2007-2008 Boys Basketball  Week-9, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (02-14-2008)

CHESTERTON (2-14-2008)  So much for all those undefeated teams I was talking about last week.  Not only did Chesterton (16-1) get whipped by Merrillville, but Bloomington South (16-1) got smoked 49-35 at Brownsburg (16-3).  In retrospect, I thought there were too many unbeaten teams.  Now, there are only three undefeated teams in all four classes: 2A Bluffton (17-0), 4A Carmel (16-0) and 4A New Albany (19-0).

I say this every year: Very few undefeated teams win the Indiana State high school basketball tournament.  Nobody wants teams to lose intentionally, but the boys need to understand that one loss means nothing, and in fact, it can re-position a team mentally and motivate them physically.  There are only 11 undefeated champions of Indiana basketball in the 90 years of the state tournament.  Keep in mind that there have been four champions in each of the last 10 seasons.  Before class, there were only six undefeated champions and they are among the greatest prep teams of all time.

The first of coach Bill Green's three consecutive state champs, in the Marion 'Purple Reign' days of 1984-1986, the 1984 Marion team was 29-0.  That three-peat was one of only three n boys state history.  The Indianapolis Washington team that won in 1969 with George McGinnis went 31-0.  The 1970  East Chicago Roosevelt team was 28-0 and the 1971 East Chicago Washington team with Pete Trgovich was 29-0.  The debate never ended about which of those three was the best of that era.

In the 50s, Oscar Robertson's Crispus Attucks team (31-0) won it all in 1956 and lost the title game to South Bend Central Ridge (30-0) in 1957.  Before I looked back at the list, I totally forgot that Attucks lost the title game the next year after they went unbeaten.  I know nothing, nor have I ever read anything about the 1957 South Bend Central team.

The last unbeaten team was Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Lawrence North (31-0), which completed the third of its three consecutive state titles in 2006.  Let me predict that that's the last undefeated Class 4A team you will see for awhile.

All the pre-class teams feasted on small schools in the early rounds of the tournament.  That opportunity is not available any more.  But that's it, folks.  There were no undefeated state champs in the three decades of the state tourney.  It's safe to say there won't be an undefeated state champ this year since there are only three possibilities remaining.

Its finally time for the draw, and before the fact, let's talk about what each team would like... and might get.

1.  (4A) East Chicago (14-3)
2007 (22-3), 2006 (19-5), 2005 (13-8), 2004 (13-10)

EAST CHICAGO:  The Cardinals beat Lew Wallace 98-91 in overtime to make a shaky move to the top spot, largely because of the personnel loss by Chesterton.  EC continues to be defensively challenged, but they hit the 90-point mark for the fifth time this season and improved to 2-0 in overtime games.  6-foot-5 football star Kawaan Short scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Cardinals.  Angel Garcia fouled out and drew a key technical foul in overtime, but Bryce Walker (20 points) and Short saved the day against the fast-breaking Hornets in front of an estimated 2,000 at Lew Wallace high school.  EC has games with rival Bishop Noll (15-3), new Gary team Bowman Academy (8-5) and New Trier (16-6) of Winnetka, Illinois.  The defending state champ Cardinals don't play much defense, but you get the feeling they could if they wanted to.

WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW?  Highland (3-16) or Morton (2-14).  I don't think EC necessarily wants a bye if they could get a weak team to scrimmage.  The Cards end the regular season early (Feb. 19) so they probably would rather play on the 26th instead of getting a bye until the 29th in the seven team EC Sectional.

WHO DO THEY NOT WANT?   Munster (12-5) EC does not want a long playoff and then a game with a fundamentally sound, well-coached squad like Munster or Gary West Side.  But they would get 'up' for a rival like West Side.  They might sleep-walk against Munster, a team they did not face this year.

2.  (4A) Chesterton (16-1)
2007 (16-7), 2006 (14-9), 2005 (9-12), 2004 (13-8)

CHESTERTON:  Chesterton lost to Merrillville 61-55 after lead guard Jordan Lewis was suspended for the final four games of the regular season after an off-the-court violation of team rules.  That's why they're no longer the top-ranked team.  The Trojans are not as good without Lewis and no one would argue that point.  Junior Tommy Peller (10.9) moves over to the lead guard position until Lewis comes back in the Michigan City Sectional.  6-7 forward Jack Haupt (12.2 ppg,) and DAC leading scorer Zack Novak (27.5 ppg.) may have a little trouble getting the ball in the final 10 days.  The Trojans finish the season with Boone Grove (10-7) and Crown Point (12-5) in the final week.

WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW?  Hobart (11-6) or LaPorte (5-12).  They swept both teams and they don't play them that much.

WHO DO THEY WANT TO AVOID?  Crown Point.  The Trojans close the season with Crown Point and have met them 14 times in five years.  You simply don't want to continue to face the same team.  They'd also rather see Merrillville and Michigan City, speedy teams, play once or twice and get a little tired before Chesterton sees them.  For folks who don't know, 4A Sectional 2 has eight teams so there are no first round byes.  To win, you must play three times in five days.

