How did those people whose opinions you really respect feel about their win over NewCath and Wilmington?

 

I don't think that any of them saw those games, and what they told me was what they saw based on their performance over the Christmas break. Whatever they'd think of those games is kind of irrelevant to what they saw over Christmas break, at least on some levels. Again, not trying to bash Covington Catholic, just repeating what I've been told from people I trust who based their opinions on what they saw from them over Christmas.

 

Covington Catholic is well coached, so I don't doubt at all that they've improved tremendously as the season has moved along. I'm just relaying what was the consensus from people in the Bluegrass-area who were talking about them based on what they saw in person.

 

Based on what I saw from them last season, I would think that the combination of losing Ruthsatz and not having tons of athletes at the top end past CVH makes me inclined to say that their ceiling is possibly a bit lower than your Ballard, Trinity, Doss, Hopkinsville's, etc. who could, if nothing else, out-athlete them and/or have a distinct advantage in terms of size, quickness, etc.

 

I think there were plenty of valid questions as to whether PRP was a top 10 team given the conversation about them being ranked as such a few weeks ago. The fact that Covington Catholic beats them by 12 when PRP is apparently playing without their 2nd leading scorer is obviously better than a loss, but it's not really going to move the needle a ton for me either. I'd personally take much more from the fact that they beat Newport Central Catholic, especially if NCC just rolls LCA later today.

 

 

Based on what I saw from them last season, I would think that the combination of losing Ruthsatz and not having tons of athletes at the top end past CVH makes me inclined to say that their ceiling is possibly a bit lower than your Ballard, Trinity, Doss, Hopkinsville's, etc. who could, if nothing else, out-athlete them and/or have a distinct advantage in terms of size, quickness, etc.

 

 

They are more athletic this year than last year.

They are more athletic this year than last year.

 

Understand what you are saying, but the point I was trying to make is that I wouldn't really call them athletic, in comparison to a Ballard, Hopkinsville, Bryan Station, Trinity, etc. If they beat other top teams, it's more likely going to be with execution and fundamentally sound play, not by running by or jumping over them.

Understand what you are saying, but the point I was trying to make is that I wouldn't really call them athletic, in comparison to a Ballard, Hopkinsville, Bryan Station, Trinity, etc. If they beat other top teams, it's more likely going to be with execution and fundamentally sound play, not by running by or jumping over them.

 

They never win on athleticism. Not his year. Really not any year.

Understand what you are saying, but the point I was trying to make is that I wouldn't really call them athletic, in comparison to a Ballard, Hopkinsville, Bryan Station, Trinity, etc. If they beat other top teams, it's more likely going to be with execution and fundamentally sound play, not by running by or jumping over them.

 

Trinity isn't that athletic.

Trinity isn't that athletic.

 

Overall, no they aren't, at least in comparison to the most athletic teams in the State. Top end though, you'll be pressed to find a team with athletes like Spalding and West. Stafford isn't a bad athlete either. If we're talking about the top 10-20 teams in the State, I still think Trinity is closer to the "athletic" groups than they are to the "not so athletic" groups.

Wilmington knocked off #1 Wayne last night 65-60, makes the CCH road victory look than much more impressive.

CovCath has had a very tough schedule and they have some very nice road wins. You gotta be able to go into hostile environments and get wins and they have proven they can do it. See Wilminton OH, PRP, Cincy St. X, Lou. St X, Campbell Co, Henry Clay, Winton Woods.

 

They also traveled to Moeller and Trinity suffering losses but that is how you get better. Tournament losses over the Xmas break to Knott Co Central and Boyle Co were very uncharacteristic but I am sure lessons were learned.

 

They are going to be the most prepared team come tourney time for sure.

Knott Co Central is #4 in the state and Boyle is #16 so maybe not too uncharacteristic.

Wayne was also #9 in the Country.

They never win on athleticism. Not his year. Really not any year.

 

Evidently CCH doesn't dunk enough for Joker.

Knott Co Central is #4 in the state and Boyle is #16 so maybe not too uncharacteristic.

 

From what I understand they should've won both games but didn't play well. Yes both teams are very solid and Top 20 teams so just adds even more to my point. They will be one of the most battle tested in the state.

Evidently CCH doesn't dunk enough for Joker.

 

Truth. I'll make no bones about it, if two teams are basically even in terms of what they can do overall, I'll tend to take the more athletic team. Covington Catholic is probably going to be more fundamentally sound than most teams they play. At some point though, I don't care how fundamentally sound you are if you are just going to get "out-athleted". It's definitely a balance though and there are plenty of teams that have tons of raw athleticism but just aren't a good basketball team.

 

That said, if I were a coach, I wouldn't have a problem with people saying I "roll the ball out and don't coach" if it meant I used a guy like LeBron or Shaq and just let them play bullyball because they are physically forces of nature, even when compared to other guys at their position.

 

This year, I'm not sure that Covington Catholic's sound play is enough to offset what they'd give up athletically to the teams above them if we're talking a Ballard, Henderson County, Trinity, or the like.

Truth. I'll make no bones about it, if two teams are basically even in terms of what they can do overall, I'll tend to take the more athletic team. Covington Catholic is probably going to be more fundamentally sound than most teams they play. At some point though, I don't care how fundamentally sound you are if you are just going to get "out-athleted". It's definitely a balance though and there are plenty of teams that have tons of raw athleticism but just aren't a good basketball team.

 

That said, if I were a coach, I wouldn't have a problem with people saying I "roll the ball out and don't coach" if it meant I used a guy like LeBron or Shaq and just let them play bullyball because they are physically forces of nature, even when compared to other guys at their position.

 

This year, I'm not sure that Covington Catholic's sound play is enough to offset what they'd give up athletically to the teams above them if we're talking a Ballard, Henderson County, Trinity, or the like.

 

Once again T isn't athletic and aren't in the same athletic class as those you're grouping them with. Get Spalding in foul trouble and they lose most of their athleticism.

 

Cov cath is a very solid team I watched them play T. Only difference was Spalding on the inside.

Once again T isn't athletic and aren't in the same athletic class as those you're grouping them with. Get Spalding in foul trouble and they lose most of their athleticism.

 

Cov cath is a very solid team I watched them play T. Only difference was Spalding on the inside.

 

I mean, you take Spalding out of the equation, then you're just taking away the 6'10 Louisville commit who is the size of a center but can beat wings down the floor.

 

I think you can say that for lots of teams if you put it on their most athletic player. If you aren't saying it about them, then they're either really athletic or not very athletic at all.

 

I don't think Trinity is as athletic as Ballard, and it's not even close, but I don't know what kind of teams you usually say are "athletic compared to Ballard" either. If there are teams you say that about, then they will roll most opponents in Kentucky and it's not even going to be close either though.