By Chris May
Boys Basketball Coordinator
Iâ??ll warn you that
you are about to read a self-congratulatory, slightly arrogant commentary on
why I began these rankings and why they should matter to you.
you are about to read a self-congratulatory, slightly arrogant commentary on
why I began these rankings and why they should matter to you.
I started my own set
of personal rankings because I felt the average high school basketball fan
should be informed of what was really
going on acrossIndiana
After growing tired of seeing The Associated Press release ridiculous rankings
that at some times included teams below .500, and generally seeing teams
receiving votes just because their local AP voter was giving them â??homerâ??
votes, I thought there should be a set of rankings that was as unbiased as
possible.
of personal rankings because I felt the average high school basketball fan
should be informed of what was really
going on across
After growing tired of seeing The Associated Press release ridiculous rankings
that at some times included teams below .500, and generally seeing teams
receiving votes just because their local AP voter was giving them â??homerâ??
votes, I thought there should be a set of rankings that was as unbiased as
possible.
I thus set forth to
provide that set of rankings and feel qualified to do so. I am in no way the
omnipotent, all-knowing, high school basketball â??expertâ? or journalist, but I do
feel that seeing nearly 50 high school games already this season stretching
from schools in Evansville and Perry County to Valparaiso, Plymouth, and Fort
Wayne makes me one of the most well-traveled fans who follow â??Hoosier Hysteria.â?
provide that set of rankings and feel qualified to do so. I am in no way the
omnipotent, all-knowing, high school basketball â??expertâ? or journalist, but I do
feel that seeing nearly 50 high school games already this season stretching
from schools in Evansville and Perry County to Valparaiso, Plymouth, and Fort
Wayne makes me one of the most well-traveled fans who follow â??Hoosier Hysteria.â?
Now, an explanation
of the other ranking systems in place.
of the other ranking systems in place.
I have absolutely no
problem with the Indiana High School Basketball Coaches Association rankings,
but I do feel that fans should see teams ranked according to their class to
give them the best idea of how they stack up against teams they may play in the
state tournament.
problem with the Indiana High School Basketball Coaches Association rankings,
but I do feel that fans should see teams ranked according to their class to
give them the best idea of how they stack up against teams they may play in the
state tournament.
Jeff Sagarinâ??s rankings
provide a great way of comparing teams against each other statistically. But,
just like the BCS doesnâ??t use computers to solely select college football
teams, using only Sagarinâ??s computer analysis doesnâ??t allow for those
â??intangiblesâ? such as the quality of a backcourt or a teamâ??s depth or their
penchant for foul trouble. Sagarinâ??s power ratings rely only on strength of
schedule and results, so one teamâ??s strong front court versus anotherâ??s lack of
height isnâ??t considered by Sagarin â??? just who theyâ??ve played and how they
faired.
provide a great way of comparing teams against each other statistically. But,
just like the BCS doesnâ??t use computers to solely select college football
teams, using only Sagarinâ??s computer analysis doesnâ??t allow for those
â??intangiblesâ? such as the quality of a backcourt or a teamâ??s depth or their
penchant for foul trouble. Sagarinâ??s power ratings rely only on strength of
schedule and results, so one teamâ??s strong front court versus anotherâ??s lack of
height isnâ??t considered by Sagarin â??? just who theyâ??ve played and how they
faired.
Other websites and
organizations also put out their rankings, which I also have no problem with. However,
whether it is a compilation of votes from their viewers or otherwise, I find it
hard to believe that they have seen as many teams and as geographically diverse
a group of schools as I have. And while those voting members may cover various
areas of the state, they have not ventured outside of their respective area,
whereas the Hoosier Authority â??Indiana â??s Gameâ?
schedule allows me to easily compare teams from southwesternIndiana
with those in northeasternIndiana
organizations also put out their rankings, which I also have no problem with. However,
whether it is a compilation of votes from their viewers or otherwise, I find it
hard to believe that they have seen as many teams and as geographically diverse
a group of schools as I have. And while those voting members may cover various
areas of the state, they have not ventured outside of their respective area,
whereas the Hoosier Authority â??
schedule allows me to easily compare teams from southwestern
with those in northeastern
Finally, I try to
portray in my rankings the most accurate listing of the top teams. That sounds
like exactly what a poll should be, but let me explain. If Team A is the No. 1
team in Week 4 but loses a game, the AP will almost assuredly drop that team
out of the top spot in the next poll. I, on the other hand, will not drop a
team just because it lost.
portray in my rankings the most accurate listing of the top teams. That sounds
like exactly what a poll should be, but let me explain. If Team A is the No. 1
team in Week 4 but loses a game, the AP will almost assuredly drop that team
out of the top spot in the next poll. I, on the other hand, will not drop a
team just because it lost.
Whether missing a
player, just playing downright horribly for a night, or not hitting a basket, even
the best teams have bad nights and, typically, endure a loss or two along the
season. My rankings, then, are aimed to display the best teams over the course
of a season and who would win in a given game, not the best teams of
last week.
player, just playing downright horribly for a night, or not hitting a basket, even
the best teams have bad nights and, typically, endure a loss or two along the
season. My rankings, then, are aimed to display the best teams over the course
of a season and who would win in a given game, not the best teams of
last week.
