If all the players mentioned are indeed playing for Boyle and all stay healthy then the 45th is theirs to lose. 

I wouldn't count out GC in 45th. Return everyone and added a transfer or 2. Played DCA and Lincoln close in a regular season matchup. Won a district tourney game. 

1 hour ago, Packaged Meat said:

I wouldn't count out GC in 45th. Return everyone and added a transfer or 2. Played DCA and Lincoln close in a regular season matchup. Won a district tourney game. 

Jayden Noe is a very good basketball player.  He's had a good career for GC.  I don't know enough about the other returners to make an accurate assessment on them compared to the Big 3.  I think Danville should be improved as well.

Responding to a few things said about Boyle:

Turner is a good 3 point shooter, and Brown is at least average. If you watch Boyle, their offense doesn’t create many easy shots. That is going to negatively impact shooting percentages. If they can figure that out, I think Turner shoots high 30’s from 3, maybe better. 

Hager is 6’6” and Driver is 6’7.” Different players with different skill sets that should complement each other well. 

Even without Quisenberry, I think that lineup is as talented as any in the region. Brown, Turner, Smith, Hager, S Driver, Webb, Gooden, B Driver. That lineup will present a matchup problem for a lot of teams. But I’ve thought that about their rosters the last couple years, thinking they had a very good shot at winning region both years. If they can play with a lot more discipline, they should be really good in the 12th.

I will say that I don’t have direct knowledge of who is/isn’t playing this year for them. Just going by what’s being said on here. Clearly, any key subtractions could really change the outlook.

When you take Quisenberry out of the lineup it really has an impact on their offense.  They depended on him to penetrate and get to the line.  Now, teams will be able to focus on taking away the outside shots of Turner and Brown.  They were adequate 3 point shooters (32% and 30%) last year but both of them are streaky.  They'll shoot you out of a game just as quickly as they'll shoot you into a game.  Hager and Brock Driver have not proven they can be scoring threats.  Seneca Driver had some nice games last year but with an average of 6.6 he's really going to have to improve to carry or share the scoring load.  The rest of those players are pretty much unproven.  

I can see Boyle having problems on offense but they usually play tough defense.  If the officials let them get by with their usual physical play they could give people trouble.  

Cat's Pause Yearbook came out this week.

Ranked the 12th:

1. Pulaski

2.Danville Christian

3. Mercer 

4. Rockcastle

5. Southwestern

I believe this was voted on by the coaches, and while Phillips was still at Pulaski.

Thoughts? 

16 minutes ago, jtb12882 said:

Cat's Pause Yearbook came out this week.

Ranked the 12th:

1. Pulaski

2.Danville Christian

3. Mercer 

4. Rockcastle

5. Southwestern

I believe this was voted on by the coaches, and while Phillips was still at Pulaski.

Thoughts? 

About where we thought it would be when this was voted on. 
Pulaski with a  healthy Fraley still deserves to be 1 even without Phillips. 
 

The next two could interchange either way and are nipping at PC’s heals. 
 

Rockcastle probably drops. 
 

Southwestern I think is a solid 4. 
 

With the football kids playing at Boyle I think they fill the five for now. Could move up or down based on how they play when they get together. 

20 minutes ago, jtb12882 said:

Cat's Pause Yearbook came out this week.

Ranked the 12th:

1. Pulaski

2.Danville Christian

3. Mercer 

4. Rockcastle

5. Southwestern

I believe this was voted on by the coaches, and while Phillips was still at Pulaski.

Thoughts? 

Pulaski didn’t look very impressive in summer ball but then that’s summer ball and doesn’t always translate.  They just didn’t look very quick.  But, they have some experience and that will help them.

DCA’s season will depend heavily on whether the new coach can take advantage of their size and if some of the younger players will step up. They are a huge question mark and we may see them get consistently better as the season goes on IF he’s as good of a coach as his record in Indiana would suggest.

Mercer has Ellis, who’s a good player but in last year’s regional they looked good but not quite on the level of the top teams.  They could probably beat anyone on a given night but I’m not sure how consistent they will be.  
 

I don’t know enough about the other teams to comment.

27 minutes ago, 24Rocks said:

Pulaski didn’t look very impressive in summer ball but then that’s summer ball and doesn’t always translate.  They just didn’t look very quick.  But, they have some experience and that will help them.

