Temp’s Preseason Top 50

[temptation]

15.  Lawrence North

14.  Decatur Central

13.  Bishop Chatard

12.  Fishers

11.  Carmel

[BTF]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

15.  Lawrence North

14.  Decatur Central

13.  Bishop Chatard

12.  Fishers

11.  Carmel

Fishers at 12. Must be a really talented Top 10. 

[temptation]

7 minutes ago, BTF said:

Fishers at 12. Must be a really talented Top 10. 

You’re high on Fishers huh?

[BTF]

5 minutes ago, temptation said:

You’re high on Fishers huh?

They've been pretty stout the last couple of seasons. Curt Funk appears to be a pretty good coach? Not sure why they would backtrack. 

[temptation]

8 minutes ago, BTF said:

They've been pretty stout the last couple of seasons. Curt Funk appears to be a pretty good coach? Not sure why they would backtrack. 

I am not sure I would view being #12 as “backtracking.”  They’ve gone 20-12 in Funk’s last three years and have gone a combined 0-11 against Brownsburg, Westfield and HSE over that same time period.

Could totally see them breaking through this year and they have talent and a bona fide 4 star playmaker on the perimeter.

I am a full blown believer that 2024 is the year for the 6A parity I have longed for.

[BTF]

I agree, #12 isn't a backtrack at all. In fact, anything in the Top 15 is a major compliment. Fishers had a couple of rough seasons in Funk's first two years, I don't see them backtracking to that level is what I meant. 

[BLACKGOLD2007]

I don't know too much about 3A on down but I think the South wins 6A, 5A will be close and 4A. 

6A could this be the year a true North team gives the South a scare. I think that 6A north will be represented by a true North school again this year. It will be tough, Westfield, Fishers and HSE wont just roll over.  I think BTF is on to something.  It could be wishful thinking. 

5A East Central is the favorite, but maybe the step up to 5A closes the gap between how dominant they were over their 4A foes. 

4A Can Mishawaka break through the glass ceiling and actually get back to a state title?

[BTF]

2 hours ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

I don't know too much about 3A on down but I think the South wins 6A, 5A will be close and 4A. 

6A could this be the year a true North team gives the South a scare. I think that 6A north will be represented by a true North school again this year. It will be tough, Westfield, Fishers and HSE wont just roll over.  I think BTF is on to something.  It could be wishful thinking. 

5A East Central is the favorite, but maybe the step up to 5A closes the gap between how dominant they were over their 4A foes. 

4A Can Mishawaka break through the glass ceiling and actually get back to a state title?

I've got East Central 3rd in 5A at the moment. Chatard will be tough to beat in 4A. It's a shame that two of Mishawaka's best players moved to Elkhart. Or was that Northwood? Either way, both teams I think can be competitive with Chatard. 

[FridayNightLights]

9 hours ago, temptation said:

15.  Lawrence North

14.  Decatur Central

13.  Bishop Chatard

12.  Fishers

11.  Carmel

Not sure I see Brownsburg in the top 10 this year unless they had some young talent that I am not aware of? I guess even for a down year they still end up in the 5-15 range. 

[temptation]

46 minutes ago, FridayNightLights said:

Not sure I see Brownsburg in the top 10 this year unless they had some young talent that I am not aware of? I guess even for a down year they still end up in the 5-15 range. 

Brownsburg is 67-19 under John Hart while playing one of the state’s toughest schedules annually.  Though I have been as critical of them as anyone on here, they are worthy of their eventual ranking on this list in my opinion (it’s a panel of 1, lol).

There are just certain programs I CANNOT rank them in front of until I see something from the Bulldogs in the post season.

Probably unfair to their current crop of student athletes, but how ironic would it be if this edition of Brownsburg was the one that actually broke through?  
 

Makes me think of that 1998 Tennessee team that won it all the year after Peyton Manning graduated.

Not betting on it, but certainly possible I guess.

Edited August 9, 2024 by temptation

[BDGiant93]

On 7/30/2024 at 4:31 PM, NLCTigerFan07 said:

And then I believe after this home and home with Warren the next two years, the Tigers have a home and homes with Ben Davis and Fort Wayne Snider in the 2026 and 2027 seasons 😲

Those Ben Davis/Warsaw games are not reflected on the schedule as of yet for BD. What week would they play?

7 hours ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

6A could this be the year a true North team gives the South a scare.

If the Ben Davis offense is what it should be this year, that's going to be tough.

[BLACKGOLD2007]

16 hours ago, BDGiant93 said:

If the Ben Davis offense is what it should be this year, that's going to be tough.

I mean, no matter what it is going to be tough. I think teams in the North are making improvements. Eventually one will get over the hump, it just may come at a time where they have their generational team and the big 3-5 in the South are not as good as they usually are. 

I would love to see two generationally good teams throw down, typically if it does happen both the teams are from the Indy area. 

