8 Predictions for the 2019-2020 Season
The season tips on Monday and I’m sure if you’re reading this article, you’re as excited for the season to start as I am. Here are 8 predictions for the season ahead. The demise of Scott County will not be…
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Continue ReadingThe season tips on Monday and I’m sure if you’re reading this article, you’re as excited for the season to start as I am. Here are 8 predictions for the season ahead.
- The demise of Scott County will not be as dramatic as many think/hope. I spent most of the summer expecting the Cardinals to be terrible. They lost some games this summer that they had no business losing and then 3 kids who started all summer for them went to Great Crossing when school started. Now Coach Tim Glenn has a bunch of kids who want to play for him and a team that can run the same system Coach Hicks ran for years. They’re not likely to get to Rupp this year, but that outcome is not as far fetched as it used to seem.
- The Class of 2022 is going to make an impact. I have made little secret of how high I am on the Sophomore class as a whole but I expect that several of those players had minor roles on the varsity roster last season. Look for that to change now. Christian Spalding and James Jewell (Eastern) Turrell Cleaves Jr. (Butler) Bryce Riley (Nelson County), Jack Gohmann (Lexington Catholic), Kennedy Hayden (Ballard) and others who had smaller roles last season should see a breakout this season.
- Zion Harmon will lead the state in scoring and it won’t be close. Zion can score the ball and is a gifted passer but after putting up 42 points in a scrimmage against Bowling Green, I no longer worry that Marshall County plays too slow for Harmon to thrive. Don’t be surprised if he averages close to 40 points per game this year.
- Male will be the most fun team to watch in the state. From the pace on the floor to the overall depth to the moms in the stands with their cheers and chants, Male games are going to be a circus in the best way possible. Coach Haworth’s team is deep and athletic and he lets his kids play. I don’t know if they’ll win state but they’ll be a ton of fun to watch play.
- Scoring will go up to start the season then level off. The start of the year always brings a super tight whistle from the referees. This leads to more free throws as the refs call the “points of emphasis” until after new years. As the season wears on, the points of emphasis will go back to normal and you’ll see fewer free throw attempts.
- We’ll see many new faces at Rupp in March. I don’t expect to see a ton of repeat regional champions. Schools like Scott County and Trinity will be down and several regions are wide open this year. By the time we get to March, there may only be a handful of teams who cut the nets in 2019 that will get back to Rupp.
- The Mr. Basketball race will be interesting to watch. This Senior class went from “meh” to pretty good really quick. With the return of Justin Powell, the emergence of JJ Traynor and an injury to Howard Fleming, there are already several players moving up and down the preseason rankings of which players will be considered for the award.
- Fans will continue to call for a shot clock. But those calls will fall on deaf ears. Until we see some national governing body make it mandatory, Kentucky will not have a shot clock.
Excited to get the season started! Get out and watch some games this week!