Bulldog_Chem

The top of the 12th region is strong. Rockcastle, Somerset, and Lincoln could all make noise in march

Charleston SC

Yes. You only have to start with 5 players. A team can play with less after the game starts

I'm a varsity girls coach and I'll offer what I expect of my middle school program. 1.) Everyone learns to play man to man defense. Zones have no place in middle school basketball IMO. If I get players that can play man, its easy to learn how to play a zone. 2.) Everyone learns to handle the ball. Ball handling should be in every practice and even your post players should learn to handle it just like your PG. That post player that is 6'1'' in 7th grade could be 6'1'' as a senior. 3.) Learn to break the press at an early age. Teach a press breaker before you teach offensive plays. 4.) Never cut!!!! There is no way to evaluate a players ability if he/she is only 13 or 14 years old. 5.) I put zero value in winning and losing at the middle school level. When I walk into practice I want to see fundamentals being taught and I want to see players improving.

Woodford Reserve on the rocks

Finally for the hawk. Congrats. Larkin should be in next year IMO.

If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball. ~Phil Jackson The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not. ~Charles Barkley The secret is to have eight great players and four others who will cheer like crazy. ~Jerry Tarkanian

If channel 3 was showing the NBA and channel 4 was showing frogs making love, I'd watch the frogs even if it was coming in fuzzy. - Bobby Knight

Basketball state tournament is a Thursday-Friday-Saturday event. I always take a personal day and a sick day. I don't mind burning those days because the athletic department buys my tickets and tickets for my assistant coaches. It's been that way at the three schools I've coached at.

Mercer has more than just Taylor. I'm calling for a mild upset early in the season with Mercer winning a close one 76-72.

I tell you one that drives me crazy is palming or carrying the ball. Watch a college or pro game tonight. The officials could make that call every trip down the floor.

I like Harbaugh at ND. I think it's a good fit.

As a former official, i'd have to say its over and back. Many coaches don't understand the rule. Following a close second is the pro-hop or jump stop move. Is it traveling or not?

WOW...I find it hard to believe that schools are marking kids absent for state sponsored events. I'm a chemistry/physics teacher and I take a group of physics students to six flags or kings island on a field trip every year. The amusement parks holds an annual physics day where the students learn the physics of roller coasters. Those students are always marked present even though we spend the day riding roller coasters. I've also been a basketball coach for 5 years, but this is my first year at an all "A" school. Guess I need to check and see if those days will be excused if we make it to the state "A" tournament.

Danville and West are the class, but Mercer could surprise some people. They can run more than just Cinnamon to the mound. McRay and Honchel are both solid lefties.

Watts should be a fun kid to watch this season. He may be one of those rare athletes that could play at the next level in two sports. (Baseball and Basketball)

This is an excellent point. I'm not sure the SEC doesn't have the 2 best / most deserving teams this year.

Hal Morris' take from amnews.com http://www.amnews.com/stories/2009/11/16/spo.384975.sto

Hits the nail right on the head.

Watts is as good as anyone in the 12th.

I know Coach Shope is stacked with pitching at Mercer this season, who else will compete for the 12 region? West Jessamine? Danville?

There is no speculation about the record. 3-22 last season. 28-99 combined record over the last 5 seasons. Now I'm sorry if I have offended you, but when I see a program that has a winning percentage of 22% over a five year period I think its being neglected. Its not like West Jessamine is a small 1A school like Sayre or Burgin, where the athletes are few and far between. Over that 5 year span, every team in the 46th district made it to the regional tournament at least once. Even tiny little Burgin made it a few years ago. Even if they were working, what they were doing didnt help and needed to be changed. Again I hope you are right about Coach Thomas getting a different Lady Colt this season, but I'm quite confident that that program is at least 2-3 years away from being competitive in the 46th district or the 12th region.

I disagree. D-2 manages to hold a playoff to crown its champion. Taking a page out of the D-2 playbook would be the best method.

I absolutely refuse to watch college football because of the BCS system. What message does the NCAA send to those kids that play at TCU or Boise St if they run the table and go undefeated and are left out of the national championship picture? "Well son, you worked your tail off all season, never lost a game, met every challenge that came your way, but since you don't play in the SEC, Big 10, Pac-10, ect; You NEVER had a shot from the beginning!"

Coly -- Last season West Jessamine went 3-22. Over the last five seasons they are 28-99!!!! Just curious what your definition of neglect is??? The good news is that Coach Thomas is a very good coach, has a proven track record, and will come in and do what needs to be done. I just hope he sticks around long enough to make a difference. The 12th region and the 46th district are better off if west is competitive. As for MS basketball, I agree that if NO fundamentals are being taught at the middle school level, then the losing will continue at the high school level. However winning DOES NOT always transfer up! The reason it doesnt is because neither girls or boys are fully developed physically in middle school. The best basketball team doesn't win in middle school, the tallest or most physically developed does. If you want examples I could provide you with several successful middle school teams that never panned out at the varsity level and vice versa groups that never won in middle school, but turned around and had very successful varsity careers.