligible, they've added....a quality back-up for Perry? Oh wait...almost forgot...Big12/KU bias.

**AZ Shocker** · September 6, 2015, 03:30 PM

Our only weakness is at the 5 spot. Nothing really solid there. BUT unproven talent has a chance this year to step it up. Who's it gonna be? Who's going to claim that spot? I'm hoping Bush is the man but his lack of offense is a glaring hole where defenses can cheat off him. Darius could pull defenders out of the paint due to his good jump shot. Bush can't do that. Nurger is a Euro type player that could pull defenses out of the paint...but he is extremely soft to play the 5 at a big-time NCAA program. Shaq is our only hope as he CAN pull defenders out and is a threat to score. If (and that's a big if) he can stay on the court....this will be the year he goes for TWENTY!!!!
:yahoo:

**forevershockerfan** · September 6, 2015, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by AZ Shocker View Post

Our only weakness is at the 5 spot. Nothing really solid there. BUT unproven talent has a chance this year to step it up. Who's it gonna be? Who's going to claim that spot? I'm hoping Bush is the man but his lack of offense is a glaring hole where defenses can cheat off him. Darius could pull defenders out of the paint due to his good jump shot. Bush can't do that. Nurger is a Euro type player that could pull defenses out of the paint...but he is extremely soft to play the 5 at a big-time NCAA program. Shaq is our only hope as he CAN pull defenders out and is a threat to score. If (and that's a big if) he can stay on the court....this will be the year he goes for TWENTY!!!!
:yahoo:

Last Season we were plagued at times with Carter and Shaq getting in foul trouble. We hear that Grady is a solid defender. Cotton, Baker, and FVV were all solid defenders who could defend our foes best players but yet not normally get in foul trouble. I'm hoping that is is an area of improvement for Shaq as a Soph. and I hope he comes in here in the best shape of his life. We need him on the court more this Season IMO. Nurger is getting stronger and like Stutz, that will slow our foes down to a "mild roar" trying to push him around. Kelly is really working on his shot we hear and we anticipate his role to also increase in terms of playing time. Bush had his solid moments versus UNI here and against KU at the Dance. Our Juco players do seem to often have more consistent Senior Seasons for us.

**AZ Shocker** · September 6, 2015, 04:38 PM

We are loaded!!! But my bad...I completely forgot about Grady. Do we yet know if Grady is slotted for the 5 spot??? For some reason I was thinking he was more of a 4. If he winds up playing the 5....well then...please disregard my earlier post. Cuz...he definitely can and will draw defenders out due to his jumper as evident in his youtube highlite video. That guy looks to have a monster season for us!

**WuDrWu** · September 6, 2015, 04:41 PM