Shockers Net No. 26 in Top 25 — What?
The Wichita State Shockers have nabbed the No. 26 ranking in CBS’s “ridiculously early” Top 25 for the 2016-17 season — a ranking spot CBS added just for WSU.
CBS released its more or less for-fun-only rankings the day after the NCAA tournament championship game, which was played in Houston on April 4 with Villanova defeating Duke.
Here’s the blurb on the Shockers that accompanied the ranking: “This is basically a #InGreggMarshall
WeTrust ranking. In other words, we’re just going to assume Wichita State will be good again because, you know, Wichita State will probably be good again.”
Shockers Garner MVC Hoops Honors
Wichita State was well represented with players named to Missouri Valley Conference top honors at the awards presentation during the MVC tourney in St. Louis this March.
Shocker senior Fred VanVleet, center in the photo at left, highlighted the MVC awards ceremony as the 2016 Larry Bird Player of the Year.
He is one of only nine players in conference history to win the Larry Bird Trophy twice, having also won in 2014. He finished third in 2015 balloting.
VanVleet and fellow senior Ron Baker, at left, were both named to the MVC’s all-conference First Team, as well as to the All-Defensive Team. Baker finished third in balloting for the Larry Bird award this season.
Markis McDuffie, at right, was recognized as the league’s Freshman of the Year, and he and Anton Grady made the MVC All-Newcomer Team.
— WSU Sports Information
To Be or Not to Be: Shocker Football
WSU President John Bardo and other university officials embarked late last year on a comprehensive review of Wichita State athletics.
The two issues out of the review making the most headlines are conference membership — and the possibility of bringing back football.
As issues are researched and the review compiled, President Bardo has sparked much conversation with his public unveiling of a “sample” Shocker football helmet, shown here.
Were football to be restarted, Bardo says, Wichita State could play at either the Football Bowl Subdivision (the highest level) or the Football Championship level (the second-highest).
WSU Claims MVC’s All-Sports Trophy
Wichita State is the 2015-16 Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Champion, marking the fourth-straight season the Shockers have claimed the league’s All-Sports crown.
In addition, the title is the 10th in the past 13 years for Wichita State, which has a league best 22 all-time.
Wichita State set a record with nine team titles, and the Shockers finished in the Top 3 in 13 of the 15 sports sponsored.
WSU claimed league championships in volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s golf, men’s indoor track and field, softball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis.
Despite Wichita State’s championship dominance, eight different institutions won at least one league title this year. Southern Illinois claimed three team titles, and Bradley had two.
Counting Wichita State this year, only five times since 1992-93 (merger of MVC men’s and women’s sports) has an institution had more than five team titles.
Fueled by its three titles and four second-place finishes, Southern Illinois finished second in the all-sports trophy race for the second-straight year.
After missing the Top 5 in standings for the first time in three decades last year, Illininois State got back into the Top 3. Missouri State and UNI finished next best in the standings.
— The Valley: MVC News