Case in point:
Barr-Reeve suffered two losses in the span of eight days earlier this season,
but because of the teams they lost to, the closeness of the losses, and the
knowledge of their talent, I did not remove them from the No. 1 spot in Class A.
Barr-Reeve suffered two losses in the span of eight days earlier this season,
but because of the teams they lost to, the closeness of the losses, and the
knowledge of their talent, I did not remove them from the No. 1 spot in Class A.
Futhermore, Lafayette
Central Catholic could go 10-10 with the Knightsâ?? 3A- and 4A-heavy schedule yet
still would be better than 95 percent of the other 1As in the state â??? even with
more losses than, say, half of the 1A schools. I have no rooting interest for
or against LCC but apparently the AP does, as evidenced by its continued
lowball ranking for the Knights. Meanwhile, schools like Bethany Christian (6-8)
get votes. Huh?
Central Catholic could go 10-10 with the Knightsâ?? 3A- and 4A-heavy schedule yet
still would be better than 95 percent of the other 1As in the state â??? even with
more losses than, say, half of the 1A schools. I have no rooting interest for
or against LCC but apparently the AP does, as evidenced by its continued
lowball ranking for the Knights. Meanwhile, schools like Bethany Christian (6-8)
get votes. Huh?
The bottom line is
that the best team in the state is the best team in the state, period. Just
because a top team in Southern Indiana lost and another top team in northernIndiana won last week does not make the Southern
Indiana team worse.
that the best team in the state is the best team in the state, period. Just
because a top team in Southern Indiana lost and another top team in northern
Indiana
You may now put down
your Rosetta stone. With those explanations behind us, here are my rankings as
of Jan. 31:
your Rosetta stone. With those explanations behind us, here are my rankings as
of Jan. 31:
Class 4A
1.Muncie
2. Franklin Central (16-1)
3.Valparaiso
(15-2)
4.Indianapolis
Cathedral (17-1)
5.East Chicago
Central (14-2)
6. North Central (Indianapolis
(10-3)
7. Pike (11-4)
8.Evansville
(13-3)
9.New Albany
(13-1)
10. Bloomington South (12-3)
The next five: Indianapolis Arlington (12-5), Warren Central (12-3),Marion (12-2), Munster
(14-3), Fort Wayne South (13-2)
1.
2. Franklin Central (16-1)
3.
(15-2)
4.
Cathedral (17-1)
5.
Central (14-2)
6. North Central (
(10-3)
7. Pike (11-4)
8.
(13-3)
9.
(13-1)
10. Bloomington South (12-3)
The next five: Indianapolis Arlington (12-5), Warren Central (12-3),
(14-3), Fort Wayne South (13-2)
Class 3A
1.New Castle
2.Edgewood (14-0)
3.Plymouth
(13-1)
4. Batesville (13-1)
5. Roncalli (14-1)
6.Evansville
Bosse (11-4)
7.Connersville
(10-3)
8. Wawasee (10-3)
9.Washington
(11-3)
10. Western (12-3)
The next five: Vincennes Lincoln (10-6),Jay
County (11-3), Madison
(13-3),Owen Valley
1.
2.
3.
(13-1)
4. Batesville (13-1)
5. Roncalli (14-1)
6.
Bosse (11-4)
7.
(10-3)
8. Wawasee (10-3)
9.
(11-3)
10. Western (12-3)
The next five: Vincennes Lincoln (10-6),
(13-3),
Class 2A
1.Forest Park
2. Harding (12-2)
3. Jimtown (14-1)
4. Cass (12-2)
5. Northwestern (12-2)
6.North Montgomery (12-3)
7. Tri-West Hendricks (11-4)
8. Westview (11-3)
9. Glenn (12-3)
10. Shenandoah (12-3)
The next five: Clinton Central (10-4), Eastside (11-4),Providence
(11-3),Taylor (10-4), Centerville
1.
2. Harding (12-2)
3. Jimtown (14-1)
4. Cass (12-2)
5. Northwestern (12-2)
6.
7. Tri-West Hendricks (11-4)
8. Westview (11-3)
9. Glenn (12-3)
10. Shenandoah (12-3)
The next five: Clinton Central (10-4), Eastside (11-4),
(11-3),
Class A
1. Barr-Reeve
(12-2)
2.Lafayette
Central Catholic (10-3)
3. Hauser (12-2)
4.Orleans
(12-2)
5. Oregon-Davis (16-1)
6. Lanesville (13-3)
7.Blue River Valley
(13-3)
8. Tri-County (14-0)
9. Westville (12-2)
10. Bethesda Christian (13-3)
The next five: Tecumseh (12-3), Jac-Cen-Del (11-2), Wes-Del (10-4), Lapel
(11-4), Loogootee (10-5)
1. Barr-Reeve
(12-2)
2.
Central Catholic (10-3)
3. Hauser (12-2)
4.
(12-2)
5. Oregon-Davis (16-1)
6. Lanesville (13-3)
7.
(13-3)
8. Tri-County (14-0)
9. Westville (12-2)
10. Bethesda Christian (13-3)
The next five: Tecumseh (12-3), Jac-Cen-Del (11-2), Wes-Del (10-4), Lapel
(11-4), Loogootee (10-5)
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