Big Eight Preview

The Big Eight is easily one of the top three conferences in Wisconsin, if not the best conference. This is fairly common year in and year out which makes the Big Eight a very fun conference to watch and follow. The conference is also much closer then a City Conference which allows me to catch a lot of games.

As last year this will be a two horse race between Madison Memorial and Madison East. After the top two, three through seven could finish in any order, and then the bottom three teams will be battling it out. My rankings will include my best guess at each teams record.

1. Madison Memorial- As always Memorial has the most talent in the conference and are led by the top player in the state in 6'4 senior Vander Blue.
2. Madison East- Best one two punch in the conference in 5'11 junior Nimrod Hillard and 6'4 senior Marquis Mason.
3. Verona- Yes they lost their Mr. Everything in Jason Ziemer but, this is a very disciplined team that plays hard the entire game. 6'4 senior Adam Wadzinski is a three year letter winner and 6'4 senior Sam Karls can do a little bit of everything.
4. Beloit- State team a year ago bring back two key starts in 6'2 senior KJ Evans and 5'10 senior Sharod Stone.
5. Sun Prairie- Their starting back court of Michael Boos and Michael Handel are on varsity for their fourth years and 6'3 junior Jordan Noskowiak will be in his second year of varsity.
6. Middleton- Matt Everson is a returning all conference preformer and they have lots of height on the team.
7. Madison Lafollette- This team hinges on one player in 5'11 senior DJ Fuller but, if Fuller misses some games they will be in trouble.
8. Madison West- This team always seems to have lots of athletes but, they will struggle with a first year coach.
9. Janesville Craig- Basically lost everything from a year ago and have a new coach.
10. Janesville Parker- Well Parker is always picked last in the conference year in and year out.

Conference Standings
Madison Memorial 17-1
Madison East 16-2
Verona 14-4
Beloit 11-7
Sun Prairie 9-9
Middleton 9-9
Madison Lafollette 7-11
Madison West 4-14
Janesville Craig 2-16
Janesville Paker 1-17

All Conference
1st Team
5'11 junior Nimrod Hillard Madison East
5'11 senior DJ Fuller Madison Lafollette
6'2 senior KJ Evans Beloit
6'4 senior Vander Blue Madison Memorial
6'4 senior Marquis Mason Madison East
6'4 Sophomore Junior Lomomba Madison Memorial out for most of the season

2nd Team
5'10 senior Sharrod Stone Beloit
6'1 senior Michael Boos Sun Prairie
6'2 senior Matt Everson Middleton
6'4 senior Tre Creamer Madison Memorial
6'4 senior Adam Wadzinski Verona

HM
6'2 junior Jordan Noskowiak Sun Prairie
6'3 senior Shane Adler Middleton
6'4 senior Matt Karls Verona

Those are my preseason thoughts on the Big Eight. I only added three players to the honorable mention list because those three guys could of just as easily be second team all conference players. South Central conference will follow with in the next day or two and then the season begins.