A Look Ahead: 3 Games, 3 Teams, 3 Players
Each week this year we are going to preview the upcoming games by listing our 3 teams, 3 games, and 3 players to keep an eye on. This will be a post that happens every Monday this season to tune you into the things you need to keep an eye out for. These are the things you should keep an eye on for the week of November 19th – November 24th.
3 Games
New Castle vs. Greenwood
With Mason Gillis out until January at the earliest, this team gets put on the shoulders of Luke Bumbalough. Usually a game against Greenwood wouldn’t be anything to keep an eye on but this will actually be a test for New Castle. Greenwood might be sneaky good this year and New Castle is really going to have to play well to get to the state tournament.
Carmel vs. Zionsville
This is always the game to watch on the first Tuesday of the season. This year, both teams are solid as usual. Zionsville brings in a wealth of talent and should be right there in the end this season. Carmel has a couple questions coming into the year but they are shaping up to be a team that can make some noise once again. Zionsville won this battle last year and whoever wins sets the tone for their season pretty early.
Barr-Reeve vs. Washington
Another early season match-up that really sets a tone for how the season goes. Barr-Reeve heads into the Hatchet House with a new coach and a new offense. Washington has been down the last few years but are going to be back on their feet this year. This could be a game that Barr-Reeve loses since they are such a different team from a year ago. Washington has the pieces to beat them, and at home in a rivalry game anything can happen.
3 Teams
Indianapolis Howe
How’s is in action two times this week. They play today at home against Irvington Prep and tomorrow they go on the road to face Cathedral. Howe is a team that lost a few key players from last year but have reloaded. They are going to be a team that is right there until the end this year. They play a pretty easy game tonight again Irvington Prep and then we will really see how good they are tomorrow at Cathedral. That’s a score that’s worth keeping an eye on. Don’t expect them to win, but look for them to keep that one close.
New Albany
It’s going to be a weird year for New Albany without Romeo Langford. Due to this loss, they may struggle early on. New Albany needs to find players that can score and they haven’t needed anyone else on this team to do so in the past. They have a big game on Saturday against Bloomington South and you can bet that New Albany has a target on their back now. New Albany has a few players that can score, but whether or not they’ll be able to hang with the top teams will be seen on Saturday.
Brownsburg
Brownsburg should be really good this year and they are going to be tested early. A game against North Central on Wednesday and a trip to Attucks on Saturday are going to be two games that really show us what Brownsburg is made of. Both of their opponents play different styles and Brownsburg will need to be on the top of their game early on to beat them. Attucks is one of the best teams in the state this year in 3A and match up pretty evenly with Brownsburg. This will be a high scoring game and will cap off a week of good games.
3 Players
Trayce Jackson-Davis
With four players out for the first games of the year against Franklin and Franklin Central, Jackson-Davis is really going to be needed to step up. They are going to be thin in their guard spot and he is going to really have to play well to help Center Grove to the win. Franklin is a dangerous team this year with the ability to shoot the ball so if they are making them Jackson-Davis is going to have to perform well inside.
Brandon Newman
We thought Newman wasn’t going to be playing in the state this year, but then he transferred back to Valparaiso. This was a huge boost to the program and he will have his hands full against Hobart on Wednesday. He should be able to score as many points as he wants and a great game would really show the state that he wants to win Mr. Basketball.
Luke Brown
Blackford is going to need Brown to score all their points this year if they want to win games. He has two games this week and after being without him for the last half of the season last year, Brown is going to have to show he’s recovered from his injury to play 32 minutes a game. The easy betting favorite to lead the state in scoring has two pretty easy games this week and don’t be surprised if he totals north of 70 points this week.