West Central North Preview

I am going to preview the WCN and also the CLC,CMC this season. I thought i'd start it off with the WCN today.

Albany- Kyle Lieser is an excellent shooter, and athlete. He will be asked to do a lot more this yr. I think he's up to the challenge, and I like his teamate Tony Harlander, just really think they've lost a lot to graduation the past few years, and I expect them to finish near the bottom of the conference.

Could be good if: Stars align, Lieser becomes a big time scorer, and defensively they can hold teams down.

Bad sign if: they get off to a slow start. Remember 3/4 years ago Albany was winning 1-2 games total per year.

LPGE- I love Cody Warner. After watching him in fall league, he's the kind of kid who could get to a juco, flourish and be a D2 kid in two years. He has some toughness, a chip, and he can stroke it. I also love Cody Sprenger, I think he loves the game, and brings energy to practice everyday. That is something that cant be faked, and can't be duplicated. Add in both Kingston brothers, and you have the makings of a team primed to challenge for a WCN crown.

Could be Good sign if: Warner starts off hot, and dominating, they accept their roles, and pecking order. They get the "Big Stops" they need to win close games.

Bad sign if: Still seems like a team that when things start to go bad, they don't rally around each other, and instead point fingers.This team isn't used to winning, and isn't used to being more talented than the teams they are playing, let's see how they handle this new role.

Melrose- I think they have some great guards in Sawyer(s), they are really going to like what they have in the two sophomores(I Sawyer, S Stone). VanBeck is a warrior, but do they have the size to compete night in and night out in that league? With Cordes leaving, Dusha is in my opinion now the best coach in that league, and he will get the max out of his players, and scheme well to help them. I just worry about them on the glass. Might have best underclassmen in the league.

Good Sign if: They play a similiar style to last seasons SCT team and let their guards play free, and they score a lot.

Bad sign if: they've played a handful of games and are getting killed on the backboards, and they have no one available to help.

Milaca- 3rd year for coach Leom. He's got two pretty good players in Kiel and Moorlag. Kiel is a scoring 1st PG who can really shoot the ball. Look for some D2s to be on him shortly, and stay on him, as he can play. Moorlag is a 6'7 post with good touch, range, and feel for the game. He's a little soft, and if he loses that he could be a dominant player in this league. They have the 1 and the 5(the two most important spots) now they need the middle to step up this year.

Good Sign: Early success is always good for a team who only won 5 games last yr.

Bad Sign: Box Scores with Moorlag/Kiel for 50 plus. No one else above 4.

Foley- Coming off a great postseason run the Falcons only return 2 regulars from last seasons lineup. Luckily one of them is Aaron Zimmer. On varsity most of his HS career, Zimmer has the opportunity to be a prolific scorer/rebounder/assist man this year, as undoubtedly the Falcon offense will demand he touch it almost everytime down the floor. Wenneberg is a nice player, although to me he's more of a SG, than a true PG. They have some good athletes in Knapek,Scherbing, Nelson, Brenny, Werdlow. I think there down fall could be pressure, and if someone presses them, it could be a long night.

Good Sign: You see some balance in those early season box scores, teams choose to play Zimmer 1 on 1.

Bad Sign: Early season losses mount. With games at Zimmerman and home against Maple Lake early, they could be 0-2 in section before Christmas. Let's be honest they can't afford an injury to Zimmer, as he's the most important guy to any team in the league.

Mora- Ulseth is a top 5 PG in the league, and there is always a sneaky Oslin on the floor somewhere. I like Kolberg/Nystadt, I think they make for a good tandem. That being said, they don't have a superstar or go to guy. I think that will hurt them, along with the fact that they play some pretty poor teams NC so their record is always a tad inflated. They are well coached, and have a nice home court advantage.

Good Sign: They open up late, and with Foley at home, if they can get that one the rest of their pre christmas schedule is pretty easy. They could get off to a hot start.

Bad sign: An early loss at Sauk Centre and it could be signs of a long yr for the Mustangs.

New London Spicer- Defending State title with only 2 regulars from arguably the best group of athletes every to come out of NLS(apologies to 1996) is going to be tough. I loved what they did in football rallying to a section title game, and "over achieving" Moten is the catalyst, he's the engine. If he plays up to his potential, NLS will have a shot to win the title again. Zylstra is an athletic freak, and Their sophs are really good.

Good Sign: New London also has balance in the scoring column with Moten and Zylstra not doing it all by themselves.

Bad Sign: a few close losses early, teams not used to handling adversity, having to handle it early, and under a new regime??? that's what could derail this tm.

Sauk Centre- Isaac Winters, and a couple of other bigs, but what else do they have? I really feel like lack of ball handling, and lack of post feeders make this a tough spot for Sauk. I think Winters is one of the best players in the league, and most coaches will try and take him away early and often.

Good Sign: They get off to a good start. defend their home court well, and rally to .500.

Bad sign: lose their 1st 5. Just not sure what they have to build around.

Cathedral- Best starting 5 in the league, well coached, usually SCC kids lack some toughness, Joe Burt doesn't. He will impose his will on his teamates, and force them to "play tough" I think with Burt/Bjorklund(a fearless athlete) in the back court, not only do they have the conferences best back court, they will have it again next yr. Rucks is their x factor. Keep him healthy he's a top 5 kid in the league, he will need his touches, and you worry that there won't be enough basketball to go around. I think SCC will be best with Burt playing some 1, but also playing without the ball in his hands, and running the floor and scoring in transition. Kid is a beast, He and Moten are 1 and 1a in the league. Can he get his teamates going early, and then takeover at the appropriate times? I wouldn't bet against him.

Good Sign: Rucks, Reisdorf, Bjorklund consistently hit 8-14 points. Joe stays in the low 20s.

Bad Sign: OVERCONFIDENCE. Hurt them last yr when they were upset in the playoffs. I know coach Miller is focused on not letting his boys "Believe the hype."



Predicted order of finish

1. SCC 13-3
2. NLS 12-4
3. LPGE 10-6
4. Foley 9-7
5. Melrose 8-8
6. Milaca 7-9
7. Mora 7-9
8. Albany 5-11
9. Sauk Centre 1-15


PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE

1st team

Burt
Moten
Zimmer
Warner
Winters

2nd tm

Kiel
C Sawyer
J Kingston
Lieser
Rucks

3rd tm

Ulseth
Vanbeck
Zylstra
Reisdorf
Moorlag

HM

Kolberg
Wenneberg
Bjorklund
B Sawyer
M Kingston
Harlander
Sprenger