It was a good week to lose. Last week’s Super 25 ranked teams combined for 12 losses. All but one managed to hang on in the rankings due to overall resume, but there were plenty of changes.
Evanston’s week was notable. The Wildkits lost to two good teams, Glenbrook South and Loyola and beat a solid team, Oak Park. It was definitely a dip in form for the Wildkits though. Just a week ago some were speculating that the young team could win back-to-back Class 4A state titles.
Evanston doesn’t have overwhelming talent and its tallest starter is 6-4. Sharing the ball and shooting had been the key offensively. The Wildkits had more turnovers than assists against Loyola and Glenbrook South.
“We’re not sharing the basketball well enough,” Evanston coach Mike Ellis said. “We just don’t attack a team united. Everyone is trying to do something individually.”
Capping the week with a win against the talented Huskies proved that the Wildkits are still one of the area’s elite teams. It’s difficult to stay perfect against a rugged schedule.
Strength of schedule
Oak Forest and Loyola both have impressive records this season, but the teams haven’t been challenged enough to crack the top ten.
The Bengals have faced just two ranked teams (Oak Lawn, Lincoln-Way East) and beaten both.
Loyola has played three ranked teams. The Ramblers beat Notre Dame and Evanston and lost to Homewood-Flossmoor.
Contrast that with Simeon, which has played 12 ranked teams and Homewood-Flossmoor, and Notre Dame which have both faced nine ranked teams.
Shorthanded losses
Joliet West went 1-1 this week, beating Romeoville and losing to Bolingbrook. The Tigers were without multiple players including junior Jaiden Lee and Toledo recruit Jamere Hill.
Young coach Tyrone Slaughter sat out DJ Steward, Tyler Beard and Grant Newell in the Dolphins loss at Orr.
New additions to the Super 25
Hillcrest (15-7): The Hawks were ranked in the preseason and are loaded with talented, athletic juniors. It was only a matter of time until Don Houston got his team on track. That appears to be happening now. Hillcrest beat H-F over the weekend and gave Evanston a real battle on January 18.
Hinsdale South (22-2): Another one of those teams with a low overall strength of schedule and an excellent record. But the Hornets picked up a pair of huge wins recently, beating their surging crosstown rivals Hinsdale Central and feisty Morton.
Dropping out
Lincoln Park (19-3): It feels wrong to deal the Lions another blow after Chicago Public Schools suspended their season, but it also doesn’t really work to have a team currently not playing in the Super 25. Lincoln Park will return if their season resumes.
Fenwick (19-5): The Friars lost to Riverside-Brookfield on Friday, so continue to yo-yo in and out of the rankings.
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Curie (20-1) 1
Still unbeaten in Illinois
2. Bloom (21-5) 5
Beat Thornton, Marian Catholic
3. Thornton (22-1) 2
Lost at Bloom
4. Notre Dame (22-3) 4
Hosts St. Patrick Friday
5. Evanston (21-3) 3
Up and down week
6. Bogan (20-2) 6
Major contender for city title
7. Young (15-8) 7
Two big wins in California
8. Homewood-Flossmoor (18-3) 8
Lost to Hillcrest
9. Simeon (16-8) 13
Questions are becoming depth
10. Marian Catholic (17-7) 11
Lost at Bloom
11. DePaul Prep (19-3) 9
Lost to Brother Rice
12. Loyola (22-2) 17
Took down Evanston
13. Oak Forest (21-1) 18
Solid win vs. Lincoln-Way East
14. Joliet West (20-4) 12
1-1 while shorthanded
15. Morgan Park (15-8) 14
City tournament is a major opportunity
16. Bolingbrook (19-4) 20
The Raiders can score
17. Glenbrook South (20-3) 22
Cooper Noard is one to watch
18. Kankakee (18-2) 19
Survived Rich East
19. Mundelein (19-3) 23
Beat Warren, Waukegan
20. Stevenson (17-4) 15
Lost to Lake Forest
21. York (22-3) 25
Nice win vs. Lyons
22. Hillcrest (15-7) NR
Becoming very dangerous
23. Waubonsie Valley (21-3) 16
Lost to Naperville North
24. Cary-Grove (21-3) 21
Lost to Huntley
25. Hinsdale South (22-2) NR
Dominated Morton
