Class AAAA section rankings
Now that I have went through all the sections I thought we would rank them. This is not as easy as it’s been in the past. With Apple Valley being such an overwhelming favorite with teams move around, Maple Grove…
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Continue ReadingNow that I have went through all the sections I thought we would rank them. This is not as easy as it’s been in the past. With Apple Valley being such an overwhelming favorite with teams move around, Maple Grove moving to another section, and the Lake Conference plus Armstrong section thinning out some, there is more balance. It’s not as balanced as it should be which still has me leaning towards a 64 team tournament, but it’s better than it’s been. I think this year instead of top ten teams constantly knocking each other out of section play, I think you will see more of what people want and that is the best of the best playing at the state tournament.
Section Rankings
1. 2AAAA. With Eden Prairie, Shakopee, Edina, Tonka, Chaska, Chanhassen, Jefferson, and Prior Lake in one section you have what could be close to a fight every round if some of the back end teams gel.The majority of these have the talent to play on to the section final of several of the sections below.
2. 6AAAA. Hopkins and Wayzata have preseason top five caliber squads and no other section can say that.And don’t forget Armstrong.Washburn is now here, St. Louis Park is better, South beat Tonka in sections a year ago, and Cooper has a lot of nice young players entering the junior and sophomore classes (plus Newbern who is a senior).Section isn’t quite as deep as 2AAAA though.
3. 5AAAA. I’m going on a bit of a limb here. Champlin Park is likely the only one that will be top ten but Centennial and Osseo definitely could make appearances.I give the section the edge on others because top three are solid, I think Park Center and Irondale will be better, Mounds View and Roseville will look different but still have good players.Fairly deep.
4. 4AAAA. Tartan should be excellent, CDH better than people expect, Woodbury and North St. Paul are on the come up, and then there is some real uncertainty.Not sure right now what Stillwater, East Ridge, and Central have.We know both teams have a couple good guys though so we think it’s better on the back end than some of the sections below.1AAAA is pry better at the top though.
5. 1AAAA. JM and Lakeville North are still the power teams plus Lakeville South and New Prague have been added to make this group stronger.That said, the other four look to be down in terms of what we know coming into the year so not deep.
6. 8AAAA. My gut tells me that they could move up a couple spots but there is a lot of unknown at good schools like STMA, Moorhead, Buffalo, and Brainerd.Maple Grove is the heavy favorite, Rogers has good athletes, and Elk River has some tough kids and great coaching.
7. 3AAAA. Apple Valley is the title favorite, like Eastview, Rosemount seems on the up.That said, this is not a very deep section and if AV didn’t come out of it the reason would be injuries or one fantastic group of hard working team basketball players pulling off a big time upset.
8. 7AAAA. The group was better last year with three teams having winning records but it’s not even close to above sections still.Easily the weakest section in AAAA basketball. But, last year most teams had double digit wins so it’s getting better.St. Francis was a really good team last year.I think only Blaine has the talent to maybe make a run at the top ten rankings but they were five games under .500 a year ago.