[BLACKGOLD2007]

25.  Warsaw

24.  Valparaiso

23.  Mishawaka

22.  Noblesville

21.   Merrillville  

20.  Evansville Reitz

19.  Bloomington South

18.  Franklin Central

17.  Penn

16.  East Central

15.  Lawrence North

14.  Decatur Central

13.  Bishop Chatard

12.  Fishers

11.  Carmel

 

Temp's rankings so far. So you all can see it in one post instead of flipping through the pages. 

[BTF]

22 minutes ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

Eventually one will get over the hump, it just may come at a time where they have their generational team and the big 3-5 in the South are not as good as they usually are. 

That's the problem the smaller schools in 6A face every season. They may be having their best team ever, but then they have to hope all of the mega programs are having an "average" season simultaneously. Unfortunately, it doesn't typically happen that way. Twenty five years ago, one of the three were going to have an up year. Now we are looking at 3 of 6 or 7 having up years. 

[BLACKGOLD2007]

4 minutes ago, BTF said:

That's the problem the smaller schools in 6A face every season. They may be having their best team ever, but then they have to hope all of the mega programs are having an "average" season simultaneously. Unfortunately, it doesn't typically happen that way. Twenty five years ago, one of the three were going to have an up year. Now we are looking at 3 of 6 or 7 having up years. 

I agree, with open enrollment now state wide and school of choice possibly growing in the incoming years I think will help balance some disadvantages the smaller schools are facing. 

Making recruiting "legal" I think Snider even though a 5A enrollment has top coaching and top athletes could have given BD of last year a great challenge. Would they have won, maybe not, but it would have been a much better game then we have seen in a while. 

[Komets2727]

40 minutes ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

25.  Warsaw

24.  Valparaiso

23.  Mishawaka

22.  Noblesville

21.   Merrillville  

20.  Evansville Reitz

19.  Bloomington South

18.  Franklin Central

17.  Penn

16.  East Central

15.  Lawrence North

14.  Decatur Central

13.  Bishop Chatard

12.  Fishers

11.  Carmel

 

Temp's rankings so far. So you all can see it in one post instead of flipping through the pages. 

Decatur Central and East Central should flip spots, I would also flip Chatard and Carmel

Edited August 10, 2024 by Komets2727

[BLACKGOLD2007]

16 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Decatur Central and East Central should flip spots, I would also flip Chatard and Carmel

@temptation what are the differences you are seeing in these teams?

We know East Central is without their stud do it all Mr. Football RB. But, are they in reload mode?

How much has Chartard lost with graduation or transfers?

Is Carmel going to stop underachieving? 

[temptation]

17 minutes ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

@temptation what are the differences you are seeing in these teams?

We know East Central is without their stud do it all Mr. Football RB. But, are they in reload mode?

How much has Chartard lost with graduation or transfers?

Is Carmel going to stop underachieving? 

All of these teams are similar in my opinion with subtle differences. I’ll take your questions one at a time.

I am not sure I would define East Centsl as being in “reload mode” after losing Ringer as they will undoubtedly take a step back.  Now keep in mind when I say that phrase they were pretty much a unanimous top five team in the state regardless of class last year.  I think they have the goods to win 5A but will definitely be pushed unlike how they were in 4A.

I NEVER worry about Chatard’s graduation losses and they are the definition of a team that RELOADS.  I think they are the clear cut favorite in 3A again, could win 4A, compete to win 5A and hang with most 6A teams.

Decatur Central is interesting to me as they are a bit of both of what I described above.  I expected them to take a step back after the plethora of Tracy’s finally graduated but they just won’t go away.  They have a play maker at QB and have the perfect geography, SES and enrollment to be a 5A player annually.

If anything, I think Carmel is the head scratcher of this group.  I’ve been on record in multiple threads on here saying this is a make or break year for the Greyhounds coaching staff.  To lose to Ben Davis and Center Grove is one thing, but now they are in danger of becoming afterthought in their own county.  They will be better than their record indicates and the have been the last couple of years due to their brutal schedule, but it’s put up or shut up time for them in my opinion.

Edited August 10, 2024 by temptation

[BTF]

45 minutes ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

I think Snider even though a 5A enrollment has top coaching and top athletes could have given BD of last year a great challenge. Would they have won, maybe not, but it would have been a much better game then we have seen in a while. 

I think Snider's defense would have kept it competitive. I think 6A is a crapshoot even when one thinks there is a clear cut favorite. Last year we had three teams that were right there with one another in Brownsburg, Ben Davis, and Center Grove. But Warren Central proved that anyone can be beaten on any given night providing we're talking Top 20 teams. Mishawaka proved that last year in 5A as well. Even the best teams can fall. 

[BTF]

4 minutes ago, temptation said:

All of these teams are similar in my opinion with subtle differences. I’ll take your questions one at a time.

I am not sure I would define East Centsl as being in “reload mode” after losing Ringer as they will undoubtedly take a step back.  Now keep in mind when I say that phrase they were pretty much a unanimous top five team in the state regardless of class last year.  I think they have the goods to win 5A but will definitely be pushed unlike how they were in 4A.

