re: 9th Annual CSAL 8th Grade Basketball Preseason Rankings

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When St. George and St. Jude matchup, it is must see tv on the same level as Duke – UNC.

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Fact.

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He has installed a version of the flex offense that causes fits for defenses and has been copied by Bruce Pearl at Auburn.

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They are led by their center who has a game similar to Nerlens Noel.

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St. George (1)

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The Big 10 (Unofficial CSAL Championship) Tournament Bracket has been set, and this weekend should be a great weekend of basketball kicking off March Madness. Sure, we will get to the College tourney soon, but the Middle Schoolers will be center stage this weekend.

Bracket looks like this: (Preseason Rankings are in Parenthesis)

#1 OLOM (1) versus winner of #8 MBS (unr) and #9 Sacred Heart (7)

I don't believe Mercy has lost a regular season game and has won every tournament they have played in, besides the Holy Family tournament in which Aloysius defeated them. This is a confident team who has earned their #1 seed. The winner of MBS and Sacred Heart will have a tough matchup.

#4 St. George (2) versus #5 CHS (4)

The committee struck gold by getting a first round matchup between Mentor (Long time St. George Head Coach) and Student (Former St. George player and current CHS Head coach). St. George is going for a 4peat and has knocked out CHS in 2 of the past 3 seasons. This is the first matchup between these 2 teams all season.

#3 St. Jude (3) versus #6 St. Theresa (9)

St. Theresa has been the surprise team of the season and have even knocked off St. George and CHS at some point. They will not be out-hustled. St. Jude's high low game really gives other teams fits. They have a sharpshooter from beyond the arc who has come on strong in the second half of the year.

#2 St. Aloysius (5) versus winner of #7 St. Thomas More (6) and #10 Holy Family (8)

Aloysius may be the most improved team from the start of the season and is arguably the hottest team heading into the tournament. It is hard to find a weakness for them, and they can defeat you in multiple ways. STM and Holy Family have already played a few close games this season, and this shouldn't be any different.