Shocker Let Down Next Year?

(Indianapolis, IN) – Are Shocker fans in for a big let down next basketball season and is the Missouri Valley Conference ready for a resurgence? Will a weakened Wichita State and a stronger MVC mean the Shockers will struggle in 2014-15?

Next year is a pivotal one for the league and an important one for Gregg Marshall’s dominating program. With the loss of Creighton to the Big East, the depleted Valley badly needs one or two programs to arise.

Wichita does lose some very valuable commodities. First among them is leading scorer Cleanthony Early. While Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker are superior Valley players, it was Early that other teams had to game plan for. Tekele Cotton joins this two as the assault rifles for next season.

The loss to graduation of Chadrack Lufile and Kadeem Coleby is significant. Those two teamed with Darius Carter to provide a solid, athletic and multi-dementional force in the middle. Their physicality was a big plus in the Shockers’ record setting season. Carter is probably more of a power forward than a center, so WSU needs some interior help.

Multiple sources tell me red-shirt freshman Shaquille Morris can contribute in significant ways this coming season. At 6’7″ however, do the Shockers have a legitimate post player of fight with bigger, more athletic teams. Kentucky did point out that one weakness in the Shocker make up during their NCAA tournament win in St. Louis.

If we know anything about Coach Marshall, we know he’ll have plenty of strong, athletic players filling in gaps.

The rest of the MVC should be stronger. Young talent abounds throughout Valley programs.

Illinois State was one of the youngest programs in the country. Evansville has two all-league type players juniors to be D.J. Balentine and Egidijus Mockevicius. Loyola has potentially the best young player in the league in Milton Doyle, so there is potential.

Missouri State returns their best player, in junior to be Marcus Marshall and Northern Iowa has virtually everyone back and the addition of Virginia transfer Paul Jesperson. It could be a resurgent year for the oldest conference west of the Mississippi.

It does beg the question. Is this like the old joke, “The good news is we have most of our players back. The bad news is we have most of our players back.”

Illinois State could be a real sleeper. They lose no one of significance and have two players who have been around this year as non-qualifiers that come highly regarded that should contribute right away. 6’7″ Deontae (Teddy) Hawkins is regarded as a big time player who originally signed with Wichita State. We wrote an article about that controversy at the beginning of the season. He’ll be joined by MiKyle McIntosh, a 6’6″ wing. With the return of Reggie Lynch, Paris Lee and others, the Redbirds could be poised for a major move in 2014-15.

I believe the Shockers will be the Shockers. Will they win their first 35 games again? Probably not.  That was history-making and that doesn’t happen every year, but Gregg Marshall is not only a great motivator and teacher, but he knows how to fill out a roster. No doubt, new recruits Eric Hamilton, Zach Brown, Bush Wamukota, Rashard Kelly (up front) and Corey Henderson Junior (back court) will play significant roles.

My pick right now remains with Wichita State. Will they win the league by six games and will the Valley be looked at with the same disdain as last season? Not a chance.

Do Good