... last regular season's "bottom 1/3" of SEO - Who improves? Who gets better this 2024-25 season?

[pfloyd]

The top teams in SEO - the top 25-35 are fairly easy to predict ... I think we can all agree on the best of the best, might not agree on order BUT we can look at returning players, coaching and feel confident that "these 30-35 teams" are the best of the best ... I allows have trouble with the bottom 1/3 - these are teams that I don't really see much of during the season when they aren't strong as either they have been in the past or they just aren't very good - when I get out and about in SEO I'm looking for the best teams playing quality teams, the best game I can find is where I'm going ... Here is the bottom 1/3 of my final ranking of last season ...


...
50
Rock Hill (5-16)
Southern (10-12)
Whiteoak (5-16)
Coal Grove (3-19)
Western Pike (6-16)
55
Oak Hill (5-17)
Ironton St. Joseph (8-13)
New Boston (9-13)
Huntington (5-17)
Crooksville (6-15)
60
Logan (2-20)
Miller (6-15)
River Valley (6-16)
Athens (4-18)
Portsmouth East (10-11)
65
Wellston (6-15)
Reedsville Eastern (4-18)
Portsmouth Clay (4-17)
Green (4-16)

Teams on the End Table ...

West Union (3-19)
Alexander (1-19)
Ripley (4-18)

... My question for the masses, Which of these teams should be ranked higher going into the Preseason 2024-25?

[pfloyd]

... my thoughts as I'm putting together my Preseason rankings :

Teams that will be better:

Southern ... won the Warren summer shootout ... looked to have a solid offensive cast of players, quick defensively ...

Logan ... New head coach in Coach Robert Hayes - high energy coach, demands high energy from his players ... size is an issue for Logan along with this being the first season playing in the OCC with an OCC league schedule ... in the past few season fundamentals, turnovers (last season multiple 20+ turnovers in a game) ...

Western Pike ... Haggy/Janes/Clay are solid scorers - it's been posted that Haggy has/will be taking his talents to Minford for this coming season ... I reposted it , haven't heard confirmation ... IF this IS true ... it will be a big blow to Western's offensive attack - always want to have at least 3 options offensively ... others will need to step up for Coach Williams' Indians ...

New Boston ... I watched a couple of hudl game videos of the Tigers - the Tigers will be better than last seasons end of season ranking - the addition of 6-4 Ian Spiess and Wyatt McNeal (I believe I read where McNeal through down 9 threes in one of the summer games for Coach Cox's Tigers) ... Tyreke Lewis is a player who can get to the rim and finish ... at least 3 scorers for NB , D7 this season ... the Tigers will put a good team on the floor this season if they play under control with disciplined hoops ...

... look for these teams to be ranked higher in the preseason than where they finished in the final Pfloyd rankings in 2023-24 ... Who else needs to be higher going into the 2024-25 season ???

[High Fade]

Pfloyd…agree on Southern being improved. As you mentioned won Warren Shootout and competed very well at Logan Hoops in the Hills and Marietta College team camp. They are a sleeper in TVC Hocking. Belpre is probably the team to beat in that league.

[High Fade]

River Valley should be improved as well. Have a lot of varsity players returning. Strong Junior class.

[pfloyd]

River Valley should be improved as well. Have a lot of varsity players returning. Strong Junior class.

... I had RV inside the top 2/3's of teams in SEO as well - thanks for your input High Fade ...

[Logangrad]

Logan will have key people back but lack of size, new coach, new OCC that is LOADED with talent, including Jordan Fisher (Reynoldsburg) who may have committed to Toledo, Brody Fields (Teays Valley), Jordan Bowens (Reynoldsburg), Xavier McKinney (Pick Central)

[pfloyd]

River Valley should be improved as well. Have a lot of varsity players returning. Strong Junior class.

I hope so High Fade ... every year I look for RV to be better than their record - even playing in the TVC ... in my mind I always think of RV having a better pool of athletes than other TVC teams - in the end they always seem to fall down the TVC rankings which puts them in the bottom third of the rankings as they are joined by Athens, Wellston, Eastern Reedsville, Alexander in the 50-72 slots ... 6 wins for the Raiders last season I'll go with the "over" on the 2024-25 season for RV as well ...

[Brownies1]

I think Athens has the ability to be much improved over last year. Return 4/5 starters including 2 role players that found minutes throughout the year. Incoming freshman guard Chapman will provide some much needed help as a backup PG or SG. Although he is small I was able to catch a glimpse of him at summer ball and he reminded a little of the Wallis boy from Jackson a few years back in regards to being fearless for his size and good shooter.

[pfloyd]

I think Athens has the ability to be much improved over last year. Return 4/5 starters including 2 role players that found minutes throughout the year. Incoming freshman guard Chapman will provide some much needed help as a backup PG or SG. Although he is small I was able to catch a glimpse of him at summer ball and he reminded a little of the Wallis boy from Jackson a few years back in regards to being fearless for his size and good shooter.

... thanks for the input on Athens Brownies1 ...

[Whs95fan]

River Valley should be improved as well. Have a lot of varsity players returning. Strong Junior class.

I hope so High Fade ... every year I look for RV to be better than their record - even playing in the TVC ... in my mind I always think of RV having a better pool of athletes than other TVC teams - in the end they always seem to fall down the TVC rankings which puts them in the bottom third of the rankings as they are joined by Athens, Wellston, Eastern Reedsville, Alexander in the 50-72 slots ... 6 wins for the Raiders last season I'll go with the "over" on the 2024-25 season for RV as well ...

River Valley travels to Warren this season over the holidays so that'll be a team I've never seen crossed off the list. What all does RV bring back?

I think Southern could make some noise this season, thought they played well at the scrimmage they won out at Warren.

[pfloyd]

ttt

[GrumpyPundit]

Oak Hill has a few starters returning and a talented freshman class, but I’m not sure if the record will improve. The SOC remains a beast with Minford, Webster, Burg, Waverly, and West all seeming to be on their way to excellent seasons.

[Crab's Brother]

Oak Hill has a few starters returning and a talented freshman class, but I’m not sure if the record will improve. The SOC remains a beast with Minford, Webster, Burg, Waverly, and West all seeming to be on their way to excellent seasons.

Well none of those teams are in Oak Hill's league so not sure what that matters.....

[JJMD24]

Oak Hill has a few starters returning and a talented freshman class, but I’m not sure if the record will improve. The SOC remains a beast with Minford, Webster, Burg, Waverly, and West all seeming to be on their way to excellent seasons.

Well none of those teams are in Oak Hill's league so not sure what that matters.....

I watched Oak Hill this summer and whether they were playing "lights out" killing someone or they were playing like they wanted to give their coach a heart attack... lol

I figured they were young or inexperienced with those type of things but with the new basketball league with them, Northwest, Eastern, South Gallia, Symmes Valley and Western they should compete in a lot of their games but maybe not for all 4 quarters. Should be much better by the end of the year as they were listening to their coach when I saw them and he is good.

[pfloyd]

ttt

[soggybottomtopper]

I am going to give the Huntington Huntsmen the "hype" jinx. I predict they climb out of the 50 below this season. With most everything returning and a couple of young players coming back with experience, I like this group to move up into the middle of the SVC. Kellough, Henneberger, Hirsch and Manson give them a solid, experienced nucleus to build on. The Bear will have more options and depth to work with. GO GREEN!