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Coach K's Northern California JC Rankings - Week 12

Week 12 had some great match ups as we are reaching the middle of conference play.
Yuba looks to take total control of the Bay Valley Conference after taking out Merritt, and then Merritt losing again to Alameda.    CCSF takes a 1 game lead in the Coast-North after getting the best of Chabot.  Cosumnes River continues to roll to a 2 game lead in the Big 8.  The Central Valley Conference is considering changing their name to the Fresno Valley Conference as FCC seems to be strolling through the Central Valley undeterred.  Redwoods slapped the defending Golden Valley Conference Champs, Lassen, with their 2nd conference loss to take 2nd to Butte, who is rolling currently with a 5-0 conference record.

Week 13 has some huge games which could really shake things up.
Cosumnes River hosts Santa Rosa on Tuesday evening in a showdown in the Big 8.
Ohlone hosts CCSF on Wednesday in a game that could shake up the Coast-North or give CCSF & Chabot both plenty of breathing room at the top.
Butte hosts Redwoods on Saturday in an effort to distance themselves from the GVC pack.
DVC is at Cosumnes River on Friday making this a huge week for CRC.
Chabot takes on Foothill on Wednesday in an effort to separate anyone else thinking of competing with the top of the pack in the Coast-North

Here is Coach K's unscientific look at his Top 15 in Northern California JC Basketball for Week 12
*Again, this is not an official ranking, this is only my opinion. This ranking is only as serious as you make it*



1 - Fresno City (22-1)  Conference (5-0)    (-)
      Fresno maintains the #1 spot in my rankings after running off 2 more wins in the CVC.  Took wins over Reedley 80-59 & Columbia 72-56.
      The Coaches Poll seems to point that CCSF is gaining on the #1 spot.  To me, this is not yet an issue, as Fresno has a far better preseason resume the CCSF.   Obviously the Coast-North Conference is brutal, and taking first in that conference is much more glamorous than the CVC, however, CCSF still does not have as many impressive victories as Fresno does, to date.   Unfortunately, it is easy for people to forget what happened during preseason once conference play starts, and this trend may see Fresno be overtaken at the #1 spot in the coaches poll, but not yet with Coach K.
      As long as FCC suffers no miraculous upsets in conference play, they should have home court advantage in playoffs with one of the Top 2 seeds, thanks to their strong preseason schedule.
KEY WINS:  West Hills (11-8), Chabot (18-4), Saddleback (18-4), Lassen (16-11), Yuba (15-4), Santa Rosa (11-8), Cuesta (15-9) twice, Allan Hancock (12-10), & Reedley (9-9).
LOSSES: Sierra (8-12)
      Up next FCC faces Merced (2-15; 1-4) on 1/29 @ 7pm in Fresno

 2 - San Francisco (20-1)   Conference (5-0)    (-)
       Holding solid @ #2 after having a great week.  Took wins over Las Positas 88-66 & Chabot 101-89.
       The Chabot win is the most impressive win for the year for CCSF.
       Still dominant in transition & on the glass CCSF is also a great defensive team.
       Finishing 1st in their conference should give CCSF a Top 2 seed come playoffs, and home court advantage.  A 2nd place finish in Coast-North Conference play should grant them at worst a Top 4 seed in playoffs.
       Still does not have enough impressive wins to overtake Fresno in my opinion.   Fresno already has 2 wins over teams with 18 wins or better, with 2 more teams to add to that list within the next week.  (This is considered a 'quality win' during playoff criteria)
       Will secretly be rooting for Santa Rosa to win the Big 8 to boost any necessary playoff seeding wiggle room.
KEY WINS: Chabot (18-4), Skyline (9-9), Foothill (10-9), Mt. San Antonio (10-8), San Jose City (13-8), Cabrillo (14-6), Santa Rosa (11-8) 3x's, Butte (15-7), Delta (9-9) & Las Positas (10-11)
LOSSES: Yuba (15-4)
       Next up San Francisco is: @ Ohlone (17-4; 3-2) on 1/29 @ 7pm
                                               @ Canada (5-15; 1-4) on 1/31 @ 7pm

 3 - Chabot (18-4)   Conference (4-1)    (-)
     Earlier in the year I decided to not punish Santa Rosa in my rankings for losing to CCSF three times.  Well, I decided, after looking at everything, to not punish Chabot either for the loss to CCSF on the road.  I was at the game and they seem to have comparable talent to CCSF, and may even have the advantage in the athleticism category.  They were ahead in the 1st half before CCSF started their usual dominance in transition.    So based on my observations I can't see myself putting anyone else ahead of Chabot at the moment.  They beat Cosumnes River twice, so I don't feel right putting CRC ahead right now.  Yuba, even though they beat CCSF, just doesn't have the victories I expect to be ranked this high....yet.
   Last week Chabot took a win against Skyline 69-61 & a loss against CCSF 89-101.
   A Top 2 finish in the Coast-North Conference should earn Chabot a Top 4 seed come playoff seedings.   Chabot will probably be rooting for Cosumnes River, Butte & Cabrillo to win their conferences as this will also help their playoff seedings after Chabot took victories over these 3 schools earlier in the season.      
KEY WINS: Cosumnes River (18-4) twice, Ohlone (17-4), Cabrillo (14-6), Butte (15-7), Las Positas (9-10) twice, Skyline (9-9)
LOSSES:  Fresno City (22-1), CCSF (20-1), Cosumnes River (18-4) & San Jose City (13-8)
    Next for Chabot is: Foothill (10-9; 3-2) on 1/29 @ 7pm
                                  @ Las Positas (10-11; 2-4) on 1/31 @ 7pm


