2006-2007 Boys Basketball  Week-6, Top-10 Poll A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (01-09-2007)

VALPARAISO (01-09-2007) - Okay, mid-season is here.  Everybody gets to the 10 games mark in the next 10 days if they aren't already there.  What we've found out so far is that Valparaiso and East Chicago, rated 1-2 in the pre-season, are still 1-2.  Nobody who knew anything about it thought Valparaiso was going to go undefeated and unchallenged.  The Vikings have had a series of close games.  Instead of being disappointed in them, fans of the Vikings should be encouraged they are winning the close ones.  East Chicago is also playing quality ball, despite injuries to E'Twaun Moore and the eligibility situation involving junior forward Angel Garcia.  Understand that Garcia is eligible according to the IHSAA on Feb. 26 and whether he plays before then or not really doesn't matter.

NUMBERS GAME:  Argos (6-2) plays at Oregon-Davis (9-0) Friday (1-12-2007).  Oregon-Davis has 211 students.  Argos has 203.  Waldron is 5-6 this year and happy to be average. Waldron is the only team in the history of the state of Indiana to be undefeated (27-0 in 2004) one year and winless (0-20 in 2005) the next.  Kouts is 4-26 in the last two seasons.  I knew that Whiting is 0-9 this year, but did you know they are 46-209 in the last 12 full seasons?  I had no idea.  North Newton (0-8) is at Whiting (0-9) on Jan. 20.  Something has got to give there.

Senior Nate Kasper is averaging 26.8 points per game at mid-season for Wheeler.  Danny Lewallen is at 25.4 per game for Kankakee Valley.  Football QB Skyler Titus averages 11.6 per game and is 31 of 39 from the line (79.5%) for Northwood.

1.  (4A) Valparaiso (11-1)
2006 (21-3), 2005 (22-3), 2004 (22-3)

VALPARAISO - Valpo has played five games decided by 10 points or less and they are 4-1 with the loss coming in overtime to a top-10 team, Indianapolis Cathedral (9-1).  What's wrong with them?  Nothing?  Scott Martin (23 ppg.) and Rob Hummel (15 ppg.) are averaging what they should.  The second half of the season is softer than the first half is for the Vikings, who still need some offensive help from the 'supporting cast'.  The hype for this team that went 65-9 in the last three years is understandable, but there are obviously teams downstate that are as good or better.  The Vikings' problem is that they are not as fast as the top teams.  Speed bothers them.  But I don't know of anyone in the top half of the state who can exploit that.

THE GRADE:  A.  No one could have realistically expected more that this.
THE FUTURE:   It will be a major battle with East Chicago, maybe Michigan City and possibly Concord (8-0), all speed teams at the regional.
 

2.  (4A) East Chicago (8-2)
2006 (19-5), 2005 (13-8), 2004 (13-10)

EAST CHICAGO - This team has also done all that is expected.  On paper, they should lose to Pike (5-2) and top-ranked North Central (9-0).  The hometown officiating at the Hammond Civic Center donated a win over Illinois power TF North (13-2), but EC earned the belt against Gary West Side (6-3) and Munster (10-2).  Eventually the Cardinals will get 6-10 junior wing Angel Garcia on the floor.  If they had respect for Indiana basketball they would simply wait until Feb. 26 when he would be eligible rightfully.  Arlington (8-2), Gary Roosevelt (7-2) and Gary West Side are on the second half of the schedule so EC will have it tough the rest of the way, but they should welcome that.

THE GRADE: A.  They have exactly the record they should have at this point.
THE FUTURE:  They need a good sectional draw.  This team won't beat both Munster and Gary West Side.

3.  (4A) Munster (10-2)
2006 (20-4), 2005 (16-8), 2004 (20-2)

MUNSTER - I'd throw out the one-point loss to East Chicago last Saturday and since the 66-62 loss to Calumet (7-3) came without lead guard Michael Bizoukas (18 ppg.), you can throw that loss out, too.  Munster proved what everyone has known in this area.  That they don't have anyone who can stop E'Twaun Moore.  The Mustangs sank 12-of-13 from the line against EC.  Jon Contos hit five three-pointers.  Munster did all they could.  The Ponies should win four in a row before they host Valparaiso on Jan. 27.

