Just wait till next year

by **Aargh** » April 6th, 2013, 8:05 pm

I think MVCFans may find WSU fans to be a kinder, gentler bunch next year. I think the ones who are the worst (probably including myself) will find basketball success to be calming, where the lack of success sometimes led to confrontations.

WSU is returning 5 of the top 7 players from a F4 team. I'm counting Wessel, since he was a starter and the best 3-point shooter before he went down. While he didn't play in Atlanta, he was there.

Baker, VanVleet, and Wessel will be Sophomores next year (pending Wessel's medical red shirt). Cotton will be a Junior, and Early will be a Senior.

Most WSU fans thought this would be the down year, and next year would be a team with a chance to make an NCAA run. That was before we saw what Armstead and Hall could achieve by their "refuse to lose" attitudes.

WSU should be scary good next year, but I predict there will be more teams in the MVC next year that can beat the Shox than there were in the NCAA tourney this year. I suspect WSU will be the pre-season pick to win the league. that's not a good thing. The Shox are best when they're the unmderdogs. they can really stink it up when they're favored.

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by **glm38** » April 6th, 2013, 8:32 pm

Yes the Shox should be very good and favored in the Valley next year. I think your guard play will be better next year. But who mans the post with Hall and EO gone? Not sure Lufile and White are close to that level. Are there any recruits coming in at the 4/5?

by **DUBulldog** » April 6th, 2013, 8:35 pm

glm38 wrote:Yes the Shox should be very good and favored in the Valley next year. I think your guard play will be better next year. But who mans the post with Hall and EO gone? Not sure Lufile and White are close to that level. Are there any recruits coming in at the 4/5?

There's a transfer sitting out this year who's about 6'9", 270.....and a juco commitment a few days ago from a 6'7" kid....also a real big kid from Oklahoma coming in next year.

by **RoyalShock** » April 6th, 2013, 8:55 pm

The kid sitting out, Kadeem Coleby, will be a SR. From what I hear he's like a combination of Hall and Orukpe. Not quite the force on offense has Hall, but he's active, good jumper and blocks shots. We have two juco PF's signed, both of them juco top-50s, and an underrated HS PF from Oklahoma. We also have a couple of good freshman guards coming in, one of whom should be able to provide good depth at point. Part of the problem is, we're currently two scholarships over the limit.

by **jackwagon** » April 6th, 2013, 9:05 pm

Wichita will be a load again next season and should be the preseason favorite. That being said any shocker or valley fan who thinks they are in a better position next season to make a run is nuts. Hall and Armstead were soooo valuable to their success and Williams and EO added experienced depth. The team next year will be very talented but their is a huge if as to whether or not they can replace the toughness and leadership of the senior class. Indiana State looks to be very solid next year and Missouri State is on the rise. Other than those two I don't think the Shockers should have any trouble in the valley. Don't see them making another F4 though.

by **Aargh** » April 6th, 2013, 9:08 pm

Kadeem Coleby is a 6'9" guy who started for Louisiana-Lafayette. He's paying his own way this year while sitting out a trfr year. He's got 3 years of D1 experience. Word is that he's better than EO - actually a LOT better than EO. He was something like a 13 points, 6 boards guy at La-Laff. Word is that he's a lot better than that if he's surrounded with better players.

Shaquille Morris is a 6'8", 250 pound recruit who was the MVP of Oklahoma's big-school state tournament. He's a dunking machine. At 250, he can run the court and has a decent vertical. He doesn't appear to have any baby fat left, but I suspect he will drop some pounds before he starts gaining some pounds.

Earl Watson is a 6'7" athletic freak who had a disappointing year at Chipola JC. Chipola had a great team and a lot of competition in the front court. If Watson shows up, I don't expect much from him. I think it's more likely that Nick Wiggins (6'6"), with another year under Marshall, will be a front court contributor.

Then there's the really small chance, but it's possible, that Nick Wiggins little brother (#1 recruit for next year) might want to play with his brother. Andrew Wiggins will play 1 year. He's probably the most obvious early NBA pick since LeBron.

Andrew Wiggins wants a chance to play for a D1 title in his one year. Signing him is a long shot but Kentucky appeared to be his choice a year ago. Kentucky had a nice run in the NIT. WSU had a great run in the NCAA's.

by **valleychamp** » April 6th, 2013, 9:16 pm

Shox will most definitely be heavily favored to win league next year. Valley could potentially be really down next season. Creighton's gone, Ill St lost about 10 players, UNI lost a big group of seniors, Ind St lost a veteran post, Colt Ryan is gone, etc.. Lots of questions marks and youth next year in the league as opposed to the last two years.

by **AndShock** » April 6th, 2013, 9:45 pm

jackwagon wrote:Wichita will be a load again next season and should be the preseason favorite. That being said any shocker or valley fan who thinks they are in a better position next season to make a run is nuts. Hall and Armstead were soooo valuable to their success and Williams and EO added experienced depth. The team next year will be very talented but their is a huge if as to whether or not they can replace the toughness and leadership of the senior class. Indiana State looks to be very solid next year and Missouri State is on the rise. Other than those two I don't think the Shockers should have any trouble in the valley. Don't see them making another F4 though.

Last season people said anyone who thinks the Shox will be in a better position to make a run is nuts. Last year we replaced our seniors with a senior transfer and had a senior JUCO stud ready to lead the team. Next year we replace our seniors with a senior transfer and a senior JUCO stud who will put up some big time numbers next year. I love EO and DWill, but they won't be hard to replace.

Marshall reloads like no other.

by **Haha** » April 6th, 2013, 10:18 pm

Indy state has a ton returning

Mo state has a solid core off sophomores next season

Bradley just needs some big help

SIU should be pretty solid

Eville will defend

Drake has new coach and first year and usually means a tough year of transition but you never know

Ill state I have no clue about

Northern iowa will need some big help I think but has some solid players returning

by **Aargh** » April 6th, 2013, 10:37 pm

I haven't evaluated all the graduation and trfr losses, but I think MSU and BU should be solidly on the move up the standings. I can't imagine Jacobsen finishing outside the top half of the league.

Barry is doing a great job at SIU, but he's still dealing with problems from the former group and doesn't look to have a shot at the top half of the league. DU and IllSU seem to be lined up for down years.

That leaves Indiana State and Evansville apparently fighting for a top-half or bottom-half finish in the league.

If the MVC stays at 9 teams, there are only 2 Thursday teams and SIU will not be one of them. If the MVC adds any of the rpi 200+ teams they're evaluating, there will be 4 Thursday teams. SIU will not be one of them.