The Big Nine Preview
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The state of Minnesota has 48 conferences so it’s time for us to start previewing the 2022-23 season. We at Prep Hoops will hit up the previews via conferences, sections, individual teams, and some individual ways over the next 2.5…
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Continue ReadingThe state of Minnesota has 48 conferences so it’s time for us to start previewing the 2022-23 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).
Conference Commentary
Top Ten in State: Mankato East
East is our favorite coming in and they are a top ten squad heading into the season. How? They lost seniors and transfers? Because what they have coming up and returning is quite impressive. There is a nice group of role playing seniors mixed with a top junior shooter (Carson), a top sophomore floor general (Madson), and one of the elite freshman (Braden). With Austin going through a change with Fadness out and Owatonna having to replace so much, I think Joe Madson has the edge coming into the year despite losing so many players.
Top Ten Potential: Austin, Mankato West
Trust me, Austin is right there. They have more back from last season than any of the contenders and they certainly made the right pick in assistant Jamal Gibson. Gibson has been with Austin and is the right man for the job. That said, he does not have experience that a Madson does of course so we have to see how he does before giving them the initial top spot. And West. West? Yes West. I have them fifth coming in but in terms of Class AAA, with young talent and a very good transfer in Landon Dimler Landon Dimler 6'5" | SG Mankato West | 2024 State MN from JWP, they could be very good.
Compete with Most: Owatonna, Northfield, Mayo, Winona
Owatonna and Northfield will compete for the league title with Austin and East. They are in the “Compete with Most” because they are in the middle of the Class AAAA power rankings where as Austin, East, and West are top 20 teams in Class AAAA. Owatonna lost a lot but return an all league player in Burmeister. Northfield might have the top 1-2 combo in the league in Richardson and Koepp. If the depth is around them, they could win the league. Mayo is a sleeper here. They were a game under .500 last year but have their two best players back. Winona on the other hand lost a lot but do return an all league talent in Bryan Cassellius
Rebuilding: Century, JM, Faribault, Red Wing, Albert Lea
Lots of rebuilding here. Ryan Ohm Ryan Ohm 6'3" | SG Rochester Century | 2023 State MN is really good for Century and they have some young talent so they are the best of the bunch. Logan Tuckner Logan Tuckner 6'4" | SG Rochester John Marshall | 2023 State MN and Pal Wal Pal Wal 6'5" | PF Albert Lea | 2023 State MN are all league players but they don’t have much around them. Faribault was 3-23 last season and lost three of their top four and Red Wing lost almost all of their rotation.
22-23 Conference Predictions
Big Nine
- Mankato East
- Austin
- Owatonna
- Northfield
- Mankato West
- Rochester Mayo
- Winona
- Rochester Century
- Rochester JM
- Fairbault
- Red Wing
- Albert Lea
Preseason All Big Nine
First Team
Pal Wal Pal Wal 6'5" | PF Albert Lea | 2023 State MN of Albert Lea (sr)
Isaiah Hanson Isaiah Hanson 6'4" | SG Rochester Mayo | 2023 State MN of Rochester Mayo (sr)
Soren Richardson of Northfield (sr)
Blake Burmeister Blake Burmeister 6'0" | PG Owatonna | 2023 State MN of Owatonna (sr)
Logan Tuckner Logan Tuckner 6'4" | SG Rochester John Marshall | 2023 State MN of Rochester JM (sr)
Second Team
Landon Dimler Landon Dimler 6'5" | SG Mankato West | 2024 State MN of Mankato West (jr)
Brogan Madson Brogan Madson 6'1" | PG Mankato East | 2025 State MN of Mankasto East (soph)
Bryan Cassellius of Winona (sr)
Carson Schweim Carson Schweim 6'7" | SF Mankato East | 2024 State MN of Mankato East (jr)
Ryan Ohm Ryan Ohm 6'3" | SG Rochester Century | 2023 State MN of Rochester Century (sr)
Third Team
Austin Koep Austin Koep 6'3" | SF Northfield | 2024 State MN of Northfield (jr)
Ater Manyuon Ater Manyuon 6'4" | SF Austin | 2023 State MN of Austin (sr)
Braden Petzel of Mankato East (fr)
Kairee Gadson Kairee Gadson 6'2" | PG Rochester Mayo | 2023 MN of Rochester Mayo (sr)
Trey Satre Trey Satre 6'0" | PG Mankato West | 2023 State MN of Mankato West (sr)
Fourth Team
Jack Lang Jack Lang 5'10" | PG Austin | 2023 State MN of Austin (sr)
Kyle Steinke Kyle Steinke 6'5" | PF Mankato West | 2025 State MN of Mankato West (soph)
Buai Duop Buai Duop 6'4" | PF Austin | 2023 State MN of Austin (sr)
Dominic Dimaggio of Northfield (sr)
Ian Ehlers of Faribault (sr)