3.  (4A) Merrillville (13-4)
2007 (13-9), 2006 (17-4), 2005 (18-4), 2004 (9-12)

MERRILLVILLE:  A lesson here on not to put too much stock in one game or one weekend.  Merrillville bounced back from losses to Crown Point (12-5) and Munster (12-5) before upsetting Chesterton 60-54.  Remember when I said that Merrillville has more talent 1-through-10 than any team in NW Indiana.  I think everybody knows that's true.  The Pirates have only lost to Michigan City, Chesterton, Munster and Crown Point, all four good teams.  The Pirates will end the season at 16-4 and they will be one of the favorites in Class 4A Sectional 2.  They lack experience, but you'd just as soon they don't get it against your side.

WHO DO THEY WANT?  Hobart (12-5), Portage (6-12) or LaPorte (5-12).  Teams without much offense who might stall and who lost to Merrillville without wearing them out.  The Pirates wouldn't mind playing CP (12-5) early after losing to them two weeks ago.

WHO DO THEY NOT WANT?  Chesterton (16-1).  You don't want to play a good team you just beat.  And you don't want an athletic team like Michigan City to start what you hope is a three-game week.

4.  (4A) CROWN POINT (12-5)
2007 (12-9), 2006 (9-13), 2005 (13-9), 2004 (6-16)

CROWN POINT:  Crown Point had seven days off after an easy win over LaPorte, CP's fifth consecutive victory.  Stephen Albrecht (18.5 ppg.) is No.1 in NW Indiana (among starting players) in foul shooting at 90.5% (76 of 84) and Zach Cecich (12.1 ppg.) is shooting 65% (95 of 145) from the floor.  The Bulldogs have only 181 turnovers (10.6 per game) in 17 games against 253 assists led by senior guard Kyle Hanaway (7.8 assists per game). CP's final double-header weekend serves up Portage (5-12) and Lowell (7-11) on Feb. 15-16.  As the season ends, there is a large gap between the top four teams and the rest of NW Indiana.

WHO DO THEY WANT?  Hobart (12-5).  CP wants a team that hasn't seen them and Hobart is the only one.  They'd play the Brickies before a sub-.500 DAC squad.  It will be very difficult for the Brickies to handle CP, not having played them in the last two years.

WHO DO THEY NOT WANT?  Chesterton (16-1).  This one is easy, too.  Not only has CP played Chesterton 14 times in 5 years, but they finish the season with each other on Feb. 22.
They may not say it out loud, but I would guess that CP and Chesterton are really tired of playing each other.

5.  (4A) Gary West Side (13-4)
2007 (14-7), 2006 (7-14), 2005 (19-5), 2004 (12-7)

GARY:  The Cougars lost a three overtime game at home to Munster (12-5), and that should put them on notice that they need to obsess on closing games.  West Side had the lead on both Munster and East Chicago in the late going and they could not hold on.  The only other losses are to Howe (11-6) and Farragut  (17-7) of Chicago.  This team is very talented, but the four teams above them are also more experienced.  Sophomore Xavier Jones is worth the price of admission, but this team looks more productive offensively than they actually are.  They have more talent than 56 points a game would indicate.

WHO DO THEY WANT TO PLAY?  This team could use a first round bye.  They are not deep and they are not big physically.  Obviously, 4A Sectional One has some teams in Highland (3-15), Morton (2-15) and Lowell (7-11) that West Side won't fear.

WHO DO THEY NOT WANT?  East Chicago (13-5).  West Side closes the season on Feb. 22 against Hammond.  They don't want to play East Chicago on Feb. 26.  I think the Cougars might like another shot at Munster, but I'm not sure that's in their best interest.

6.  (4A) Michigan City (9-8)
2007 (8-13), 2006 (9-12), 2005 (6-16), 2004 (2-19)

MICHIGAN CITY:  The Wolves bombed Portage 82-67 and then had an entire week off before a game against Lake Central on Feb. 15.  MC is gaining on the other teams in 4A Sectional 2 and the time is right.  Chesterton swept MC, but no one else in the DAC did.  Three of the five losses are to Clay (14-5), Washington (14-5) and Elkhart Memorial (11-7).  Because their non-league games are all east of Lake and Porter County, what they do gets lost.  Remember, they host the sectional and the regional.

WHO DO THEY WANT? Hobart, LaPorte, Valparaiso. Slower, smaller teams.  Michigan City's 6-foot-9 Jarrod Jones is a big problem for those teams.

WHO DO THEY NOT WANT?  Chesterton (16-1).  The Wolves don't match up well with Chesterton. I really think they'd rather face Merrillville (13-5) or Crown Point (12-5).

