The IHSA released the sectional assignments for boys basketball over the weekend. As always, it’s a great peek into the future and what it might look like two months from now.
Here are some quick takes and observations from the release of those assignments.
Class 4A
■ The toughest 4A sectional? The “TBA Sectional” where the majority of the Public League schools will be playing — and is still looking for a host — is the deepest.
Kenwood, currently the No. 1 ranked team, is at the top, followed by several teams that are or have been ranked this season: Simeon, Lincoln Park, St. Ignatius, Hinsdale Central and Curie.
The bad news is even after getting through this gauntlet, the sectional winner will have to face one of the state’s best (Homewood-Flossmoor? Rich?) in the super-sectional.
■ The Benet Sectional is exceptionally strong — at the top. Bolingbrook, Waubonsie Valley and Benet are the top three seeds now and undoubtedly will be in two months. But there is a quick drop following those three, although Downers Grove North appears to be making things more interesting than anyone thought.
■ The same can be said about the sectional in the south suburbs that is still looking for a sectional host. Homewood-Flossmoor and Rich are the headliners. But there is a little more depth with the likes of Marist, Bloom and Joliet West.
■ The weakest 4A sectional right now is pretty clear: St. Charles East. That’s good news for the only team currently ranked in the Super 25 — Glenbard West. Right now the top two seeds are without question Glenbard West and Geneva.
■ The always strong north suburban sectional doesn’t look to be nearly as strong or deep as past years. New Trier has won this past two years and again will be one of the biggest threats to do so again. But it’s not the New Trier of the past two seasons. Evanston and Niles North appear ready to be major players.
■ The best team with the best path is Warren. The Blue Devils will have some familiar obstacles in league foes Waukegan and Libertyville in their sub-sectional, but it’s hardly a meat-grinder in comparison to other sectionals. The other sub-sectional features dangerous DeKalb, Rockford Guilford and Rockford Auburn.
■ Quincy and Moline appear to be on a collision course to meet in the Collinsville Sectional final.
■ Based on current rankings and what teams would likely be the top seeds in their respective sectionals, here is a look at potential Class 4A super-sectional matchups:
Hoffman Estates Super: Niles North vs. Glenbard West
UIC Super: Homewood-Flossmoor vs. Kenwood
ISU Super: Quincy vs. Bolingbrook
DeKalb Super: Rolling Meadows vs. Warren
Class 3A
■ The toughest sectional in Class 3A, at least in the Chicago area, is the Brother Rice Sectional, where the host school is the team to beat. Marian Catholic, Perspectives-Leadership and Hillcrest stand in the way of Brother Rice winning its first sectional since 2005.
■ This may sound like a whole lot of disrespect to a whole lot of teams — 37 teams to be exact — but try and find a viable challenger to two-time defending champ DePaul Prep in the Antioch and Rochelle sectionals. Go ahead. Try it …
We’ve found one: Lake Forest. Good luck to the other 37 teams.
■ Mount Carmel is in great position to win a second straight sectional championship. In order to do so the Caravan will need to take care of Catholic League foes St. Laurence and De La Salle in the Glenbard South Sectional. It’s always interesting to watch private schools from the South Side head to Glen Ellyn for a sectional.
■ Coach Mike Bailey has won four sectional championships at St. Patrick since taking over the program in 1994. The Shamrocks will be favored to repeat in a very winnable sectional and claim Bailey’s fifth overall.
Underrated Fenwick appears to be the best team standing in the way of St. Patrick in the Little Village Sectional. And just like last year, Mount Carmel could be the blockade in Bailey reaching the State Finals for the first time. St. Patrick lost to Mount Carmel a year ago in the super.
■ Talented Kankakee is in a good position within its own sub-sectional. But it gets dicey when paired up with the other sub-sectional, which includes Peoria and Metamora.
■ The Rochelle Sectional will be interesting. Crystal Lake South is the defending champ and still has AJ Demirov back. Kaneland is 7-1. But unbeaten Wheaton Academy is playing like the top team in that sectional right now. Wheaton Academy has never won a sectional championship in program history.
■ Based on current rankings and what teams would likely be the top seeds in their respective sectionals, here is a look at potential Class 3A super-sectional matchups:
UIC Super: Mount Carmel vs. St. Patrick
Springfield Super: Mt. Vernon vs. Mt. Zion
Hoffman Estates Super: DePaul Prep vs. Wheaton Academy
Pontiac Super: Brother Rice vs. Peoria