Fanofall

Farragut's Watson should be able to play with Simpson and should cancel eachother out. However, the rest of Beraden's players will far out play Farragut. Parker and Jenkins should run all over the Admiral guards. Bearden wins 75-55

Who is Farrugat's top player besides Watson?

From what I can see Todd Halvorsen will be the Indians starting point guard along with Darius Davis. Both of them will take on the position. If Davis is in the game then Halvorsen will move to the wing. Look for the Indians to have a few players this year that can play a couple different positions, but as for now it looks like Halvorsen will be the primary point guard with Sylvester and McConnell on the wings and Davis coming off the bench.

I have Central losing 4 games in conference this year. Two to DB, two to Science Hill. Used to think that Central could steal one for the Toppers but after seeing the boys from JC in the jamboree and in two games I dont see Central beating them even at their home court against one of the best student sections in the big 9 with the Cougar Den. Science Hill looked very strong on the offensive end in both Hall of Champions games. Defense could use some work however. Other than DB and Science Hill there really isnt another team that is very good. Central, with its good shooters, should shoot the trey right thru the Tenn High zone. Since this is apparently the Sullivan Central Cougars home page I just thought I'd throw in my thoughts.

What should we look for in the DB vs. Farrugat game on Tuesday night at 8:45. Game is played at Knox Central in the Chop House Classic. Who's gonna win this one? Who does Farrugat have this year? Football players gonna be back... how many football players do they have that are contributors to the basketball team this year. Tell us what you think...

Dobyns Bennett opens up with Farrugat on Tuesday at 8:45 at Knox Central. Then on friday the Indians take on Siegel. Then saturday is against Knox Central. Should be two early tests for the Indians team with Farrugat and Siegel. If they win both of those then look for this Indian team to be in it for the long haul... however.. I believe they will struggle much like last year at the beginning of the season. I think they will defeat Farrugat in a close one and lose to Siegel in a close one. Look for the guards to shine in this tourney for DB.

Well it is true that Bearden is loaded this year and has a shot at winning state, it is not true that Science Hill plays them. Its the Lady Toppers playing the Lady Bulldogs. So that was a lot of smoke. Lucky for Science or any team in the big 9.. They DONT have to open their season with the MEN Bulldogs. And yes they are.. MEN

I think that the best players in the Big 9 are from the Senior class besides Bailee Dick from South, he is a solid point guard but turns it over too often. And Clint Freeman from Crockett. he does the scoring from them and he's the only one. But it starts out with the top players from DB and Science Hill as the best players in the conference. (in no particular order) Odem, Chris Smith, Sylvester, Halvorsen, and Adams. Then the top two posts are Edwards and Larry Smith. No other team in the conference has a post player with any skills. Should be a weak yr for the Big 9 in that department. So look for Edwards and Smith to rule the paint this season. Should be a nice battle between the two come the beginning of January.

Back to the topic. Who are the best seniors in the Big 9?

bump

Speaking of which, does anyone know if it will be Halvorsen or Sylvester playing point guard this year for the tribe?

You are completely wrong here. The bench will not even reach that deep for DB. It will be 7 players and maybe 8. The 5 seniors of Sylvester, Halvorsen, McConnell, Adams, and Edwards should start. and Adam Dennison and Darius Davis should see playing time. As for Ethan Jones, Corey Hall, and Jeremy Pritchett, I've not heard of them but Im pretty sure they wont work there way into the rotation when the games start to matter late in the season. So dont you worry about depth. Im looking forward to piling into the Cougar Den on tuesday the 9th of December. I will be here before you know it and football players will be back for that game even if they make it all the way to state because the state championship game is on the 5th. So cougar fans... be ready cause DB is gonna come after you.