7.  (2A) Bishop Noll (15-3)
2007 (9-13), 2006 (6-15), 2005 (8-14), 2004 (15-10)

HAMMOND:   Noll has played very well and they carried a 4-game winning steak to superpower East Chicago (15-3) on Friday (Feb. 15) night.  Jason Chroba scored 25 as Noll rolled over Griffith 66-37 last Saturday afternoon.  Noll was 20 of 27 from the line in that one.  Noll has lost to Calumet (13-5), North Montgomery (13-4) and Wheeler (14-4) and it's hard to call any of those three a bad loss, especially since Chroba didn't play against Wheeler.  Class 2A Noll enters the EC game with a 3-0 mark against 4A schools.

WHAT DO THEY WANT?  A bye.  And they could get one.  2A Sectional 33 is a five-team sectional where three teams are going to get a quarterfinal bye.  I think Noll would like to draw Wheeler right away and attempt to take out a team that beat them in their league tournament.  They could use a bye to avoid the long trip down to Cedar Lake three times.

WHAT DON'T THEY WANT?  The host team immediately.  Noll hasn't played Hanover and is eyeing Wheeler as the No. 1 rival.  The Warriors would overlook HC (8-8) and it could cost them.  Best case scenario?  Noll boys chomp on some Cedar Lake popcorn while Wheeler plays Hanover in the quarterfinals.

8.  (4A) Munster (12-5)
21-4 (2007), 20-4 (2006), 16-8 (2005), 20-2 (2004)

MUNSTER:  The ponies continued to let the good times roll with a grinding 56-54 triple-overtime win at Gary West Side.  Munster has now beaten West Side, Merrillville and Hammond high, all big winning teams.  Coach Mike Hackett and his staff turned a young, hesitant squad that began the season with a 2-5 record into a confident winner that has won 10 in a row, beating more than one superior squad.  Munster, which has just one senior, lost to 2A Hanover Central (8-8) to start the year and looked disorganized.  But they have been whipped into shape in what was supposed to be an off year.  The final home game (Feb. 22) with Lew Wallace (11-8) will be interesting.

WHO DO THEY WANT?  Lowell (7-11).  Lowell seems intimidated by Munster and hasn't beaten the Mustangs in eight years.  I don't know if a team this inexperienced in real playoff competition benefits from a bye.

WHO DO THEY NOT WANT?  East Chicago.  Munster simply isn't as good as East Chicago and they would be shaky opening the post-season on the home floor of the state champs.  Munster doesn't want a superior Gary West Side squad after the Ponies won in Gary in three overtimes last week.

9.  (3A) Wirt (9-7)
2007 (14-9), 2006 (12-9), 2005 (9-12), 2004 (6-15)

GARY:  Wirt got 22 points and six steals from DeAndre Allen and beat New Buffalo, Michigan 62-54 to break a three-game losing streak.  Wirt lost to an average Kankakee Valley (9-8) team 56-45 Saturday night in a bad loss.  Wirt should win the final four games to go 13-7, but they should have won three or four others.  The truth is, the Troopers have been a major disappointment so far this year (remember they lost to the state champ in the regional final game in 2007) and they need a rally like Hillary Clinton does to win the sectional.

WHO DO THEY WANT:  They need a bye badly.  Wirt can't be sure of beating anyone, so they need to avoid the quarterfinals altogether.

WHO DO THEY NOT WANT?   Lew Wallace (11-8).  Wallace is an athletic team that is hungry for a good win.  They will be fired up to play Wirt and they've already defeated the Troopers.  I don't think Wirt wins a rematch with Lew Wallace.  Wirt hasn't played well since early in the year.

10.  (3A) Clark (10-7)
2007 (21-5), 2006 (16-7), 2005 (8-13), 2004 (12-9)

HAMMOND:  Hammond has made a late season charge in the last two years and a blowout of improving Lake Station 61-42 the other night may have indicated the start of another late run.  Here's a team that has lost five games by six points or less. They should be and could be 15-2. The Pioneers are 3-2 against 4A schools although two wins over Morton pads that stat. This is the two-time defending Sectional 17 champ and, in a sectional full of disappointments, I doubt they'll be giving that up without a fight.  They've had some trouble at guard but the Pioneers aren't intimidated by speed, and that's a quality they need in Sectional 17.  Clark should win their final three and enter the post-season on a five-game win streak.

WHO DO THEY WANT?  A bye.  These are athletic teams and you don't want three games in five days.  There's no one great team here.  A bye and Hammond high would be good, because Hammond has beaten Clark twice by a total of seven points.

WHO DON'T THEY WANT?  Lew Wallace (11-8).  I think Clark would beat Wallace, but the game would be so draining (especially if it was a semifinal) that Clark wouldn't win the sectional.

On the outside looking in...

(2A) Boone Grove  (10-7)
2007 (11-12), 2006 (19-6), 2005 (18-7), 2004 (13-9)

(3A) Lew Wallace (11-8)
2007 (5-17), 2006 (4-17), 2005 (5-17), 2004 (9-12)