The Big Nine Preview

<p>The state of Minnesota has 48 conferences so it's time for us to start previewing the 2021-22 season.  We at Prep Hoops will hit up the previews via conferences, sections, individual teams, and some individual ways over the next 2.5 months, and today we get rolling with the Big Nine Preview (ABC order).  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <p><strong>Top Ten in State: </strong>Mankato East, Austin, Mankato West, Owatonna</p> <p>After winning Section 1AAAA last season and bringing back all of their key ingredients from a 2-loss Big Nine team, Owatonna is our pick to win the league.  They have their center and both backcourt members returning which is all of their top production.  Mankato East is right behind them with their long, active line-up so we expect them to be neck and neck with the Huskies.  Austin is always a contender and will be right on everyone's heels while last year's champ Mankato West has a great shot too.  Austin and West lost the most value from their starting groups but they are still right there as contenders, they just have 1 or 2 more big roles to fill than the other top contenders. </p> <p><strong>Compete with Most</strong>: Rochester Mayo, Winona, Rochester Century, Northfield, Red Wing, Albert Lea</p> <p>Albert Lea you say? Yes I know they were winless last season and have a long, long way to go to even match 2020's finish, but I just can't see a team with a [player_tooltip player_id="962297" first="Pal" last="Wal"] in the line-up not being competitive.  Rochester Mayo has to replace most of their starters but [player_tooltip player_id="1140142" first="Isaiah" last="Hanson"] is their best returning player.  Century has a great frontline and solid guard play while Northfield has some talent coming of age.  Red Wing has their top three players back. </p> <p><strong>Rebuilding</strong>: Rochester JM, Faribault</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>21-22 Conference Predictions</strong></p> <p><strong><u>Big Nine</u></strong></p> <ol> <li aria-level="1">Owatonna</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mankato East</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Austin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mankato West</span></li> <li aria-level="1">Rochester Century</li> <li aria-level="1">Northfield</li> <li aria-level="1">Winona</li> <li aria-level="1">Red Wing</li> <li aria-level="1">Rochester Mayo</li> <li aria-level="1">Albert Lea</li> <li aria-level="1">Rochester JM</li> <li aria-level="1">Faribault</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason All Big Nine</strong></p> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850715" first="BJ" last="Omot"] of Mankato East (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958360" first="Mekhi" last="Collins"] of Mankato West (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958681" first="Brayden" last="Williams"] of Owatonna (sr)</p> <p class="">[player_tooltip player_id="958771" first="Emmanuel" last="Manyuon"] of Austin (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958646" first="Jasper" last="Hedin"] of Winona (sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1268453" first="Puolrah" last="Gong"] of Mankato East (sr)</p> <p class="">[player_tooltip player_id="1144099" first="Jaden" last="Wysocki"] of Rochester Century (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850718" first="Evan" last="Dushek"] of Owatonna (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962297" first="Pal" last="Wal"] of Albert Lea (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1214075" first="Soren" last="Richardson"] of Northfield (jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Third Team</em></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958725" first="Ty" last="Creger"] of Owatonna (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958789" first="Luke" last="Kottom"] of Rochester Century (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1140142" first="Isaiah" last="Hanson"] of Rochester Mayo (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958655" first="Victor" last="Idris"] of Austin (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1140603" first="Sean" last="Clement"] of Mankato East (sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Fourth Team</em></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1221144" first="Cham" last="Okey"] of Austin (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1144094" first="Louis" last="Magers"] of Mankato West (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958749" first="Denval" last="Atkinson"] of Red Wing (sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1221142" first="Jalen" last="Hayes"] of Mankato West (jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958731" first="Deso" last="Buck"] of Red Wing (sr)</p>