Good list. Mine would be top 15 as follows.... 1. Josh Odem 2. Justin Sylvester 3. Ashlon Adams 4. Todd Halvorsen 5. Chris Smith 6. Tyler Devault 7. Jordan Edwards 8. Corey Young 9. Carl Roberts 10. Larry Smith 11. Kid from Boone cant remember his name 12. Dustin McConnell 13. Mickey Brown 14. Clint Freeman 15. Patrick Albright And my reasoning for these is not by points per game or whatever statistical category you can think of. My thoughts are this... if you put any of these players on one of the not as good teams in the conference they would be the best player. Take Dustin McConnell for instance... he may not have the best scoring average or highest assists, but if you but him on Volunteer, Crockett, Boone, South, ect. then he would then have one of the higher scoring averages in the conference. but since he plays for DB he is not getting as many shots so his numbers dont look quite as sexy. or if you put one of the lower echelon teams best player on Science Hill or DB that guy prob would not be as productive a player and may not even get to play much. Just my thought process im sure others may differ.

Good call. and a very nice post. Maybe the best post we've seen all year coming from the big 9 conference basketball blogs. Even tho I think Science Hill will win at least there is good logic from this guy. He has reasoning behind his answer instead of just saying that Central will be "unstoppable this year" you represented your name well. Thank you.

Should be a great game. Im saying that since this is an early season game and usually the better team on paper wins these games so I will go with Science Hill. Later in the yr I forsee Central getting much better and meshing together and could beat them late. 71-62 SH

I agree, either Bearden or DB could make a run at the state this yr. I like siegel to get deep as well along with White Station.

You are completely correct in this, Jamel Williams is yes a very good player, but he had many downsides and many times this negated his good play. He tended to try to draw attention away from the team and that hurt DB in the state tournament when he thought he had to take over and he took a few bad shots and missed a couple short shots late. Yes it hurts to lose a playmaker, but it gives DB much better team morale and chemistry. And I also agree with Sylvester being the best player on the team last year as well as this yr. Tho is defense is very good I would say their best returning defensive player is Halverson. Charlie Morgan usually had Halverson guard the other teams best player also to give Sylvester a slight rest on defense. Besides Hardy and Williams, I believe DB's best players are returning with the addition of Adams. Science Hill has a good team returning so as always... it should be a good game between the two teams. As well as Central could keep up with the Tribe. But expect DB to run the table again. 1. DB 2. The Hill (Odem and crew) 3. Central (good cast of seniors will shock some teams) 4. Tenn High (Corey Young and that is IT) 5. Boone (will surprise..) 6. South (good jv if thats worth anything) 7. East (tho they lost some seniors still have a decent cast) 8. Volunteer (No cradic, they're in trouble) 9. Crockett (Maybe next yr)

HAHAHA Are you serious... DB works harder than any other team in the conference every single yr. The reason they put great players on the floor each yr is cause those players work at their games. Even when DB is not as good as the other team (BEARDEN) they still work harder and play smart to beat their opponent. You can say what you want but everyone knows that on paper last yr that Bearden was better than them. HOWEVER, DB worked much harder than them and won on the scoreboard and thats all that mattered. So there is no need for some crap about DB just wanting to be in the camera or having the big head... the reason they are on camera is because they have earned it. Central will be in the top 4 this yr but thats ridiculous to say they will be "unstoppable" this yr. DB should once again handle them with ease as they did last year when they beat them by 52.... 76-24. yeah you read correct.. not a misprint. DB possibly has the best guard combination in East Tennessee with Sylvester, Halvorsen, and McConnell. To go along with Adams (top 25 senior in Tenn) and Edwards who is probably the best post in the conference. We'll see what their juniors can do off the bench this yr. Should be interesting....

Dobyns-Bennett then Science Hill. The rest should be very interesting. Central should have a good team along with Tenn. High. But look for Dobyns Bennett to dominate the conference once again.

Bring on White Station this year. They are not as talented as years in the past and this DB team is rated higher than them. My personal view.. here is the rankings of the teams left............ 1. Antioch 2. Ridgeway 3. Oak Ridge 4. Dobyns-Bennett 5. Clarksville 6. Siegel 7. Red Bank 8. White Station Any other thoughts??

