As Sean Miller says a lot, in a post-season game, give me the team with the best back-court. I certainly don't think Taylor Co. is a lock to need scissors at Rupp, but hard for me to pick against them on November 18th.

 

On November 18th give me Bowling Green. Post presence and an above average backcourt along with championship game experience.

1. Bowling Green

2. Hopkinsville

3. Taylor County

4. Covington Catholic

5. Central

6. Bullitt East

7. Dunbar

8. Christian County

9. Mercer County

10. Ballard

 

Glad to see on not the only person high on Central. I don't know a ton about them, but based on how they played late last season and how much they have coming back, I feel like they should be a top 5 team.

Hopkinsville is not a top ten team to start year are they? I know not top 2 but I was thinking they have hard time being top 20.

I think depth is vastly overrated in terms of post season success. It is not uncommon for a team to use a 6 player rotation and win the state, and more often than not the champion uses 7 or less in their rotation.

 

???? It was Bowling Greens depth that got them to the State Championship last year! They had 2 Sophomores come off the bench and cause havoc in at least 2 playoff games! And the injury bug can hit anyone at anytime.... If TC lost either of their top 2 players due to injury, I don't even know if they would make it out of their Region. BG and Hoptown could lose one of their top players and still be a title contender. That is the difference!

Hopkinsville is not a top ten team to start year are they? I know not top 2 but I was thinking they have hard time being top 20.

 

Hoptown looked REALLY good this Summer! They have plenty of size, speed, and athleticism... They also got a key transfer from UHA. They are coached well and have depth. Their only knock is that their best players are only Sophmores, but those Sophomores have plenty of grit. I think they will be in the mix come February. Them, Christian County, and Bowling Green are definitely the top 3 teams out of the West. I also like Graves County and Paducah Tilghman.

Where did Hunter go ?

Luke Ezell!!!!!

 

Don't make Tyler angry. You won't like him when he is angry.

 

If you make him angry, call timeout and chase him with a triple team lol

Where did Hunter go ?

 

Hunter is at SW. He just decided not to play basketball

There aren't enough available basketballs or minutes in a game for all those guys to put up those kind of points. Can they play defense is the real question, because that's what gets you in the top 10.

Defiantly didn't mean they'll score that every night but I think they can put up points on most KY High School teams. LC doesn't have a lot of basketball ️tradition. They've been waiting for this group to be Sr's for about 10yrs now. Should be best team in school history and should be clear favorite to win the 15th. They haven't earned the right to be preseason top 10 but I'll be surprised if they aren't around it at the end of the season if they stay healthy. Will be a fun team to track this year. Play in Fast Lane+Lex Cath tourney. I wouldn't call them a defensive team being objective. I think they'll be extremely explosive on offense.

Hopkinsville now has a true big man down low and one of the most talented guard lineups in the state. They will be very good. I agree with Doubletake that Bowling Green, Christian County, and Hopkinsville are the best 3 teams coming out of WKy as of 11/18.

Taylor is certainly a legit 1. They're going to be able to play stronger teams this year to fulfill their schedule and will improve from that alone. I say this because I've heard that a lot of 5th Region teams, outside of the 20th District, are refusing to play them.

Glad to see on not the only person high on Central. I don't know a ton about them, but based on how they played late last season and how much they have coming back, I feel like they should be a top 5 team.

Yes they should be really good this year. My pick for the 7th. Have 2 of the top 5 seniors in Louisville in Dai'Von Thompson and Brandon Wells (with 5 other solid seniors), and 2 of the top 5 juniors in Louisville with Devin Firman and O'Neal Swint (didn't play last year, but 6'5" swingman that will cause trouble this season), and a solid junior class around them as well. I watched them in summer league this year against Bullitt East. Thompson was out, and Swint had about 25 and 9, and 3 huge dunks in a win. Their potential is very high this season.

???? It was Bowling Greens depth that got them to the State Championship last year! They had 2 Sophomores come off the bench and cause havoc in at least 2 playoff games! And the injury bug can hit anyone at anytime.... If TC lost either of their top 2 players due to injury, I don't even know if they would make it out of their Region. BG and Hoptown could lose one of their top players and still be a title contender. That is the difference!

 

Jones officially came of the bench, but was used more like a starter than Dane D(?). Their rotation was basically 7 players. Teams don't need more than that in the post season, and can make due with less.

 

Also, very few teams could survive an injury to one of their top 2 players. Off hand I can't think of any team that has won a state title without one of their top two players, and 2012 Trinity is the only state championship team over the last several years that I think would have had a chance to.

 

I'm not saying having depth is a bad thing, but I don't think it is near as important as a lot of people make it out to be. Elite players win state titles, not depth.

Jones officially came of the bench, but was used more like a starter than Dane D(?). Their rotation was basically 7 players. Teams don't need more than that in the post season, and can make due with less.

 

Also, very few teams could survive an injury to one of their top 2 players. Off hand I can't think of any team that has won a state title without one of their top two players, and 2012 Trinity is the only state championship team over the last several years that I think would have had a chance to.

 

I'm not saying having depth is a bad thing, but I don't think it is near as important as a lot of people make it out to be. Elite players win state titles, not depth.

 

By depth, I also mean depth in a teams starting 5. Hopkinsville starts five players that could play Division I basketball. Bowling Green does is well, and has one or two that come off the bench that could play Division I basketball. Taylor county has two.... Albeit those two may be High major, I am not sure they are "DEEP" enough 1-5 to handle the aforementioned teams... But at the end of the day, there is a reason we play these games. Rankings can't help you when you step foot on the hardwood. We will see what they are made of when they face competitive teams.

@First Mercer is a good team. The tournament at KBA was a h

good test but we all know summer ball doesn't necessarily carry over to the season. Mercer is talented but with that being said Mercer beat Lafayette over the summer by a last second shot that was defensed well. Lafayette controlled the whole game by double digits but fell short by a tremendous shot from Trevan Faulkner from the corner. These teams play again this year in the Jock Sutherland classic. That will be their test. Lafayette is a team to be on the look out for in the 11th finishing at #10 in Dave Cantrell's season ending rankings last year. Lafayette brings back the best big man in the 11th Ross Jenkins bar far the best shooter in the 11th Harrison Lane and arguably the best "Pure Pg" Jaelin Jenkins (reminds me of Tyler Ulis the way he sees the floor and manages the game) in the 11th. They also bolstered one the the best if not the best 6th man in the 11th T.J Downey. Should be fun team to watch.