The Mississippi 8 Preview

<p>The Princeton Tigers have consistently been the team to beat in the Mississippi 8 as of late, will that continue this winter?</p> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <p>Top Ten Potential - Princeton</p> <p>The Tigers will enter the year a top 15 team in Class AAA working for their third straight section title, another share or outright league title, and if they play enough games, a 20 win season.  The Tigers have a pair of all league players they need to replace and four of their top six producers overall.  That said there’s a pair of all league starters back in [player_tooltip player_id="958662" first="Haydn" last="Stay"] and [player_tooltip player_id="774900" first="Manny" last="Flicek"] plus several of the second team talents ready to step into a bigger role. </p> <p>Compete with Most - Cambridge-Isanti, Monticello, Chisago Lakes, St. Francis, Big Lake</p> <p>Because the Bluejackets of CI graduated most of their rotation it could be tabbed as a rebuild.  However, Cambridge-Isanti has a good frontcourt player in [player_tooltip player_id="957221" first="Connor" last="Braaten"] that will handle a near double-double loud plus several talents up from the JV ready for their turn. They are a traditionally good program that you would expect to have some more good players on their way up.  Just will take some time for them to gain experience.</p> <p>The Magic will be interesting.  They were really good in league play (10-4) but struggled outside of it.  They also have three starters back (full backcourt) and a couple reserves, but lose [player_tooltip player_id="846125" first="Austin" last="Wetter"]. With [player_tooltip player_id="957225" first="Andrew" last="Koehler"], Chisago Lakes likely has the leading scorer and rebounder in the section.  This guy is a constant double-double and will battle Stay, [player_tooltip player_id="774761" first="Jack" last="Iverson"], and [player_tooltip player_id="958757" first="Cody" last="Pennebaker"] for League MVP honors. With a veteran backcourt returning, the Wildcats should take another step forward as a program.</p> <p>As far as St. Francis goes (Pennebaker’s school) it’s time to take a step forward.  I’m not saying they should be winning 20 games every year but they have too much talent for 7 win seasons, and 5 win seasons.  I think this year they step forward behind Cody and [player_tooltip player_id="962233" first="Matthew" last="Bothun"] but they will need inexperienced guards to play well early in their varsity careers. A lot of what we said about St. Francis also applies with Big Lake.  Very good talent up from in Iverson and [player_tooltip player_id="957608" first="Wyatt" last="Windhorst"], and good young players, but guards have to step up despite little experience. </p> <p>Rebuilding - Becker, North Branch</p> <p>Not a full rebuild for Becker but they only have one starter back and the roster is only likely to have a couple seniors.  North Branch should take a step forward this year after a 5-win season, although before we move them up a category the Vikings have to shown it on the floor some. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>20-21 Conference Predictions</strong></p> <ol> <li>Princeton</li> <li>Monticello</li> <li>Chisago Lakes</li> <li>St. Francis</li> <li>Cambridge-Isanti</li> <li>Big Lake</li> <li>North Branch</li> <li>Becker</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason All Mississippi 8</strong></p> <p><strong><u>First Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774900" first="Manny" last="Flicek"] of Princeton (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774761" first="Jack" last="Iverson"] of Big Lake (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957225" first="Andrew" last="Koehler"] of Chisago Lakes (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958757" first="Cody" last="Pennebaker"] of St. Francis (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958662" first="Haydn" last="Stay"] of Princeton (Jr) </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Second Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962233" first="Matthew" last="Bothun"] of St. Francis (Soph) </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957221" first="Connor" last="Braaten"] of Cambridge-Isanti (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958736" first="Carson" last="Kolles"] of Monticello (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958685" first="Brady" last="Thompson"] of Monticello (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957608" first="Wyatt" last="Windhorst"] of Big Lake (Sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Third Team</u></strong></p> <p>Gus Hansgleben of Monticello (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958755" first="Trevor" last="Johnson"] of North Branch (Jr)</p> <p>Nick Knute of Becker (Sr)</p> <p>Callahan O’Neil of Princeton (Sr)</p> <p>Ryan Sanvik of Chisago Lakes  (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958814" first="Wyatt" last="Sawatzke"] of Monticello (Jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Fourth Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774880" first="Ben" last="Arseneau"] of Princeton (Sr)</p> <p>Carter Callahan of Becker (Jr)</p> <p>Braden Jones of Cambridge-Isanti (Jr)</p> <p>Noah Lasiuta of Chisago Lakes (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958821" first="Logan" last="Murphy"] of North Branch (Jr)</p> <p>Jacob Schultz of St. Francis (Jr)</p>