WSU Getting Some Run From the NIT Championship

by **Aargh** » April 7th, 2011, 10:45 am

This is not what anyone expected and I don't think many Shox fans think it's a good thing, but WSU is getting a lot of mention for next year. This could be a bad thing for a team that plays better as an underdog than they do as a team with a target on them.

SI puts WSU at pre-season #18 next year:
http://tourney.si.com/2011/04/05/after-the-confetti-our-top-32-for-11-12-2/?xid=cnnbin

SB Nation has a top 10 and includes WSU, George Mason, and Belmont in their "sleeper" category:
http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/2011/4/6/2094094/kentucky-north-carolina-basketball-rankings-ncaa

Andy Katz at ESPN has WSU just outside this top 25 in his "5 more to keep an eye on" category. He also had this piece of "brilliant" research:

Wichita won the NIT and returns nearly every key player.

Wrong!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=6299371

I think the general feeling of Shox fans was best summed up in a post by 60Shock on ShockerNet:

I'd like to get ahold of some of the stuff these sports guys are drinking.

WSU and the Valley are getting some publicity - which is generally a good thing, but I'm having visions of the '07 disappointment dancing in my head from all this undeserved, early hype. The coaching staff is reporting that some recruits they couldn't quite get to are now calling up and wanting to talk to WSU, so maybe that's where it might pay off.

**Sponsor**

by **Heinro** » April 7th, 2011, 11:07 am

Certainly don't like it. I'm very hopeful Creighton will be picked preseason #1 next year. We have the potential but our team, nor our coach deal well with pressure. Good press next year though, if we are predicted to be better then KU and KSU perhaps it could help us land a major recruit.

by **LMS** » April 7th, 2011, 11:10 am

This is a function of the success in the NIT and not of anyone doing any real research. I'd bet that WSU is predicted second or more likely third in the preseason MVC poll.

by **Shox21** » April 7th, 2011, 11:32 am

LMS wrote:This is a function of the success in the NIT and not of anyone doing any real research. I'd bet that WSU is predicted second or more likely third in the preseason MVC poll.

And that is just where most knowledgeable Shocker fans think we will be.

by **Jays26** » April 7th, 2011, 12:41 pm

Pub like this, even if it's off a bit, is good for the school and overall good for the Valley.

Will take it. :Cheers:

by **Aargh** » April 7th, 2011, 5:43 pm

Jays26 wrote:Pub like this, even if it's off a bit, is good for the school and overall good for the Valley.

Will take it.

CU fans should love this. It takes the target off the Jays and puts it on the Shox.