OFFICIAL: 2015-16 Preseason Rankings

[AndShock]

ESPNs "way too early" 2015-16 Bracketology

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Wow, next year is loaded with close cities. Guess that means we are getting sent to Providence.

[Kung Wu]

Who's the best prospect for the a second MVC team next year?

[Shoxthemonkey]

UNI was on the next 4 out list

[Shocker85]

Here's a fun question.

Did Rick Barnes really fail this season and deserve the firing or did the preseason polls miss the mark so badly that it ultimately cost him his job? :)

Both. I saw UT play in person this season - oh my were they big and athletic. They didn't have a clue on offense on how to take advantage of their mad ability.

On defense, they broke down a lot and relied heavily on their rim protectors.

I saw one of the UT kids answer a question in the post game presser, something like, "Was that play something you guys talked about during the timeout?" Answer: "No, I thought the play that coach called wouldn't work so I did that on my own."

It was all about bad coaching a team that was full of athletic but coddled players. The media thought they would perform better that their actual achievement and they never gelled.

[Shox21]

ESPNs "way too early" 2015-16 Bracketology

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

This has us playing SD State -- eliminate one of the smaller guys AGAIN.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Also, something is apparently wrong with my link. I couldn't find Creighton listed and Villanova was ranked behind us. We don't play in the mighty Big East, did they not get the memo?

Saso is a computer doctor. Have him take a look at your computer.

[wufan]

Who's the best prospect for the a second MVC team next year?

I think Illinois State has a legit chance of an at large. Lee is a good PG and Akoon-Purcell is a long and skilled perimeter scorer. Lynch is a rim protector, and now an upper-classmen. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see McIntosh or Hawkins explode now that the rust has been shaken off. They have a couple of more pieces on the bench as well.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Jeff ******* has WSU as a 3 seed for next year.

ESPN Insider Article:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2015/insider/story/_/id/12627883/your-1-16-seed-list-2016-ncaa-tournament-college-basketball

No. 3s

Wichita State -- Gregg Marshall stayed, and now the question becomes whether Ron Baker comes back. Regardless, the Shockers will be the favorites in the Valley as long as either Baker or Fred VanVleet returns.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

ESPN's Eamonn Brennan ranks WSU #10 for next year.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2015/story/_/id/12623594/kentucky-wildcats-headline-early-top-25-ranking-2015-16-men-college-basketball-season

10. Wichita State Shockers
For a few days there, Shockers fans had every reason to fret. Coach Gregg Marshall was being wooed, hard, by Alabama, to the tune of a reported $4 million-per-year contract offer. In the meantime, guards Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker -- cornerstones of the team's unprecedented three-year run of success -- took the first small steps toward investigating their NBA options. An era seemed likely to end. And then, just like that, Marshall was back. A group of deep-pocketed WSU boosters, led by billionaire Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch, cobbled together enough cash to give Marshall a big raise from his previous $1.75 million salary. With their head coach back, and their first-round draft prospects in doubt, Baker and (especially) VanVleet seem at least slightly more likely to return. The Shockers have places to fill -- Tekele Cotton and Darius Carter are both graduating -- but the most important positions are no longer at significant risk of vacancy.

[ShockTop]

There's a piece about our recruits in the top 25 rankings for next year. Could someone with ESPN Insider please post it on here?

[AZ Shocker]

This has us playing SD State -- eliminate one of the smaller guys AGAIN.

That's okay...he always does that cause subconsciously he "knows" the philosophy and "real" motives of the selection committee.

I thought I read somewhere when Butler was in the National Championship game that tv ratings for that game were higher than ever. Either I didn't read that correctly...or the article had bad info. BUT...if true...I immediately thought "wow...this is a good sign for non-P5 schools opening the door by showing good tv ratings in the NC Game." America has interest and wants to see someone other than Duke, Kentucky, Carolina in the Final Four. Made me think that CBS didn't have a problem with it anymore and would no longer use its influence in the seeding department come Selection Sunday. But...over the years we still see a good amount of mid-major's matched up with each other in the first round. Obviously the goal is to eliminate mid-majors as soon as possible thus deducting their chances making it to the Final Four.