Congratulations to Dobyns-Bennett in the victory over Bearden. Great heart to pull that one out. This is a great addition to this outstanding season. Good Luck in the State and keep rolling on!! The Indians 3 starting guards combined for a great game to lead them victory. Dobyns-Bennett's Justin Sylvester as always had an outstanding game for the Tribe hitting shot after shot to keep the lead in tact. Jamel Williams led the offense with his amazing athletic ability and penetration. He dished the ball beautifully. Todd Halvorsen hit some BIG shots late in the game and played with his great emotion on defense leading the team. In the post Jordan Edwards had one of his better games of the season. Darin Riggs also stepped up in the post making some big plays including the 2 free throws in the end to ICE the game for the Indians. But the game was won on the perimeter. Bearden's guard play couldn't handle the pressure of DB on defense on the outside. Halvorsen came up with about 5 steals and Williams got his hands on the ball time after time. No matter what happens at state this has been a great season for the Indians of Dobyns-Bennett. CONGRATULATIONS CHARLIE MORGAN!! ROLL TRIBE

Not trying to come across as a jerk and if I do I apologize up front. But I agree completely that Dobyns-Bennett was very rusty at the beginning of the season with the football players coming back and such. But I was just wondering what made you think that they had a tough time beating teams at the beginning of the season after the Farrugat game when this is what it looked like in the 6 games after............. Nov. 24 Pigeon Forge tourney W 81-45 Nov. 27 at Volunteer away W 77-42 Nov. 30 David Crockett home W 78-34 Dec. 1 Cherokee home W 73-33 Dec. 4 Sullivan Central home W 76-24 Dec. 11 at Tennessee away W 63-35 In that span they scored 448 points and gave up 213. Beating opponents by an average of 39 points. Rusty... yes. Struggle to win... NO. FAN

I agree with mostly everything except for the fact that DB has only lost 2 games and just 1 at the beginning of the season and 1 in the Arbys to Columbia, GA. Just wanted to clarify cause it sounded as if DB had lost multiple games at the start of the year. DB is 16-2 and continueing the ride. Team seems to have a chance to make an exciting run at the State tourney.

Let's be honest here... Is DB going to lose to ANYBODY before making it to the sub-state game? Dont even say Central cause DB beat them by 52 in the first meeting. NOT 22.. not 32... BUT 52 points. THATS INSANE!! And I dont exactly think the fans can make a 52 point swing so dont start on that either. East never plays well @ DB and they wont have that stifling student section to help. Plus DB will actually show up this time. Science Hill is just not as good as DB this year, simple as that. (im not mentioning Tenn. High cause they just reak) There are not any good teams from the other region. Greeneville is the best and the BIG 9 has 4 teams that can beat them. So it appears that DB is just going to run the table right through the districts and the region and into the sub-state. If it happens when was the last time that a team went undefeated the entire conference play and district and as well the region????? This team is what I like to call........ ROLLING!!!!!They are in a class of their own when it comes to this conference. Science Hill was knocking on the door only losing by 13 but the loss to a poor Central team threw them off that track. So.......... Who is coming in SECOND??????

Let's be honest here... Is DB going to lose to ANYBODY before making it to the sub-state game? Dont even say Central cause DB beat them by 52 in the first meeting. NOT 22.. not 32... BUT 52 points. THATS INSANE!! And I dont exactly think the fans can make a 52 point swing so dont start on that either. East never plays well @ DB and they wont have that stifling student section to help. Plus DB will actually show up this time. Science Hill is just not as good as DB this year, simple as that. (im not mentioning Tenn. High cause they just reak) There are not any good teams from the other region. Greeneville is the best and the BIG 9 has 4 teams that can beat them. So it appears that DB is just going to run the table right through the districts and the region and into the sub-state. If it happens when was the last time that a team went undefeated the entire conference play and district and as well the region????? This team is what I like to call........ ROLLING!!!!!