A Random Smattering of preseason thoughts

 

 

- How about Nichols vs. McKinley, followed by Amherst vs. Kenmore West to get the season going on Wednesday night at the Pastor-Cooper Showcase?  Those could easily be four of the top 10 large schools in WNY this season.

 

- Rotating the nights for the sectional semifinals last season was not just an experiment.  The rotation continues this season and has really changed the traditional Buff State week schedule we all got used.  I understand that the concept behind it is to be fair, I'm just glad we didn't try to be "fair" on Championship Saturday and rotate the start times for the sectional championship games also.

 

- If there's ever a player you look back on in hindsight and say "man, I wish I'd have gotten to one of his games" about, don't let that happen this season with this guy.  Cheektowaga's Dominick Welch was selected to Fifth Team All-Centercourt last year as a freshman.  I'm anticipating a monster campaign from this sophomore and he's definitely worth the trip to watch.

 

-  Does Maple Grove have email technology at its school?

 

- Niagara Falls missed reaching the semifinals at Buffalo State for just the second time since its merger with LaSalle.  That won't happen again this year, as Falls brings back a ton from last year's young team.  It just doesn't seem the same to me when Falls isn't a contender, and regardless of whether its team makes it there or not, the NFHS Pep Band should be a fixture during all Class AA games at Buff State.

 

- One team that doesn't fail to reach Buff State...McKinley.  

 

- CCAA I East already had Salamanca, Randolph, and Portville.  This year, it added Silver Creek.  It's a good time to see the cost of fuel going down.

 

- We get two regular season games between Canisius & Nichols this year!

 

- Speaking of Nichols...how good are they going to be this year?  Consider that they return a pair of career 1,000 point scorers AND a player commited to play for D1 Central Arkansas (Scottie Pippen's alma mater).   The Vikings won the Manhattan Cup last season, but the postseason victories came without the services of Tanner Schmit (Central Arkansas commit).  If the Vikings figure out how to thrive with all three in the lineup together, after the success they enjoyed at last season's end, they may very well be WNY's top squad.

 

- Or maybe WNY's top squad will be Canisius.  Yes, they did lose Howard Washington, the highly billed future of the Crusaders.  You will never hear me say that one doesn't matter. It does and it will.  But that's not to say Canisius won't continue to succeed without him, and it's very possible they go even farther without him.  And if Canisius beat Nichols in the postseason this year, one could make the case they were even better this year.  They'll certainly be a different team.  

 

- While speculating on WNY's best team, what about Jamestown, who returns four starters from a team that reached the Class AA state championship?  One of those starters is the reigning CC MVP, the Centercourt Player of the Year, Zack Panebianco.  Many of the Red Raiders' players are coming off a state championship in football.  Talk about a group that should be brimming with confidence.

 

- Schools with strong football programs shouldn't even start scheduling games until at least late December.  The trend of WNY football being on the rise and teams extending their seasons late into November doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

 

- Amherst @ Cheektowaga on 12/16/14   AND   Cheektowaga @ Amherst on 1/23/15  could be epic.

 

- Cheektowaga vs. Amherst in an encore performance on 3/7/15?  I'm thinking so.

 

- History has Middle College going on a deep run this season, but not making it out of Section VI.  Every other year (even numbered years),  the Kats reach the Class C state title game.  They won states in 2010, lost to Tuckahoe in 2012, and lost to Hoosic Valley in 2014.  But in 2011 they fell to I-Prep in the Section VI Class C title game and in 2013 they lost in the Class C crossover game to Silver Creek (Chill Showtime as some of you may remember).

 

- As an aside to the above paragraph, Section VI has downed Section V in Class C for five straight seasons.  

 

- This year looks to be the closest the three Williamsville schools are in talent since I've been covering HS hoops, and all three will be very good.  If I had to pick which was the best prior to the start of the season, I'd take West.

 

- Here are a few links to WNY hoop alums that are doing their thing at the next level:  Dallas Gary, Will Regan, Matt MacDonald, Matt Hart , Gordon Lyons, Connor Rehbaum, Quinn Lee Yaw, Jaysean Paige, Jermaine Crumpton, Adam Weir, Ramir Burton, JJ Wilkes

 

- The Charter School basketball programs are on the continued rise in WNY.  Oracle, Health Sciences, and Tapestry are all teams that will challenge for sectional titles this season.

 

- St. Joe's might be the biggest sleeper team in WNY this season.  With the success of Canisius in recent years, Nichols putting it all together last year, Timon reaching two straight Manhattan Cup finals, and Park going from zero to 60 in one season, no one is talking about the Marauders.  The team they will field this season will have three things that make them very dangerous for a Mark Simon-coached team:  experience, cohesiveness, & talent.  I'm just saying...

 

-centercourt

 

Comments

[ECICMAN]

There is no Williamsville West, assume you mean East?

[TML1000]

That's the point, man...they're all that close.

[Miguel is God]

ECICMAN - really dude?

Officially season kickoff Wednesday at Pastor! I am so excited I will pay everyone's admission!!!

Why does the pizza always blow at Pastor? It's always cold, cheese coming off...who orders this? Would not Al Pastor's memory not b better served with better quality pizza 4 his guests?

[ECICMAN]

Yeah really, all 3 teams were solid last year but only North got any coverage so not sure if some know East from West. Thanks for your informative post on pizza though...

[Miguel is God]

ECICMAN Only North deserved coverage - they have the best looking coach (clearly), and had the Buffalo News player of the year.

I am honestly hoping my posts help with AWARENESS - we shouldn't have 2 deal with inferior pizza in this day and age of HS sports.

[Cookie]

That might be true about the North coach, but St. Joe's has the sexiest.

[jeff]

Lancaster tip off tourney starts tonight. Cca vs Cleve hill and Lancaster vs Dunkirk. Lot of talk Lancaster will be a buff st team this year.

[Miguel is God]

There was lots of talk Obama would b a good President too....

[Miguel is God]

My Pre Season Large School Top 10:

Nichols, Jamestown, Canisius, McKinley, Cheektowaga, Timon, Amherst, Will North, Niagara Falls, St Joe's

[jeff]

If I remember didn't Lancaster beat you preseason number 1. With all 3 of their superstars too

[#1]

Canisius should be #1 in large schools and East #1 in the small schools. Both are loaded!

[PXJ]

Lancaster at Nichols Dec 8th 6:30

[Miguel is God]

My Top 10 is exactly right. Lancaster? Is that a joke? They haven't had a good team since the Carter administration.