2016-17 Media Love Thread

[Fred Marrs]

Nice team but I think this is even better:

Earnie Moore
Warren Armstrong
McDaniel
Stallworth
Carr

As I get time I will try to post my ratioale for Moore an Armstrong.

[WuShock Reaper]

"College basketball: 32 bold predictions for 2016-17 season, Part I" - NCAA.com

by Joe Boozell
Oct 17, 2016 13:29 EDT

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-10-17/college-basketball-32-bold-predictions-2016-17-season-part-i

"...4. Markis McDuffie emerges as a household name at Wichita State

Ron Baker and Fred Van Vleet are gone, but Wichita has Gregg Marshall and a talented young squad. The most exciting baby Shocker is McDuffie.

A 6-foot-8 sophomore wing, McDuffie is an excellent defensive chess piece that showed flashes of explosive offense last season. His ball-handling needs work; McDuffie had more turnovers than assists in 2015-16. But he’s a great athlete with a good feel for the game, and once his skill level catches up, he could become a star...."

[WuShock Reaper]

"A trio of Sooners leads SI.com's top projected breakout scorers" - Sports Illustrated

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/10/14/christian-james-khadeem-lattin-oklahoma-sooners-breakout-scorers

"...We simulated the season 10,000 times and generated median stats for every player in the top eight conferences (AAC, ACC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) as well as our other forecasted at-large bid candidates (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, BYU, Wichita State, San Diego State and Princeton). Today we're unveiling our projected top breakout scorers, according to raw points per game, from that set of teams. In the case of teams with significant roster overhaul, we've grouped players together by team in the charts below. A breakdown of the player of the year race and our projected top 100 transfer scorers ran earlier this week on SI.com.'''"

#3 - Conner Frankamp

"Frankamp, a 6' 1" sophomore guard, joined the Shockers last December and posted an offensive rating of 119.6. Now entrenched as a starter, Frankamp will see a big jump in his offensive production. McDuffie and Shamet both played major minutes as freshmen (Shamet's season was cut short due to foot surgery), and they should be focal points of the Shockers' attack this season."


Wichita State will see a lot of players on the list this season:

#1 - Christian James, Oklahoma
#6 - Deng Adel, Louisville
#9 - Sterling Taplin, Tulsa
#16 - Brandon Sampson, LSU
#18 - Jermaine Bishop, St. Louis
#25 - Terry Maston, Baylor

[wufan]

Good stuff Reaper!

[WSUwatcher]

So according to SI, the Valley is a mid-major league that WSU has transcended...

[WuShock Reaper]

"Missouri Valley Conference Schedule: 3 dates to circle" - SB*Nation

by Harry Schroeder
Oct 18, 2016, 9:03am

http://www.midmajormadness.com/2016/10/18/13310030/missouri-valley-conference-schedule-wichita-state-northern-iowa-battle-4-atlantis

"The fate of the Missouri Valley Conference on Selection Sunday could come down to a few all-important days in November and December. If Valley schools take care of business in the non-conference, the league is good enough to send multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. If not, this could be a down year for the mighty mid-major.

As always, it starts with Wichita State. The heavyweights have a stellar non-conference schedule, highlighted by games against Oklahoma (7th in realtimerpi’s preseason power rankings) and Oklahoma State. In the Battle 4 Atlantis, the Shockers take on Big West Conference favorite Long Beach State and the SEC’s LSU Tigers, with a chance to play Louisville and one other highly ranked team. Back home in December, the Shockers will get a shot at Summit League champion South Dakota State.

A strong record in those games and a top two finish in the MVC race should be enough for the Shockers to dance in March. But what about the rest of league?..."

[JB4WSU]

No 31 on Dick Vitale's preseason top 40:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/17823507/duke-blue-devils-lead-vitale-preseason-top-40-teams

[WuShock Reaper]

"Valley Insider: Men's teams lining up to challenge Shockers" - Springfield News Leader

Jim Connell, Sports Writer
October 23, 2016, 5 p.m.

http://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/2016/10/23/valley-insider-mens-teams-lining-up-challenge-shockers/92649148/

"Who’s got next?

