Preseason, how would you rank the 10 best teams in the WKY area for '14-'15?

 

I know it's a broad area, so add more if you like. I know we have some new Western Kentucky posters who've joined the old guard (who've provided great info over the years) so add more to the rankings and make it a top 20 or break it down however you'd like.

This is definitely not my area of expertise, but from what I saw last year, I would have the following top 5

 

1. Henderson Co

2. Taylor Co.

3. Hopkinsville

4. Owensboro

5. Calloway Co.

1. Hopkinsville

2. Owensboro

3. Bowling Green

4. Taylor County

5. Henderson County

6. University Heights

7. Graves County

8. Warren Central

9. Elizabethtown

10. Caldwell County

After 4, those teams are interchangeable, except Caldwell at #10. I am sure I left some teams out. For the most part these are teams I have seen play.

I left out Owensboro Apollo and Colloway County, they would be in my 2nd 5, moving Caldwell Co. and Graves Co. out of the my top 10. Again these are teams that I have seen play.

If ranking Region 1 teams for the coming year Graves would not be among the top 2. They lost almost everything. Pre-season Region 1 for most people would probably go Calloway, Marshall, McCracken, Tilghman, and possibly Murray ahead of Graves.

Why Calloway County? What do they have going on this year?

 

How good is McCracken County going to be this season? Good enough to win region again?

I would be hesitant to put hoptown no.1 here because they lost 6 seniors last year, but Matlock appears to have made good strides, and they have the best Freshman point guard I think I have ever seen here in Ky in Jalen Johnson, plus they have had some decent transfers.

 

1. Hopkinsville

2. Taylor County

3. Henderson County

4. Bowling Green

5. Owensboro

6. Elizabethtown

7. Graves County

8. Warren Central

9. University Heights

10. McCracken County

Why Calloway County? What do they have going on this year?

 

How good is McCracken County going to be this season? Good enough to win region again?

 

Calloway has a very strong class of seniors who have been Regional contenders the last two years and at least on paper have to be the favorite. As sophomores they lost in the Region final to Graves and last year they lost in the first round to eventual winner McCracken. Parker Adams is likely the pre-season region player of the year and Skyler Hunter has committed to play at Colgate. Also have a couple of good guards. Would seemingly be their year. If they are to be knocked off I think it would most likely be Marshall County who have most of their team back from the Region final OT loss to McCracken. They did lose Austin Rentfrow who was arguably the best player in the region last year.

 

As far as McCracken it is hard to say. I think they will be good but they lost a lot to graduation. They have Caleb Stonecipher back and he will score a ton. They also have Center Jason Armstrong back. He can guard any position on the floor and is a load inside. The key may be a couple of transfers. Cole Smith from CCA can score and they added a point guard from South Fulton to the mix. I would put them 3rd at least to start the year.

I can only comment on the 5th region but I am not sure why anyone would have Elizabethtown in the top 10. If any team from the 5th should be there it would be Bardstown and I think JH and NH have the ability to beat Elizabethtown this year. E-Town lost their big man and their only two guards who could handle pressure so while they have a lot of experience coming back, I don't think they will be able to handle full court pressure they will see this year.

I can only comment on the 5th region but I am not sure why anyone would have Elizabethtown in the top 10. If any team from the 5th should be there it would be Bardstown and I think JH and NH have the ability to beat Elizabethtown this year. E-Town lost their big man and their only two guards who could handle pressure so while they have a lot of experience coming back, I don't think they will be able to handle full court pressure they will see this year.

 

Completely agree.

 

Top teams in 5th are Bardstown and Taylor ... and then everyone else. E'town lost its entirely backcourt and center.

 

Bardstown has been there, done that and returns Cowherd.

 

Taylor has the talent, but cohesiveness and coaching are question marks (in addition to the looming KHSAA investigation).