DCA’s season will depend heavily on whether the new coach can take advantage of their size and if some of the younger players will step up. They are a huge question mark and we may see them get consistently better as the season goes on IF he’s as good of a coach as his record in Indiana would suggest.

Mercer has Ellis, who’s a good player but in last year’s regional they looked good but not quite on the level of the top teams.  They could probably beat anyone on a given night but I’m not sure how consistent they will be.  
 

I don’t know enough about the other teams to comment

No way Mercer should be worse than 2nd. Some of that may be that people aren’t aware of the PG transfer they have. He’s going to make a huge difference as that is what they were missing last year. They have the best player in the region in Ellis along with a top coach in the region, and a host of experienced guys returning. They may be the best team, definitely in the top 2 along with Pulaski.

DCA doesn’t have enough scoring unless they can really slow things down, which will be tough to do against certain teams given their lack of ball handling (outside of Boyd). Losing Fugate was a huge blow for them. I think they’ll really struggle to be top 5.

Craig’s injury is a devastating blow for Rock. I can’t see them in the top tier without him.

I do think Southwest may be a team in the hunt, though I don’t think they have enough to be on par with the top 2 teams.

With the Boyle roster (as discussed), on paper I think they have enough size, length, athleticism and scoring to compete with anyone on this list. Brown, Turner and Hager are all guys that can get 20 on a given night. Seneca Driver is a rebounding machine who will get a lot of buckets in the lane. He and Hager both are defensive presences in the lane, and Brown is an elite on ball defender. And yes, Quisenberry was their offense by getting in the lane. But that gets back to the statement I made earlier about Boyle not running sets to get guys open. If they will instead do that, and get looks in the flow of the offense, I don’t believe that roster will struggle to score.

 

10 hours ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

No way Mercer should be worse than 2nd. Some of that may be that people aren’t aware of the PG transfer they have. He’s going to make a huge difference as that is what they were missing last year. They have the best player in the region in Ellis along with a top coach in the region, and a host of experienced guys returning. They may be the best team, definitely in the top 2 along with Pulaski.

DCA doesn’t have enough scoring unless they can really slow things down, which will be tough to do against certain teams given their lack of ball handling (outside of Boyd). Losing Fugate was a huge blow for them. I think they’ll really struggle to be top 5.

Craig’s injury is a devastating blow for Rock. I can’t see them in the top tier without him.

I do think Southwest may be a team in the hunt, though I don’t think they have enough to be on par with the top 2 teams.

With the Boyle roster (as discussed), on paper I think they have enough size, length, athleticism and scoring to compete with anyone on this list. Brown, Turner and Hager are all guys that can get 20 on a given night. Seneca Driver is a rebounding machine who will get a lot of buckets in the lane. He and Hager both are defensive presences in the lane, and Brown is an elite on ball defender. And yes, Quisenberry was their offense by getting in the lane. But that gets back to the statement I made earlier about Boyle not running sets to get guys open. If they will instead do that, and get looks in the flow of the offense, I don’t believe that roster will struggle to score.

 

Haven't heard about Craig at Rockcastle? Season ending or shortterm? 

10 hours ago, Waterboy70 said:

Haven't heard about Craig at Rockcastle? Season ending or shortterm? 

My understanding is likely out for the season. Really hate to hear that for any kid, and he is probably the best offensive player in the region.

32 minutes ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

My understanding is likely out for the season. Really hate to hear that for any kid, and he is probably the best offensive player in the region.

Definitely the best long range shooter. Shot at a near 50% from 3 last year. Tough break for the kid. Hate to see it happen to anyone. Hopefully he gets back for a strong senior year if not before. 

West Jessamine is the mystery team in the 12th this year. East Jessamine will have one of the best players in the region in Miyo Jones. 

No mystery. They will play hard, be disciplined and play together. 

21 hours ago, Statsdontlie said:

West Jessamine is the mystery team in the 12th this year. East Jessamine will have one of the best players in the region in Miyo Jones. 

I agree. I’m hearing they have a few new kids that will help them including the big kid that sat out last year. They will be well coached and disciplined for sure. I just haven’t seen it yet to be comfortable with putting them in the top tier, but it’s certainly possible.