THE GRADE: A.  Here's another team that has done all they can. They should be 11-1 but Bizoukas got hurt.
THE FUTURE:  Only one team can survive the sectional with LC, Gary West Side and EC.  It probably won't be Munster.  They need a break.

4.  (4A) Gary West Side (6-3)
2006 (7-14), 2005 (19-5), 2004 (12-7)

GARY - Gary West Side has been on another extended hiatus, which means they can't find anyone to play again this year.  The problem with the Cougars is they take more two week vacations than Congress.  And when they return from 10 days off, the team is almost starting over.  Munster and EC don't have the talent through the roster that West Side does.  But they've got to play.  Munster, East Chicago, Roosevelt, Hammond, Lawrence North are all yet to come.  They have looked good, but we just don't know.

THE GRADE: B.   The Cougars have not played enough to develop their young people.  
THE FUTURE:   West Side could play with Valpo, but they'll have to beat EC and Munster to get the chance.  If I had to pick West Side, East Chicago or Munster, I'd take West Side.

5.  (4A) Chesterton (7-3)
2006 (14-9), 2005 (9-12), 2004 (13-8)

CHESTERTON - The Trojans lost in overtime to up-and-coming Crown Point, but that's not a bad loss.  And Chesterton's other two defeats were to Valpo and Munster, exactly what should happen.  Zach Novak (21 ppg.) is a factor and the Trojans have the size to bother all teams.  The injury to starting guard Mark Babcock (8.9 ppg.) does hurt them and you can't ignore it.  There are some winnable games coming before Chesterton plays at Valpo on Feb. 2.

THE GRADE: A.  They have obviously achieved all they could to this point.
THE FUTURE:  If Babcock can't return they have as much chance of success this year as Bush's new Iraq plan.

6.  (3A) Gary Roosevelt (7-2)
2006 (11-12), 2005 (10-11), 2004 (11-13)

GARY -  You need to watch the Panthers before you decide who'll win the 3A regional at Plymouth.  Nobody has this speed.  The Panthers turned back a good South Bend Washington (8-3) team 64-62 Saturday night (1-6-2007), and most teams that challenge them at up-tempo will lose.  They are faster than Clark and Calumet.  The Panthers have to keep trying to play harder.  Big matchup with Indianapolis Howe (7-3) this week.  East Chicago, West Side and Lake Central are still on the schedule.  The losses are to Chesterton and West Side.

THE GRADE: A.  The top 3A team in NW Indiana.
THE FUTURE:  They will eventually play Plymouth for the regional  title.

7.  (4A) Merrillville (5-5)
2006 (17-4), 2005 (18-4), 2004 (9-12)

MERRILLVILLE - The potential is big here, but they haven't beaten anyone with a record of better than 6-5.  The five losses are by a combined total of 20 points.  They have the quickness and size to defense most teams and that needs to take effect.  They don't anticipate each other yet and they lack either outside shooting or confidence that they can shoot.  I'm not sure which.  You don't see a floor leader here, but this is largely a new team.  The Pirates need more time to develop some team confidence.  Potentially, this is a very good team, but they are facing DAC squads like CP, Valpo, LaPorte and Chesterton who have who groups of boys who have played together most of their lives.

THE GRADE:  C.  Average, so far.
THE FUTURE:  This is the only team with a serious chance to upset Valpo at the sectional level.