I NEVER worry about Chatard’s graduation losses and they are the definition of a team that RELOADS.  I think they are the clear cut favorite in 3A again, could win 4A, compete to win 5A and hang with most 6A teams.

Decatur Central is interesting to me as they are a bit of both of what I described above.  I expected them to take a step back after the plethora of Tracy’s finally graduated but they just won’t go away.  They have a play maker at QB and have the perfect geography, SES and enrollment to be a 5A player annually.

If anything, I think Carmel is the head scratcher of this group.  I’ve been on record in multiple threads on here saying this is a make or break year for the Greyhounds coaching staff.  To lose to Ben Davis and Center Grove is one thing, but now they are in danger of becoming afterthought in their own county.  They will be better than their record indicates and the have been the last couple of years due to their brutal schedule, but it’s put up or shut up time for them in my opinion.

Chatard is 4A this year, correct?

[temptation]

Just now, BTF said:

Chatard is 4A this year, correct?

Good call.  I gotta get used to this.

Edited August 10, 2024 by temptation

[Komets2727]

39 minutes ago, temptation said:

All of these teams are similar in my opinion with subtle differences. I’ll take your questions one at a time.

I am not sure I would define East Centsl as being in “reload mode” after losing Ringer as they will undoubtedly take a step back.  Now keep in mind when I say that phrase they were pretty much a unanimous top five team in the state regardless of class last year.  I think they have the goods to win 5A but will definitely be pushed unlike how they were in 4A.

I NEVER worry about Chatard’s graduation losses and they are the definition of a team that RELOADS.  I think they are the clear cut favorite in 3A again, could win 4A, compete to win 5A and hang with most 6A teams.

Decatur Central is interesting to me as they are a bit of both of what I described above.  I expected them to take a step back after the plethora of Tracy’s finally graduated but they just won’t go away.  They have a play maker at QB and have the perfect geography, SES and enrollment to be a 5A player annually.

If anything, I think Carmel is the head scratcher of this group.  I’ve been on record in multiple threads on here saying this is a make or break year for the Greyhounds coaching staff.  To lose to Ben Davis and Center Grove is one thing, but now they are in danger of becoming afterthought in their own county.  They will be better than their record indicates and the have been the last couple of years due to their brutal schedule, but it’s put up or shut up time for them in my opinion.

Good analysis on these teams. Chatard is legit and East Central has earned the right to be put in the upper echelon of teams. My issues are with Carmel and Decatur Central. I am completely onboard with this being a make or break year for Carmel. They have under achieved for quite a bit of time now and haven’t been a real contender for the 6A title for awhile now. The reasons are quite a few and have been discussed and dissected at length. Put up or shut up time for the Greyhounds.

Decatur Central I just don’t get the love for them. What have they done to deserve this. Certainly not been a short or long term state title contender. While they had a very good year last year, it has not been due to sustained success like East Central. I was not impressed by their offense in the least against Snider last year and having watched them play earlier in the playoffs, I wasn’t impressed then either. They had a pretty good defense, but they took advantage of a pretty weak South bracket last year. 

Edited August 10, 2024 by Komets2727

[BTF]

11 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Good analysis on these teams. Chatard is legit and East Central has earned the right to be put in the upper echelon of teams. My issues are with Carmel and Decatur Central. I am completely onboard with this being a make or break year for Carmel. They have under achieved for quite a bit of time now and haven’t been a real contender for the 6A title for awhile now. The reasons are quite a few and have been discussed and dissected at length. Put up or shut up time for the Greyhounds.

Decatur Central I just don’t get the love for them. What have they done to deserve this. Certainly not been a short or long term state title contender. While they had a very good year last year, it has not been due to sustained success like East Central. I was not impressed by their offense in the least against Snider last year and having watched them play earlier in the playoffs, I wasn’t impressed then either. They had a pretty good defense, but they took advantage of a pretty weak South bracket last year. 

In eight seasons, Kyle Enright has won 9+ five times. That's pretty good consistency other than the 2022 season where they went 4-7. Those more familiar with Indy tout DC as a 'growing enrollment' area, hence the expectations for their program. They are my preseason #1 in 5A. 

[Komets2727]

15 minutes ago, BTF said:

In eight seasons, Kyle Enright has won 9+ five times. That's pretty good consistency other than the 2022 season where they went 4-7. Those more familiar with Indy tout DC as a 'growing enrollment' area, hence the expectations for their program. They are my preseason #1 in 5A. 

You can be onboard, I am not. 

[temptation]

1 hour ago, BTF said:

In eight seasons, Kyle Enright has won 9+ five times. That's pretty good consistency other than the 2022 season where they went 4-7. Those more familiar with Indy tout DC as a 'growing enrollment' area, hence the expectations for their program. They are my preseason #1 in 5A. 

Don’t wanna grow too much though…they’d be an afterthought in 6A.