College Basketball Preview: Can Wichita State Make a Good First Impression in the AAC?

Team to Beat: Wichita State Shockers

The last time we saw Wichita State, they were giving Kentucky all they could handle in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Their 65-62 loss to a team that saw three members become NBA Draft Lottery picks is a great indication of the direction the Shockers are headed.

Wichita State only lost one member from a team that ranked sixth in offense and second in defense, according to our metrics, and is loaded with seniors and experienced underclassmen. The most important underclassmen of this group is sophomore guard Landry Shamet, who we may be seeing later in this article.

What truly separates the Shockers is their ability to shoot and defend the three. They ranked eighth in the country in three-point shooting percentage offense, knocking down 40.3 percent of shots from beyond the arc. Defensively, they held opponents to a 31.1% success rate from three, good for 19th nationally.

While Cincinnati should prove to be on Wichita State's level throughout the season, it is the Shockers' conference to lose.