MVCfans.com

It's pretty crazy with that Parrish preseason AA stuff. I only recongized FVV and Harrell. I don't even really remember the other three guys. Nice honor for Fred though.

College coaches were sked which one player would they take if they could have any player playing D1 basketball. VanVleet came in 3rd. Baker got multiple votes.

Baker/VanVleet have the chance to go down as the best guard tandem in Shocker history. VanVleet very well may be 1st team AA this year and Baker has a shot at some awards as well. I expect both of them to be listed 1st or 2nd team on the various pre-season publications. Crazy to think how far the Shox have come during the last 15 years.

For those who think Baker is just a spot-up shooter who can't create his own shot, this came out of the #1 Elite Gurd camp in the nation:

Wichita State's Ron Baker just broke Dez Wells' ankles in a 2-on-2 drill. The reaction from the bench? "Oooooooooh!"
10:45 AM - 9 Aug 2014

Not often you hear about a SG breaking ankles. that's usually reserved for PG's.

Aargh wrote:For those who think Baker is just a spot-up shooter who can't create his own shot, this came out of the #1 Elite Gurd camp in the nation:

Wichita State's Ron Baker just broke Dez Wells' ankles in a 2-on-2 drill. The reaction from the bench? "Oooooooooh!"
10:45 AM - 9 Aug 2014

Not often you hear about a SG breaking ankles. that's usually reserved for PG's.

I learned everything I needed to know about Baker when the Shocks played the Aces last year at the Ford Center. The Aces hung with the Shocks for 35 minutes, and with about 5 minutes left the Shocks led 65-60. At that point Baker put up the most impressive individual performance that I saw last year. He personally took over the games with 9 straight points, and the game was over. He finished with 26 for the game. The Shocks finally won 84-68, but the game was much closer than that, except for Bakers performance. IMHO he is by far the best guard in the MVC, and one of the best in the nation. By the way, Van Vleet had 18 points, and they are certainly one of the best guard combos in the nation. They alone will be one of the reasons that the Shocks won't lose very many games this year either.

The Blue Ribbon basketball book is out with the cover showing their pre-season first team AA selections, which includes Fred VanVleet. Baker is mentioned as 1 of 15 others who could have been of the first team.

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/25/blue-ribbon-releases-their-preseason-first-team-all-americans/

Add SI to the list honoring Baker and VanVleet. Top 20 guards for 2014-15 includes both.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2014/09/11/best-guards-college-basketball-harrison-twins-fred-vanvleet

https://twitter.com/kenpomeroy/status/5 ... 6232111104

The comments are fantastic.

Blue Ribbon put VanVleet on their pre-season 1st team AA list. Baker on 3rd. Only Wisconsin, Kentucky, and WSU got 2 players on those AA teams.

http://chrisdortch.info/blue-ribbon-announces-complete-all-america-teams-player-of-year-and-newcomer-of-year/

Parrish and CBS have updated their AA lists and gone 3-deep. VanVleet 1st team. Baker 3rd team. Only Duke, Wisconsin, and WSU had 2 players on the 3-deep list.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24741626/cbssportscom-2014-15-preseason-all-american-basketball-teams