The Big South Black Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent in the Big South is up and we have a look at the teams in this part of the Big South. How many title contenders? We think five of the seven have a shot at winning the league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten in State</strong>: Belle Plaine, St. Peter, Waseca</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With three starters back including one of the elite players in Class AA basketball in [player_tooltip player_id='2118474' first='Ethan' last='Martin'], Belle Plaine is in that top 10-12 area for Class AA basketball teams. They have about three or four spots that need to be filled role wise to get where they want but with three returning double figure scorers expectations are high in Belle Plaine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Peter was a .500 team last season and they return four starters and seven of their top nine players from last season overall. Expectations are high not just because the Saints return so much, but because they have an outstanding junior in [player_tooltip player_id='2815371' first='Owen' last='Potts'] and a talented big in [player_tooltip player_id='2815210' first='Parker' last='Maloney'], plus a lot of role players. The table is set for a 20 win year and many a chance at a couple trophies. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waseca was the state runner-up from last year and they have [player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] who I think is the best player in Class AA basketball coming into the season. Russell returns along with one other starter and two reserves from a season ago plus there are a couple good players ready to step into solid varsity roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Contenders</strong>: Marshall, New Ulm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall is another team that was good last year but needs to replace at least four spots in the rotation, but does have four good players back. The potential is there for a good season but to make a jump to having an excellent season, the Tigers will need big steps forward from guys that played at a young age last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Ulm returns six of their eight players from the rotation and added a transfer from North Lakes in Marquise Poncelet who was their second leading scorer last year as a sophomore. Most of the best players from last year return so expectations are somewhat high but they did only win nine games last year and went through a coaching change so it seems like it might be a bridge year and then a big contention season next year. But sometimes things gel a year early!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Compete with Most</strong>:  Worthington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Worthington went young last season playing a lot of sophomores and those sophomores step into leadership roles as juniors this year. It was a five win season last year and this year will likely be in that high single digit win area but there is a plan here with this really nice 2027 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rebuilding</strong>:  Tri City United</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri City United lost all 27 games last season so they hope to take a step forward and win a handful of games. They do have their best player back and some others so they should start to take a step forward from a rough 24-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>25-26 Conference Predictions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Big South Black Power Ranking</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) St. Peter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Marshall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) Waseca</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4) Belle Plaine </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) New Ulm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(6) Worthington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(7) Tri City United</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Big South Black Conference</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] of Waseca (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118474' first='Ethan' last='Martin'] of Belle Plaine (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815441' first='Mitchell' last='Hopp'] of New Ulm (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815371' first='Owen' last='Potts'] of St. Peter (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815210' first='Parker' last='Maloney'] of St. Peter (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2840811' first='Jayden' last='Meister'] of Marshall (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan Hiller of Waseca (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815228' first='Carter' last='Dale'] of St. Peter (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2860798' first='Isaiah' last='Schroeder'] of Worthington (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417567' first='Oliver' last='Voigt'] of Marshall (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Third Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wyatt Hager of Waseca (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2464598' first='Zachary' last='Hubbard'] of New Ulm (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815445' first='Levi' last='Hopp'] of New Ulm (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelton Koepp of Belle Plaine (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140698' first='Treyson' last='Meinders'] of Worthington (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Fourth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Logan Anderson of Belle Plaine (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Levi Maeyaert of Marshall (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ian Willis of St. Peter (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joey Wise of New Ulm (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquise Poncelet of New Ulm (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121365' first='JR' last='Vierstraete'] of Marshall (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Fifth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaylen Nhem of Tri City United (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140568' first='Caleb' last='Meyer'] of Worthington (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Korir of St. Peter (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen Castlemen of New Ulm (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815359' first='Ethan' last='Potts'] of St. Peter (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cyrett Long of Waseca (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->