Big Eight Conference Preview

The Big Eight Conference is far away the conference that I pay the most attention and I feel that I can actually make an accurate prediction with how the conference will play out. The reason that I follow this conference so closely is because it is a conference that is fairly close to where I live and has had some great basketball being played throughout the past seven years I've been following basketball closely. There have been numerous D1 college players that have come through this conference as well as the perennial state power house Madison Memorial. Speaking of Madison Memorial this may actually be the year that Sun Prairie is able to over take Memorial as the top team and to make it to state where a Big Eight school is nearly guaranteed to make it. Sun Prairie and Memorial are easily the one and two teams in the conference but, after that there is really a mishmash of teams in the second tear where four different teams could end up in third place. The bottom four teams are a mishmash as where those four teams could finish in any order. Here are my preseason Big Eight thoughts.

1. Sun Prairie- 6'6 senior Nick Fuller is the top player in the conference and should carry his team to first place and has a very solid sidekick in fellow D1 recruit 6'2 sophomore Nick Noskowiak. Pair these guys with a strong JV team from last year and 6'2 senior Donnel Thompson who is a transfer from Madison Memorial.

2. Madison Memorial- Memorial doesn't have as many big name stars as the past and they aren't one of the favorites to win state but, they do have a pair of very good seniors in 6'1 Brendan Ortiz, a four year starter, and 6'4 Jester Weah, a three year starter.

3. Madison Lafollette- They bring back three starters from last years fourth place team including 6'6 senior Trevon Ampe who I really liked when I saw them play last year and 6'4 senior Nygel Drury who Mark Miller picked as a preseason all city pick.

4. Madison West- Like the past few years West has a ton of talented players but, the question is can they put that talent together. 6'3 junior Malik Clement has had a great summer and seem to be some rumors that he may be a D1 recruit.

5. Middleton- They lost a lot from last year but, they have such a solid program going that it shouldn't be a huge problem and they play so many players they really don't need to count on one player too much. Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Middleton jump to the three spot in the rankings.

6. Beloit- Don't have a lot coming back but, do have all conference performer 6'5 junior Andre Neal back. Usually have a lot of athletes but, just need to put it all together.

7. Madison East- Bring back four starters from last years team that really counted on departed senior Rudy Bentley to carry them. They also have a pair of three year starters in seniors 5'11 Jermel McLin and 6'3 Emani Brathwaite.

8. Janesville Craig- Honestly only here because they return a little more then the bottom two teams.

9. Verona- Honestly was going to have them slightly higher but, then I looked at last years standings and saw that they actually took last in conference and lost their Mr. Everything Bryan Dalton.

10. Janesville Parker- Well tied for last, last year and only bring back one starter and had a JV team that really struggled last year.

Predicted Conference Standings

Sun Prairie 18-0
Madison Memorial 16-2
Madison Lafollette 12-6
Madison West 11-7
Middleton 11-7
Beloit 9-9
Madison East 5-13
Janesville Craig 3-15
Verona 3-15
Janesville Parker 2-16

Preseason All Conference
1st Team
Nick Fuller 6'6 senior Sun Prairie
Brendan Ortiz 6'1 senior Madison Memorial
Malik Clement 6'3 junior Madison West
Jester Weah 6'4 senior Madison Memorial
Andre Neal 6'5 junior Beloit

2nd Team
Nick Noskowiak 6'2 sophomore Sun Prairie
Trevon Ampe 6'6 senior Madison Lafollette
Nygel Drury 6'4 senior Madison Lafollette
Derek Rongstad 6'5 junior Middleton
Jermel McLin 5'11 senior Madison East

HM
Emani Brathwaite 6'3 senior Madison East
Darold Thomas 6'1 sophomore Madison Lafollette
Julian Walters 5'11 senior Madison Lafollette

I will be getting my first Big Eight look on Tuesday night going to watch Madison Memorial and Middleton play and then on Saturday watch the other three Madison teams take on three teams from the Milwaukee area.