Contenders and Pretenders

[Wufan]

Indiana State got a road win whereas no one other than WSU and the Sycamores has won on the road. Based on pre-season predictions and a win over a ranked team, I give them benefit of the doubt. UNI and Illinois State could make the leap into the same group as Indiana State. Both have a win over a previously ranked opponent (VCU and Dayton respectively), but I'd like to see if they can win on the road. MSU and Drake have demonstrated that they are decent teams that had won against their soft schedule.

[RedbirdLisa]

Indiana State got a road win whereas no one other than WSU and the Sycamores has won on the road. Based on pre-season predictions and a win over a ranked team, I give them benefit of the doubt. UNI and Illinois State could make the leap into the same group as Indiana State. Both have a win over a previously ranked opponent (VCU and Dayton respectively), but I'd like to see if they can win on the road. MSU and Drake have demonstrated that they are decent teams that had won against their soft schedule.

Illinois State won at Northwestern. That was a road win.

[Dean Wormer]

Indiana State got a road win whereas no one other than WSU and the Sycamores has won on the road. Based on pre-season predictions and a win over a ranked team, I give them benefit of the doubt. UNI and Illinois State could make the leap into the same group as Indiana State. Both have a win over a previously ranked opponent (VCU and Dayton respectively), but I'd like to see if they can win on the road. MSU and Drake have demonstrated that they are decent teams that had won against their soft schedule.

Illinois State won at Northwestern. That was a road win.

Wu meant road CONFERENCE game...I think just about everyone had a road non-con win this year.

[Wufan]

Indiana State got a road win whereas no one other than WSU and the Sycamores has won on the road. Based on pre-season predictions and a win over a ranked team, I give them benefit of the doubt. UNI and Illinois State could make the leap into the same group as Indiana State. Both have a win over a previously ranked opponent (VCU and Dayton respectively), but I'd like to see if they can win on the road. MSU and Drake have demonstrated that they are decent teams that had won against their soft schedule.

Illinois State won at Northwestern. That was a road win.

In the Valley…

[ShoxNAwe]

The Shockers are ripping through the Missouri Valley Conference so far. Except for a bad first half at Missouri State — and give the Bears credit for a really good first half — Wichita State has outscored Valley foes 403-292 covering six games.

No wonder every defeated opposing coach can’t stop with the effusive descriptions.

Thing is, Wichita State hasn’t really played its best basketball. The scores say dominance. But the numbers? Not so much.

The Shockers shot 42.9 percent against Indiana State, right at their average in Valley play. They made 3 of 15 three-pointers, dropping their conference mark to a sub-par 31.2 percent.

Doesn’t matter.

The Shockers have shot 47 more free throws than their Valley opponents and outscored them 108-64 from the line. WSU has a 238-193 rebounding advantage, 51 turnovers to its opponents 74, 43 steals compared to 22, and 35 blocks to 20.

Oh, nobody shoots well against the Shockers, either. Indiana State made 31.4 percent and if guard Dawon Cummings doesn’t score 19 points, the Sycamores are probably riding on top of the plane back to Terre Haute.

It was a bad, bad day for the visitors. And just last season, Indiana State came into Koch and blitzed Wichita State 68-55 with the Shockers shooting 27.1 percent.

If there’s a difference between that team and this Wichita State team, it’s that this version doesn’t appear to be prone to those kinds of lapses.

Yes, Missouri State had the Shockers down big a week ago — 19 points with more than 11 minutes to play. I don’t think last year’s team, good as it was, comes back in that one.

Put nothing past this season’s team. You think this unbeaten talk is crazy? Not with this team, which is really good, and this year’s Valley group, which really isn’t good.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/01/18/323665 ... rylink=cpy

[Bradleyfan1]

We gonna find out in Normal!

Look out for Ninja kicks!

[glm38]

Without Marshall I'm afraid the Bears are in the pretender category. But I think we are still capable of a top half finish. Which would be a big improvements from last year.

No one will challenge WSU this year. They are just too good.

[Aargh]

I'm beginning to be a Lusk fan. He seems to be getting the max out of his pl;ayers - with the exception of Thurman, who may be a headcase.

The criticism I would have of Lusk is depth. MSU doesn't seem to have much. Not much depth and a constant string of injuries is limiting what Lusk can do, but MSU is doing surprisingly well considering what they've faced.

[Cdizzle]

I'm beginning to be a Lusk fan. He seems to be getting the max out of his pl;ayers - with the exception of Thurman, who may be a headcase.

The criticism I would have of Lusk is depth. MSU doesn't seem to have much. Not much depth and a constant string of injuries is limiting what Lusk can do, but MSU is doing surprisingly well considering what they've faced.

I agree with your first points. I disagree about depth. I think if you add Pickens and Marshall back in they are one of if not the deepest team in the league. Their starting 5 might not be all-world, so you don't notice as big of a dropoff, but I feel like they've had solid contributions from a lot of guys.

[hot nuts]

I'm a Redbird fan but can see that ISU still has too weaknesses to be considered a contender. While I'd love for the Birds to pull off a huge upset on Wednesday, the Shockers will attack those weaknesses and win going away...they are just too good.