They did a great job, but this stuff just comes out way too early. South has two new kids that will make the team better and to have them third is a bit low IMO.

But you have to go with what you have in the summer.

 

Clay is pre-season No. 1 and hasn't even won a region tournament game in three years.

 

Oh well, this is why it is fun to talk about this stuff.

They did a great job, but this stuff just comes out way too early. South has two new kids that will make the team better and to have them third is a bit low IMO.

But you have to go with what you have in the summer.

 

Clay is pre-season No. 1 and hasn't even won a region tournament game in three years.

 

Oh well, this is why it is fun to talk about this stuff.

 

Will Hooker be gone for all of basketball season too? Losing him hurts basketball as well.

Yep,

I have been told he's our for the season.

That means, you move Corbin or South to No. 1 and Clay to three.

 

The one kid South got earlier in the year will be more of a role player, but the other kid, from what I have been told, should be a dandy.

They did a great job, but this stuff just comes out way too early. South has two new kids that will make the team better and to have them third is a bit low IMO.

But you have to go with what you have in the summer.

 

Clay is pre-season No. 1 and hasn't even won a region tournament game in three years.

 

Oh well, this is why it is fun to talk about this stuff.

 

I understand what you are saying, but it being a preseason poll how can you factor in SL's 2 transfers? Unless someone has seen them play I don't see how you can. Other than like with Hooker getting hurt and having a similar situation than that I don't see how it would be a whole lot different right now compared to the middle of November, unless the person doing the report is allowed to attend practices at different schools.

Corbin is once again number 1 until somebody beats them...how many times have you heard a South fan say "were number 1 until somebody knocks us off?" Les I know you've said it numerous times~!

Per-request, here is the Cats Pause 13th region preview:

 

Written by John Henson/Harlan Daily Enterprise

 

Teams:

 

1. clay Co

2. Corbin

3. South Laurel

4. Knox Central

5. Ball Co

6. whitley Co

7. Harlan Co

8. North Laurel

9. Middlesboro

10. Lynn Camp

 

Players:

 

1. Cody Miller Knox Central

2. Matt St. John

3. Madison Johnson Corbin

4. Blaine Green Middlesboro

5. J.V. Hooker Clay Co

6. D.J. wilson clay Co

7. Kendale Reed Clay Co

8. Isaac Wilson Corbin

9. Kyle Hogue Harlan Co

10. aaron Manns Corbin

Corbin is once again number 1 until somebody beats them...how many times have you heard a South fan say "were number 1 until somebody knocks us off?" Les I know you've said it numerous times~!

 

I agree. Until someone beats Corbin, the Redhounds are the team to beat.:thumb:

I understand what you are saying, but it being a preseason poll how can you factor in SL's 2 transfers? Unless someone has seen them play I don't see how you can. Other than like with Hooker getting hurt and having a similar situation than that I don't see how it would be a whole lot different right now compared to the middle of November, unless the person doing the report is allowed to attend practices at different schools.

 

I agree with that, too. I'm just saying the writer is handcuffed with the deadline that is given. Bluegrass Preps does a better job of giving its writers a better deadline to evaluate everything.

Good point Les, I have got blindsided in the past by players who decided at the last minute to not come out for basketball after football season.

I think the Miller kid is great but St. John is clearly the best player in the 13th. He can dominate games at either end of the court.

I don't understand the "until someone beats them" theory, even though I hear it a lot, even from coaches and sports writers. It's just an excuse, I think, not to break it down and compare what everyone has coming back.

 

Winning programs like South Laurel and Corbin, and Clay for so many years, are going to be very competitive and may rebuild quicker than most, but I think it takes a little away from what they've accomplished with a new team when you pick them as the favorite when they really shouldn't be.

 

You don't get any points from what you did the year before. Why should South Laurel have been picked over Corbin last year when Corbin had everyone back and South lost a lot?

 

I don't have that much trouble with the early deadline. You get a few players coming and going, but you get a real good idea in the summer what everyone has and how good they'll be.

 

Give me a summer of basketball, and I'll tell you 90 percent of the regional tournament field just about every year.

I don't understand the "until someone beats them" theory, even though I hear it a lot, even from coaches and sports writers. It's just an excuse, I think, not to break it down and compare what everyone has coming back.

 

Winning programs like South Laurel and Corbin, and Clay for so many years, are going to be very competitive and may rebuild quicker than most, but I think it takes a little away from what they've accomplished with a new team when you pick them as the favorite when they really shouldn't be.

 

You don't get any points from what you did the year before. Why should South Laurel have been picked over Corbin last year when Corbin had everyone back and South lost a lot?

 

I don't have that much trouble with the early deadline. You get a few players coming and going, but you get a real good idea in the summer what everyone has and how good they'll be.

 

Give me a summer of basketball, and I'll tell you 90 percent of the regional tournament field just about every year.

:thumb:

It seems with the injury to Hooker and the transfers coming into SL that Corbin, SL and Clay Co. are right there together. I thought Clay would be the favorite, but now it bunches them back up.

:thumb:

 

You might can tell 90 percent of who will make the field, but it still doesn't help to the fact that you guys are handcuffed in really writing a legit preview when things are do so early.

It seems with the injury to Hooker and the transfers coming into SL that Corbin, SL and Clay Co. are right there together. I thought Clay would be the favorite, but now it bunches them back up.

 

I just don't believe Clay should have been the No. 1 even if hooker was coming back.

 

Corbin should be No. 1 .... heck, Clay and that group hasn't even won a regional tourney game during the past three years.