Wichita State was ranked No. 8 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll released on Thursday, the program’s highest preseason ranking in 36 years.
The Shockers have earned a consensus top-10 ranking, despite their two best players — Landry Shamet and Markis McDuffie — currently recovering from foot injuries. Wichita State returns its top eight scorers and all five starters from last season’s team that went 31-5.
Wichita State was one spot ahead of North Carolina, the defending national champion, while Duke claimed the No. 1 spot in the poll. The top five was rounded out by Michigan Sate, Kansas, Kentucky, and Arizona.