Who is predicted 2nd next year?

[jwa123]

Great signing! You didn't come close to replacing Reggie.

I'm hoping the combination of Brewer and Ndiaye can come close.

No. Muller did well dealing with the loss, but no.

but we love our red koolaid.

[rlh04d]

The addition of Grady to WSU just made the likely gap between 1 and 2 pretty ridiculous. If everything clicks for WSU this coming season, and people stay healthy, this is a national championship caliber team. Grady was the one thing WSU needed: an effective, experienced big.

I can see a starting lineup with FVV, Baker, Wessel, Grady, and Shaq. And that leaves a top 50 recruit, and three? top 150 recruits coming off the bench. And Bush, who started to look strong at the end.

Going to be a fun team to watch when they aren't playing your teams.

[Wufan]

Grady was a top 10 transfer. That would leave a top 50 (Frankamp) and three more top 100s (Brown, Shamet, and McDuffie) off the bench. Taylor, Hamilton, Kelly, and Nurger were only 3* top 200s. Wamukota was a top 25 JUCO.

[Rollbird5]

Wouldn't be surprised if Wsu runs the table in conference now , great addition to an already strong team!

[Cdizzle]

Wouldn't be surprised if Wsu runs the table in conference now , great addition to an already strong team!

I think WSU could be scary good next year, like preseason Final 4 and National Championship aspirations aren't all hot air good (not that I think they should be favorites or that anyone should 'expect' that, but it isn't completely unrealistic to see it happening when you look at the roster). But going 18-0 is ridiculous. Especially because I really expect ISUr, UNI, UE and Loyola to be pretty decent to quite good teams next year. When you start having 6-10 decent to tough games with half of them on the road, plus another 4-5 road games you have to not screw up, going undefeated is pretty silly.

I do think winning in excess of 15 games in league again just became more likely thought. It would make for 4 times in 5 years if it did happen.

[rlh04d]

But going 18-0 is ridiculous.

18-0 isn't a reasonable expectation, but it's also not ridiculous. We're 35-1 in the last two seasons. We went 17-1 with only five players with D1 experience going into last season, in a league with another top 15 team and multiple top 100 teams.

I would never bet on WSU going 18-0, but I'm not betting against it, either. Anywhere from 15-3 to 17-1 are very realistic bets, and I'd put 18-0 much more likely than 14-4. My personal expectation in conference just went from 16-2 to 17-1.

In all seriousness, take FVV/Baker/Wessel/Grady/Shaq off this team, and I'd still expect WSU to be top four or better.

[Rollbird5]

But going 18-0 is ridiculous.

18-0 isn't a reasonable expectation, but it's also not ridiculous. We're 35-1 in the last two seasons. We went 17-1 with only five players with D1 experience going into last season, in a league with another top 15 team and multiple top 100 teams.

I would never bet on WSU going 18-0, but I'm not betting against it, either. Anywhere from 15-3 to 17-1 are very realistic bets, and I'd put 18-0 much more likely than 14-4. My personal expectation in conference just went from 16-2 to 17-1.

In all seriousness, take FVV/Baker/Wessel/Grady/Shaq off this team, and I'd still expect WSU to be top four or better.

What rlh04d said is what I was thinking. Went 17-1 last year and I'd say this team will be better than last years even with losing Cotton so it could likely happen. If the highly touted freshman get adjusted to D-1 ball, learn the system, and gain Marshall's trust and the sophomores take a step forward this team is going to be scary good, come selection sunday wsu is one of the last names people will want to see on their side of the bracket. Hopefully a couple other of us mvc teams can see our names that day too

[Cdizzle]

But going 18-0 is ridiculous.

18-0 isn't a reasonable expectation, but it's also not ridiculous. We're 35-1 in the last two seasons. We went 17-1 with only five players with D1 experience going into last season, in a league with another top 15 team and multiple top 100 teams.

I would never bet on WSU going 18-0, but I'm not betting against it, either. Anywhere from 15-3 to 17-1 are very realistic bets, and I'd put 18-0 much more likely than 14-4. My personal expectation in conference just went from 16-2 to 17-1.

In all seriousness, take FVV/Baker/Wessel/Grady/Shaq off this team, and I'd still expect WSU to be top four or better.

What rlh04d said is what I was thinking. Went 17-1 last year and I'd say this team will be better than last years even with losing Cotton so it could likely happen. If the highly touted freshman get adjusted to D-1 ball, learn the system, and gain Marshall's trust and the sophomores take a step forward this team is going to be scary good, come selection sunday wsu is one of the last names people will want to see on their side of the bracket. Hopefully a couple other of us mvc teams can see our names that day too

I think the fact that we're 35-1 in the last 2 seasons is, in itself, ridiculous. So I still think going 18-0 would be ridiculous, but like you wouldn't bet against it.

I also think think WSU has a chance to be better than they were last year, but I also think there will be more good competition in the league --- maybe not at the very top like UNI last year, but more depth in the "good" category. That just provides more opportunities for slips, as well as other teams being capable of a high-performance game that gets them a win.

We shall see. Hopefully several teams deliver in the non-conference to set up an intriguing league race.

[Wufan]

In all seriousness, take FVV/Baker/Wessel/Grady/Shaq off this team, and I'd still expect WSU to be top four or better.

Removing those players, WSU would probably start:

G: Frankamp (top 50)
G: Shamet (top 100)
G/F: Brown (top 100)
F: Kelly (top 150)
C: Wamukota (top 25 JUCO)

Bring off the bench:

G:Taylor (top 200)
G/F: McDuffie (top 100)
F: Hamilton (top 200)
C: Nurger (top 200)

Hard to say how that team would do, but there's no shortage of talent.

[rlh04d]

In all seriousness, take FVV/Baker/Wessel/Grady/Shaq off this team, and I'd still expect WSU to be top four or better.

Removing those players, WSU would probably start:

G: Frankamp (top 50)
G: Shamet (top 100)
G/F: Brown (top 100)
F: Kelly (top 150)
C: Wamukota (top 25 JUCO)

Bring off the bench:

G:Taylor (top 200)
G/F: McDuffie (top 100)
F: Hamilton (top 200)
C: Nurger (top 200)

Hard to say how that team would do, but there's no shortage of talent.

I'd start Wamukota, but I still likely wouldn't play him more than 20 mpg in that lineup. I'd probably run a smaller lineup with Kelly/Hamilton at the five and McDuffie at the 4 a lot of the time. But it would depend on how much offense Kelly could provide, since I don't see Bush providing much.

The real issue I'd have with that team would be whether or not CF could handle PG duties. If he could, it's definitely a top half team.