- J. Andrew Lockwood -
Senior Editor / Sports Columnist
Don’t limit your sights to those teams though. Upstart Tha O G’s, Sweeter Than YooHoo, Marshall Law, Polo Playas, and Mercer’s Finest all seem to have legitimate shots at the championship as well. Only time will tell, but until then, here’s a preview of what to watch for.
| Outlook: | JAL Sports Net / Intramural Media Poll preseason #1 pick, Tha O G’s look primed to make a serious run through its’ competition this season. Led by leading scorer Johnta’ Tigner, Tha O G’s have plenty of offensive weapons returning. |
| Key Players: | Johnta’ Tigner, Matt |
| Key Losses: | Mercer walk-on Darius Hogans |
| Big Games from 2008: | W over RUF (74-60), W over ΣΑΕ (58-51), L to Plunketteers (84-71), W over Purple Cobras (69-41) |
| Analysis: | Contender |
#2 ΠΚΦ (6-2, 4-1)
| Outlook: | The sky is the limit for Pi Kapp as they also look to be a contender this season. They don’t have one go-to player, but certainly a plethora of experienced senior veterans. Can Pi Kapp get over the hump from last season and breakthrough? |
| Key Players: | Dan Billings, Rich Pipe, Jesse Revis, Leighton Elliot, TC Dinkins |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | L to Plunketteers (55-49), W over AΤΩ (89-76), W over Phi Delt (84-17), W over KΣ (100-48) |
| Analysis: | Contender |
#3 ‘07 Plunketteers (8-0, 5-0)
| Outlook: | Things aren’t as sunny for the Plunketteers this year. Now, they’ve got a target on them as the reigning champs and with two key player losses, the ’07 Plunketteers may have to tap into the same magic that propelled them to the championship a year ago. |
| Key Players: | Nick James, Keenan Medlock, Lopez Ware, Josiah Ojo |
| Key Losses: | Mercer walk-on Larney Shakur, n/a |
| Big Games from 2008: | W over ΠΚΦ (55-49), W over RUF Ruffians (72-51), W over Polo Playas (80-72), W over Tha O G’s (81-71) |
| Analysis: | Top Tier, but slipping |
#4 Sweeter Than YooHoo (5-1, 5-0)
| Outlook: | A grad school team with experience, they showed they now how to win during the regular season despite an early first round exit in the playoffs. As grad teams are concerned, they may be among the elite this year. |
| Key Players: | John Franklin, David Gram |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | L to RUF Ruffians (66-41), W over Disaster (47-17), W over Marshall Law (41-39), W over Tricky Richards (104-35) |
| Analysis: | Solid grad school team, but on outside looking in |
#5 Marshall Law (4-2, 4-1)
| Outlook: | A duo of former Pi Kapp’s has this team rolling in 2009. Look for them to challenge Sweeter Than YooHoo as the best grad school team in the league. A two point loss to them should be plenty of fuel to a growing rivalry. |
| Key Players: | Chase Swanson, Adam Beecher, David Roll |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | L to KA (37-29), W over Law Ball (58-35), L to Sweeter Than YooHoo (41-39), W over Big Subpoenas (49-36) |
| Analysis: | Better than average |
#6 Mercer’s Finest (0-0, 0-0)
| Outlook: | This team could be the ultimate sleeper team of the year. With a low ranking due to uncertainties about one of their players, Mercer’s Finest could indeed be that….Mercer’s Finest. Too many good players on this team not to give them a second look. |
| Key Players: | Greg Meyer, Caleb Mahoney, Andrew Brown, Sam Shaudhary |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | Did Not Play |
| Analysis: | Sleeper, possible contender |
#7 Polo Playas (7-2, 4-1)
| Outlook: | This team has a much different look than in 2008 and with the athlete-littered roster, they may surprise a few teams this season. We’ll have to wait and see if that athleticism transfers over on the basketball court. |
| Key Players: | Ryan Peters, |
| Key Losses: | Allen Bridges, Andrew Brown |
| Big Games from 2008: | W over |
| Analysis: | Middle-of-the-road, personnel losses hurt |
#8 ΣΑΕ (4-2, 4-1)
| Outlook: | As far as frat teams go, this squad could sneak up on a few teams this season. A first round loss to Sip Power threw them out of the playoffs a year ago, but this core of players hopes to imitate the same success this year that they had last season. |
| Key Players: | David Worsham, Mark Worsham, Russell Hofstetter, Kyle Wilcher, Charles Nix |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | L to Tha O G’s (58-51), W over Phi Delt (70-25), W over AΤΩ (51-47), W over ΣΝ (62-35) |
| Analysis: | Middle-of-the-road, could be a sleeper |
#9 KA (4-3, 3-2)
| Outlook: | Winning their first round game last year was a step in the right direction, but this team faces a much more daunting schedule than last year. Don’t be mistaken though, they’ll win a few games, but they’ll lose their share too. |
| Key Players: | Andrew Wilder, Karsten Derendorf, Corey Lamping |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | L to Polo Playas (79-43), L to ΣΑΕ (41-38), W over AΤΩ (53-38) |
| Analysis: | Middle-of-the-road |
#10 AΤΩ (2-4, 2-3)
| Outlook: | They’re a streaky team. If they’re hitting their shots, they’re on, but if not…well, it’s not pretty. Watch out for the Tau’s to avenge their first round loss to the Polo Playas this season. |
| Key Players: | Eric Reid, Matthew Stark, Andrew Blair |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | W over KΣ (40-28), W over ΣΝ (45-31), L to ΠΚΦ (76-39) |
| Analysis: | Building for next season |
#11 ΣΝ (2-5, 1-4)
| Outlook: | Team chemistry is key for this group. They’ve got talent, enough to win their first round game before forfeiting their second rounder, but how they play together will mean everything this year. |
| Key Players: | Russ Funck, Rhett Shirley, Mark Young, Andrew Lewis |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | W over KΣ (47-13), L to KA (52-16), L to ΣΑΕ (62-65) |
| Analysis: | A year or two or three away |
#12 LCA (3-3, 3-2)
| Outlook: | Things are just uncertain with this team. What Lambda Chi will be see? The one that beat Kappa Sig last season by 24 points or the one that suffered huge losses to perennial powers Tha O G’s and Pi Kapp? |
| Key Players: | Peter Moraitakis, Robert Engeman |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | L to ΠΚΦ (62-37), W over KΣ (48-24), W over Phi Delt (33-32), L to Purple Cobras (56-46) |
| Analysis: | Hey, the rec league is always there if things don’t go as planned |
#13 Big Green (0-0, 0-0)
| Outlook: | Soccer players playing basketball? You guessed it. This time though, they have to play with their hands. |
| Key Players: | Matt Cranford, Drew Kilday |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | Did Not Play |
| Analysis: | Athletic, but a lot left unknown |
#14 KΣ (1-5, 1-4)
| Outlook: | A two point win over Phi Delt was the only thing they had to show for last season. Maybe they’ll hit a new gear in 2009. After all, anything is possible right? |
| Key Players: | David Newberry, Brandon Long |
| Key Losses: | None |
| Big Games from 2008: | W over Phi Delt (27-25), L to ΣΝ (47-13), L to ATΩ (40-28) |
| Analysis: | Just not their year |
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