No. 9 Maryland | No. 11 Gonzaga | Full List
No. 10: WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS
Last Season: 30-5, 17-1 Missouri Valley
The Shockers' backcourt of Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker have already amassed an enviable resume through their first three seasons: Final Four appearance, check. Entered the NCAA tournament undefeated, check. Coveted win over state-rival Kansas, check. Won at least 30 games each season, check.
So what could they possibly do as seniors that will top that list? They both shunned turning pro and returned to school to find out.
That may have had something to do with coach Gregg Marshall saying no to strong overtures from Alabama to remain at Wichita.
Marshall will have plenty of depth in the frontcourt, although the Shockers will be a bit undersized. The backcourt will get deeper, too, when Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp becomes eligible in December.
Wichita State will go the way VanVleet and Baker lead it. The Shockers have a backcourt that could power another Final Four to put career bookends on one of the best tandems in program history. -- C.L. Brown
Best Case: The Shockers return to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, and get a better draw than getting Kentucky as a high seed. With arguably the best backcourt in the country in VanVleet and Baker, the Shockers can hang with anyone. Wichita State has played in 10 tournament games over the past three years, including a run to the Final Four in 2013, and are 65-6 over the past two seasons, including 35-1 in conference play. How can you doubt that quality of performance? You can't.
Worst Case: The frontcourt cannot match up to the backcourt, and Wichita State is very good, but not great. Defense and rebounding is the identity of this program, and that takes more than good guards. If the frontcourt is not up to the quality of performance of the past two years, Wichita State could be a first weekend exit.
"Gregg Marshall has two of the best guards in the country. Not only are they really good, but they've been playing together for years now -- and know how to win. I'm not sure how good their frontcourt will be, but I'm not sure if that matters much in the Missouri Valley. The kid who transferred from Cleveland State (Anton Grady) will be important because he's a fifth-year guy -- and they need someone to take pressure off the guards."
No. 9 Maryland | No. 11 Gonzaga | Full List