Oh well..it's better than watching golf.

[KraRam]

3. Fred VanVleet, Wichita State Shockers

VanVleet - like North Carolina's Marcus Paige - made first-team preseason All-American for 2014-15, but then was left off the first, second an even third teams where it counts, in the postseason. That felt a little harsh. Few players nationally matched VanVleet's excellence on both offense and defense. In Missouri Valley play, VanVleet shot 43 percent on his rare 3s, drew fouls, functioned as a near error-free point guard and posted the conference's third-highest steal rate. Shocker fans are lucky to get him -- and Gregg Marshall -- back for another season.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/12627946/top-25-players-college-basketball-2015-16-college-basketball

20. Ron Baker, Wichita State Shockers

Baker wasn't as productive inside the arc or at the line this season as he'd been as a sophomore, but he offset those declines by sensibly deciding to never commit turnovers. The result was an offensive rating that, per kenpom.com, stayed virtually the same year to year. He and VanVleet will see to it that the Shockers arrive at mid-March 2016 sporting the latest in a series of very small numbers in the loss column.

[Jhook89]

There's a piece about our recruits in the top 25 rankings for next year. Could someone with ESPN Insider please post it on here?

Possible 2015-16 starting five

G: Fred VanVleet

G: Ron Baker

G: Evan Wessel

F: Markis McDuffie

C: Shaquille Morris


Who is lost: Provided VanVleet and Baker stick around for their senior seasons (Baker considered going pro after last season), Wichita State should be OK in the departure department. Tekele Cotton is the biggest loss, as the strong wing player was one of the best defenders in the country and also had his share of highlight-reel dunks. Starting center Darius Carter took big steps from his junior to senior season and became a legitimate option on the low block this past season.

Who is added: With Wichita State’s national success the past couple of seasons, Gregg Marshall is able to attract higher-level talent -- and he did that with McDuffie (No. 92 in ESPN 100). A 6-foot-8 wing, McDuffie’s ceiling and versatility are the most intriguing aspects of his profile. He will be able to make an impact on the defensive end because of his length and size. He will push for a starting spot right off the bat. Two guards coming into the fold are Landry Shamet and Tyrone Taylor. Shamet is a very good shooter from the perimeter and Taylor is at his best off the dribble and as an on-ball defender. Eric Hamilton, a 6-foot-8 power forward, will provide depth. Another key addition is Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp, who will be eligible after the first semester next season. He will immediately be one of the better guards in the league.

What it means for next season: With VanVleet and Baker likely returning, the backcourt will remain in good hands. Both are among the best players in the country at their position, and one more year will be a nightmare for the rest of the Missouri Valley -- and the rest of the country. VanVleet is a solid point guard who seems to always make the right play, while Baker continues to expand his game, improving his ball-handling, defense and shooting. Frankamp will only help once eligible. Wessel, an undersized forward, returns as a starter; he's a solid role player who can stretch a defense. Two bench players who could see a bigger role will be Morris and forward Rashard Kelly. Morris had some big games in league play, and Kelly provides a different dimension at power forward.

Trending: Level. As long as VanVleet and Baker are still on the roster and Marshall is on the sideline, Wichita State shouldn't take much of a hit. Where the Shockers separate from the rest of the Valley is in terms of newcomers: adding talented guys like McDuffie and Frankamp is an area where other schools simply can’t compete.

[Jhook89]

Honestly, and don't kill me, I don't think losing cotton will hurt us as much as people think. I don't think having Brown in the lineup will be a step back. Yes, Brown doesn't provide the same defensively as Cotton, but I believe he makes up for it on the offensive side of things. Cotton had his moments, but most games wasn't much of a factor offensively. I think Brown could be a more consistent scorer for WSU.

[WstateU]

Honestly, and don't kill me, I don't think losing cotton will hurt us as much as people think. I don't think having Brown in the lineup will be a step back. Yes, Brown doesn't provide the same defensively as Cotton, but I believe he makes up for it on the offensive side of things. Cotton had his moments, but most games wasn't much of a factor offensively. I think Brown could be a more consistent scorer for WSU.