CBSSports Top 25 with projected starting lineups

[Da Coach]

CBSSports.com (Gary Parrish) has their Preseason Top 25 out today with the projected starting lineups for each team.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24769959/kentucky-is-no-1-in-cbssportscom-preseason-top-25-and-one

For #8 Wichita State, Parrish lists the projected stating lineup as:

Projected starting lineup this season (I added the heights):
G: Fred VanVleet 6'0"
G: Ron Baker 6'4"
G: Tekele Cotton 6'3"
F: Evan Wessell 6'4"
F: Darius Carter 6'7"

This seems like a strange lineup to me. What do the WSU fans think?
Would Gregg Marshall start 4 guards? Evan Wessel is listed on the WSU roster generously as a 6'4" guard, so Parrish apparently projects 4 guards in the starting lineup with Darius Carter (listed on the WSU roster as a 6'7" forward) as the center.

WSU roster

http://www.goshockers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=7500&SPID=2851&SPSID=61183

[tornado]

CSM has Wichita at #13 and project Fred VanVleet, Tekele Cotton, Ron Baker, Tevin Glass, and Darius Carter as starters

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/10024

USA Today has Wichita at #11, and seem to hint at that same starting lineup using Glass

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2014/10/26/college-basketball-countdown-no-11-wichita-state/17908307/

[wufan]

Seen a couple of projections with Wessel as a starting forward. He can play a little there, but he will earn his scholarship as a back-up wing guard. He was listed as 6-5 in high school and on previous years Shocker rosters. This is the first time he's been listed at 6-4 as Marshall is making an effort to list exact heights and weights this year.

The fifth starter is really a mystery, but most Shocker fans believe it will be either Wamukota or Kelly.

[shockerfan13]

CBSSports.com (Gary Parrish) has their Preseason Top 25 out today with the projected starting lineups for each team.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24769959/kentucky-is-no-1-in-cbssportscom-preseason-top-25-and-one

For #8 Wichita State, Parrish lists the projected stating lineup as:

Projected starting lineup this season (I added the heights):
G: Fred VanVleet 6'0"
G: Ron Baker 6'4"
G: Tekele Cotton 6'3"
F: Evan Wessell 6'4"
F: Darius Carter 6'7"

This seems like a strange lineup to me. What do the WSU fans think?
Would Gregg Marshall start 4 guards? Evan Wessel is listed on the WSU roster generously as a 6'4" guard, so Parrish apparently projects 4 guards in the starting lineup with Darius Carter (listed on the WSU roster as a 6'7" forward) as the center.

WSU roster
http://www.goshockers.com/SportSelec...51&SPSID=61183

Honestly this could be a lineup used at times this year. It would be our most experienced lineup. It will probably depend on matchups, much like last year. I would say Baker, Cotton, Van Vleet and Carter are locks to start. Evan has a great motor and heart but if he is matching up against a longer and more athletic player he will be exposed some. I would say if the above lineup isnt the starters then it would be whichever other "big" is practicing at a high level. It will probably change week by week.

Basically, no one has any clue who the fifth starter will be at this point and will probably change frequently throughout the year.

If I had to guess I would say, based off of reports, Wamokota is the closest to being the starting center out of everyone except Carter.

[Da Coach]

That lineup would work against some early season, smaller teams, but it is not a good rebounding team. With as many good big men as WSU has, I expect to see a couple bigs on the floor most of the time.

[Da Coach]

ESPN has their preseason Top 25 out, and they rank Wichita State at #10

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11754505/college-basketball-top-25-power-rankings

They suggest the same thing, that WSU may not be as good a rebounding team this year-

For seven years, the Shockers have been top 15 in defensive rebounding. But with Chadrack Lufile, Cleanthony Early and Kadeem Coleby gone, WSU could have a hard time grabbing boards. -- Eamonn Brennan and John Gasaway

[wufan]

ESPN has their preseason Top 25 out, and they rank Wichita State at #10

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11754505/college-basketball-top-25-power-rankings

They suggest the same thing, that WSU may not be as good a rebounding team this year-

For seven years, the Shockers have been top 15 in defensive rebounding. But with Chadrack Lufile, Cleanthony Early and Kadeem Coleby gone, WSU could have a hard time grabbing boards. -- Eamonn Brennan and John Gasaway

Coleby only played one year. Lufile played one year with more than 3 mpg. The Shockers have been in the top 15 in the nation for 7 years. There's a common denominator here and it isn't Coleby or Lufile. Look for another year of dominating the defensive boards from the Shockers in 14-15.

[SubGod22]

If Wessel is starting, we're not a top 10 program. I love the kid and he brings hustle and effort everyday, but he's not our best option at any position.

The 5th starter will most likely be Wamakota with the two other possibilities being freshmen Rauno Nurger or Rashard Kelly. If Wessel is starting something has gone horribly wrong.

[Da Coach]

CBSSports.com has their list of 20 under-the-radar freshmen-

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24773692/-15-college-basketball-preview-20-under-the-radar-freshmen

2 MVC freshmen are on their list-
Wichita State forward Rashard Kelly: Gregg Marshall has made the Shockers nationally relevant by consistently finding under-the-radar guys who have an edge, and Kelly fits that mold. The 6-7 power forward may not start, but there's a good chance that he'll be on the floor for the Shockers up front next to Darius Carter during the game's final minutes.

Illinois State forward Deontae "Teddy" Hawkins: 6-8 forward originally committed to Wichita State out of high school and was pursued by several BCS programs. His presence is a major reason why the Redbirds seemed primed to jump to the top tier of the standings in the Missouri Valley.