Is it too early to do a Wichita State retrospective? Or at least pause for an appreciation? There ought to be some sort of commemoration before Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet leave school.
The two are the last pieces (aside from coach Gregg Marshall) of what will go down as one of the most epic runs for a "mid-major" maybe of all time. In the past three years, the Shockers have won 95 games and lost 14, been to a Final Four and become the first team to enter the NCAA tournament undefeated since UNLV in 1990-91. They've gone from cute little story to legit national program.
This isn't necessarily the finale. As long as Marshall keeps re-upping at Wichita and spurning the name brands that keep calling, there's no reason to think that things will change dramatically.
But this is at least the encore. Let's enjoy it while we can.
Favorite
Ummm ... yeah, it's Wichita State. We should probably add the word "prohibitive" in front of "favorite." The Shockers could very well go undefeated in the conference this year.
The biggest challenger from a year ago, Northern Iowa, no longer has Seth Tuttle, and replacing an All-American isn't quite as easy at UNI as it might be at, say, Duke. Illinois State, the team that shocked the Shockers in the Valley tournament last season, lost big man Reggie Lynch to transfer. He's now at Minnesota, which significantly hurts the Redbirds. That leaves it to another program to upset the apple cart, and that just doesn't seem likely.
Sleeper
In any other year, D.J. Balentine would be the favorite to win Valley player of the year. The rising senior averaged 20.1 points per game last season, helping the Purple Aces win the CIT championship. He's got a good cast around him, including big man Egidijus Mockevicius and junior college transfer Willie Wiley, but will that be enough to upset the Shockers? Not likely. It is going to take a team with a special player to unseat Wichita State. Evansville is the only team with a player that fits the bill.
Team that could fall on its face
After a 22-win season that ended with an NIT bid, plenty of people are expecting the Redbirds to take the next logical step. That is, get into the NCAA tournament. But can they make the leap? It's not necessarily a given. Point guard Dashion Knight is gone, along with Lynch. That puts the onus on DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and backup point guard Paris Lee.
Top pro prospect
Baker, Wichita State
The former walk-on could have been a second-rounder in all likelihood this year but wisely opted to return for his final season. He's the sort of player who doesn't fit an NBA mold. He's not wildly athletic. He's small if he's going to play shooting guard at the next level. But he also can shoot the lights out, has a terrific basketball IQ and, above all else, has proven to be a winner for three years. That last attribute isn't measurable, but NBA folks would be wise to give it the attention it deserves.
Projected all-conference team
G: Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
G: Ron Baker, Wichita State
G: Brenton Scott, Indiana State Sycamores
G: D.J. Ballentine, Evansville
C: Egidijus Mockevicius, Evansville