It’s more than a long-forgotten advertising slogan. It’s a good way to approach the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball season that’s looming large. With the league’s Basketball Tipoff set for Tuesday in St. Louis, where the preseason poll and all-conference teams will be announced, it seems a good time to check in on the haves and have-nots. It’s tempting to write off Wichita State, with Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet gone to the NBA. Those two won 121 games and played in four NCAA Tournaments for the Shockers. There are nine other Valley teams hoping the Shockers come back to the pack, and there will be a chance to make a move up in the league.

But …

While there are no double-digit scorers returning for the Shockers, they have talented players who played significant roles for the team last season – including Markis McDuffie, Conner Frankamp, Shaquille Morris and Zach Brown, and blossoming star Landry Shamet..."

Jim Connell’s men’s preseason ballot

1. Wichita State
2. Illinois State
3. Northern Iowa
4. Missouri State
5. Loyola
6. Southern Illinois
7. Indiana State
8. Evansville
9. Bradley
10. Drake


Preseason All-Valley team

Paris Lee, Illinois State
Dequon Miller, Missouri State
Jeremy Morgan, Northern Iowa (Preseason Player of the Year)
Markis McDuffie, Wichita State
Brenton Scott, Indiana Stat

[Cdizzle]

"There are nine other Valley teams hoping the Shockers come back to the pack"

I think that pretty much sums things up. Sure wish we were in the AAC.

[_kai_]

"Valley Insider: Men's teams lining up to challenge Shockers" - Springfield News Leader

Jim Connell, Sports Writer
October 23, 2016, 5 p.m.

http://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/2016/10/23/valley-insider-mens-teams-lining-up-challenge-shockers/92649148/

"Who’s got next?

It’s more than a long-forgotten advertising slogan. It’s a good way to approach the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball season that’s looming large. With the league’s Basketball Tipoff set for Tuesday in St. Louis, where the preseason poll and all-conference teams will be announced, it seems a good time to check in on the haves and have-nots. It’s tempting to write off Wichita State, with Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet gone to the NBA. Those two won 121 games and played in four NCAA Tournaments for the Shockers. There are nine other Valley teams hoping the Shockers come back to the pack, and there will be a chance to make a move up in the league.

But …

While there are no double-digit scorers returning for the Shockers, they have talented players who played significant roles for the team last season – including Markis McDuffie, Conner Frankamp, Shaquille Morris and Zach Brown, and blossoming star Landry Shamet..."

Jim Connell’s men’s preseason ballot

1. Wichita State
2. Illinois State
3. Northern Iowa
4. Missouri State
5. Loyola
6. Southern Illinois
7. Indiana State
8. Evansville
9. Bradley
10. Drake


Preseason All-Valley team

Paris Lee, Illinois State
Dequon Miller, Missouri State
Jeremy Morgan, Northern Iowa (Preseason Player of the Year)
Markis McDuffie, Wichita State
Brenton Scott, Indiana Stat

Shaq Morris is going to eat Brenton Scott's lunch, and then steal his lunch money.

[wufan]

Shaq Morris is going to eat Brenton Scott's lunch, and then steal his lunch money.

Shaq only eats grilled chicken Caesar salads. Brenton will probably start packing those for Shaq pretty soon.

[WuShock Reaper]

"Missouri Valley Conference Media Day: Wichita State favored to win the MVC again" - SB*Nation

Shockers seek fourth straight title

by Harry Schroeder
Oct 25, 2016, 2:06pm

http://www.midmajormadness.com/2016/10/25/13403262/missouri-valley-conference-media-day-recap-wichita-state-illinois-state-northern-iowa

"The voters have spoken and it wasn’t even close: Wichita State is favored to win the Missouri Valley Conference again. The Shockers received 37 of 42 possible first-place votes among coaches, media members, and sports information directors in the conference preseason poll...."

[Dave Stalwart]

Let me guess. Marshall votes for Ben Jacobsen, and 4 people who are butthurt voted for Illinois State. Those people include Dan Muller, the SIU AD, probably somebody from Loyola and that one lady from the Valley office who said they don't want to let us in the MVFC.

[wu_shizzle]

Let me guess. Marshall votes for Ben Jacobsen, and 4 people who are butthurt voted for Illinois State. Those people include Dan Muller, the SIU AD, probably somebody from Loyola and that one lady from the Valley office who said they don't want to let us in the MVFC.

Nailed it.

[WuShock Reaper]

"Marshall is selling history" - KWCH Sports

http://www.kwch.com/content/sports/Marshall--398786901.html