Super conference vs. Super 25
The switch to a super-conference format definitely has had an impact on the amount of Public League teams in the Super 25. The city is clearly significantly stronger than the suburbs this season, but the nonelite teams just keep beating up on one another.
It’s likely that Farragut (11-6), Uplift (10-7), Lane (13-7), North Lawndale (11-8), Corliss (9-5) and Kenwood (11-9) all would have much better records in the old four-division format. Those six teams are a combined 43-17 against non-super-conference opponents and 22-28 against super-conference teams.
The Admirals are 7-0 against non-super-conference teams and have had a very impressive January with wins against Thornwood, Marshall, Uplift and Prosser. William Nelson’s team has even played well in its two losses this month, a three-point defeat to Bogan on Jan. 12 and a four-point loss to Lincoln Park on Friday.
The Public League regular season wraps up this week, and the city tournament is expected to start Feb. 6
Super 25 additions
Notre Dame: The Dons had several good excuses for the earlyseason struggles. Their star players are very young and the quick switch from football affected key players. They’ve knocked off St. Viator and Loyola in January. Monday’s game at Waukegan will prove if the rebound is for real.
West Aurora: Brian Johnson’s squad has been consistently good all season but still lacks a big win. All three losses are to quality teams (Oswego East, Bloom, Oak Park). The Blackhawks have a strong backcourt with Marquise Walker and Traevon Brown and have won nine consecutive games.
Lindblom: It isn’t easy to crack the Super 25 when you play in the White Division, but the Eagles have won 15 consecutive games. Their last loss was at Marian Catholic, 63-56 on Nov. 30. They’ve won at Kankakee and Dunbar.
Dropping out
Simeon: Robert Smith still isn’t back coaching, and sophomore Ahamad Bynum is out with an injury again. The Wolverines stuck in the rankings for two months despite a lousy record, but Thursday’s loss at Corliss has knocked them out.
Loyola: It was a brief stay for the Ramblers, who lost to Notre Dame and St. Viator last week.
Aurora Christian: Everyone is still raving about Will Wolfe, but the Eagles fall after losing to St. Francis.
The week ahead
Morgan Park has a busy week. The Mustangs play Bolingbrook at Fenwick on Monday in what should be a fantastic, fast-paced game. Then they host Harlan on Tuesday and travel to Simeon for the Battle of Vincennes on Thursday. That isn’t all. Morgan Park will wrap up its regular season against a feisty, young Zion-Benton squad at Orr on Saturday.
♦ There are three excellent shootouts Saturday. The When Sides Collide event at Glenbard East features five games, headlined by a Simeon vs. Bolingbrook showdown. The Batavia Night of Hoops has four good games, and Orr will host a massive 11-game event with some of the best teams from the city and suburbs.