8.  (3A) Calumet (7-3)
2006 (4-19), 2005 (4-17), 2004 (2-20)

GARY -  The surprise team of the year.  The Warriors blew a couple of games with bad foul shooting, but they were 14 of 19 in a 65-55 win over Gavit last Saturday.  To be totally honest, they've only beaten one good team (Munster) and Munster was short-handed when Cal beat them.  Some of the Calumet schedule is about as tough at the Ohio Sate defense, but this poll is about how good they are, not who they've beaten.  The full court defense they can create is going to be formidable in Class 3A late in the year.  Playing 12 players a game probably hurts the offense and helps the defense.  But you can't practice against speed, so there are a half dozen teams on Calumet's schedule that are toast now.  The high speed matchup of Calumet and Roosevelt can't occur until the regional.

THE GRADE: A.  Remember, Calumet was 13-74 the last four years.
THE FUTURE:  I think this team will eventually play Gary Roosevelt in the regional.

9. (4A) CROWN POINT (5-5)
2006 (9-13), 2005 (13-9), 2004 (6-16)

CROWN POINT:  Crown Point's OT win over Chesterton pulled them back to the .500 mark at mid-season.  Kyle Hanaway (8.3 apg.) continues to lead NW Indiana in assists and Zach Cecich has scored in double figures in every game.  They'll add 6-2 football star Matt Ernest this week and the schedule lightens up with only one game this week.  Obviously, they are on the rise and the confidence level should be rising.  It better be.  Boone Grove, Valparaiso and East Chicago are still ahead on the schedule.

The GRADE:  B.  They beat Merrillville and Chesterton.
The FUTURE:   With 10 juniors on the roster?  2008.  They really don't match up with Valparaiso.

10.  (4A) Lake Central (5-4)
2006 (7-14), 2005 (11-10), 2004 (17-6)

ST.  JOHN -  Lake Central is getting it together with three wins in a row.  The Indians have three losses by 10 points or less, but that may be in the past.  Transfer Danny Bouchee had 18 points in the 63-56 win over LaPorte.  LC has three games in a row with Highland, Crown Point and Lowell lined up.  If they've really improved, they'll sweep all three.

The GRADE:  C.  But look at who they've played.  They should be 5-4.
The FUTURE:  They need a lot of help.  They're in the wrong sectional.

On the outside looking in...

(4A) LaPorte (6-3)
2006 (12-13), 2005 (8-14), 2004 (21-4)

LaPORTE -  LaPorte had a bad weekend, losing to Chesterton 71-61 and Lake Central 63-56.  The Slicers are still a quality team with 6-1 shooting guard Austin Kesling (15.1 ppg., 24 3-point goals).  Colby Kus (10.9) is still 33 of 38 in foul shots.  The Slicers have only been playing seven players and that might leave them a little short in close games.  There's some inexperience here and road games with Merrillville and Plymouth (9-1) are next.  Might be time to take some whippings, but they'll come back.

The GRADE: C.   Not much was expected and they're about .500.
THE FUTURE:  With a bye, they could still win the 4A Michigan City Sectional.
 

(1A) Morgan Township (6-3)
2006 (5-16),  2005 (10-14),   2004 (19-4)

MORGAN TOWNSHIP - Morgan got caught napping by Marquette (7-3), losing 41-37.  No one scored in double figures for MT, which highlights the fact that they need a very good game out of most of their players to win.  They drew Hanover Central at the PCC tournament and they'd better be careful.  Marquette may be better than I'm giving them credit for, so I'm waiting to see Morgan during the PCC Tourney.  The level at which they have to play may be difficult to maintain.

(2A) Boone Grove (5-3)
2006 (18-6), 2005 (19-7), 2004 (13-9)

PORTER TOWNSHIP - A strong week with road wins at Hanover Central Friday and at Wheeler Saturday.  Boone played like they had hoped to play this season. Bryce Palleson (19.2 ppg,) should average 20 a game and he is. Joe Johnson (11.3) has ben a surprising scorer. Jake Pivarnik (8.3 pg,.) may have ended a slump with a big 14 at arch rival Wheeler.   Boone Grove has the PCC tournament at home so they feel they must win. Lowell, Chesterton and Crown Point are still to come. We cant tell for sure but they look a lot better than they did a week ago. 
 

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Revised: January 10, 2007 .