4 - Cosumnes River (18-4)   Conference (6-0)     (-)
      Has ran off 6 straight conference wins in the Big 8.  Last week took wins over Delta 82-62 & Modesto 97-68.  This week will be huge for CRC as they face the only two teams within striking distance in the Big 8 (DVC & Santa Rosa)
      CRC seems to be much improved and on a tear as of late.
      Winning the Big 8 should put CRC comfortably in a Top 4 seed come playoff action.
      Will be rooting for Lassen & Cuesta to win their conferences, and be elated if Chabot can upend CCSF as these will boost their playoff seeding arguments.
KEY WINS: Chabot (18-4), DVC (16-4), Lassen (16-11), Las Positas (10-11), Cuesta (15-9)
LOSSES: Chabot (18-4) twice, Lassen (16-11) twice
     Up Next CRC faces:   Santa Rosa (11-8; 4-2) on 1/28 at 7:30pm
                                        DVC (16-4; 4-2) on 1/31 at 7:30pm


5 - Ohlone (17-4)   Conference (3-2)     (+1)
     Jumps up one spot after taking 2 wins last week.  Had wins over Canada 79-69 & Skyline 55-53.
     Yuba & Ohlone could both have strong arguments for being ranked this high, but I still have to give Ohlone the nudge for their preseason victories.
     Has a huge week this week as they face CCSF & Foothill (who beat them the first time around).  A win against CCSF can change things quickly.  Ohlone can compete with CCSF in the defense & rebounding categories, but it's the offensive end that should worry the Renegades.
     If can finish in Top 2 in conference, may still have an argument for Top 4 seed.  But is starting to look more like a Top 6-8 seed at the moment, until they prove otherwise with a stronger showing in conference.
KEY WINS: DVC (16-4) twice, Lassen (16-11), San Jose (13-8), Merritt (12-8) twice, Modesto (10-11), Skyline (9-9) & Las Positas (10-11)
LOSSES:  Chabot (18-4), Foothill (10-9), Delta (9-9) & DVC (16-4)
     Up next for Ohlone is: CCSF (20-1, 5-0) on 1/29 at 7pm
                                       @ Foothill (10-9; 3-2) on 1/31 at 7pm


6 - Yuba  (15-4)   Conference (9-0)    (+1)
     Started the Bay Valley Conference with an unsurprising 9-0 start.  Last weeks wins were over Merritt 98-86 & Solano 80-70.
      Impressive as 9-0 sounds it was over teams with a combined record of 70-95.  Merritt was supposed to be a team that could challenge Yuba, but they seem to have imploded after the loss to Yuba last week, as they also took a loss to Alameda.....ouch!     So Yuba should already be ordering another Bay Valley Conference Championship banner at the moment & just focus on making the best out of the games they have left before playoffs.
      Yuba is a very talented group, and can easily rely on their talent over most opponents. They are the only team to beat CCSF this year, which should help in playoff seeding arguments.  Outside of conference they only have one other decent win to speak of, however.  

KEY WINS:  San Francisco (20-1), Merritt (12-8), Los Medanos (14-6), Mt. San Antonio (10-8), & Marin (10-10)
LOSSES: Fresno City (22-1), Lassen (16-11), Santa Rosa (11-8) & Columbia (10-11)
     Up Next Yuba faces: Contra Costa (10-10; 4-4) on 1/29 at 7:30pm


7 - Diablo Valley  (16-4)   Conference (4-2)     (+1)
      Had a solid week last week, taking wins over Sacramento 81-76 & Santa Rosa 62-54.  These were much needed wins as DVC seemed to be slipping lately.  They have been banged up and not playing with a full roster, so pulling out these wins shows a lot about this team.  Has a tough week ahead as they face Modesto & Cosumnes River on the road.
     Presently, their win over Cabrillo in head-to-head competition is keeping them above the Coast-South Conference's #1 team, but only for a moment.
KEY WINS:  Ohlone (17-4), Santa Monica (12-7), San Jose (13-8), Skyline (9-9), Cabrillo (14-6), Wayne CC (6-2), Foothill (10-9) twice
LOSSES:  Ohlone (17-4) twice, Cosumnes River (18-4) & Delta (9-9)
      Up next DVC faces: @ Modesto (10-11; 3-3) on 1/28 at 7:30pm
                                      @ Cosumnes River (18-4; 6-0) on 1/31 at 7:30pm


8 - Cabrillo (14-6)    Conference (5-0)  (+1)
      Took 2 more wins last week in it's run through the Coast-South Conference.  Had wins over West Valley 67-63 & De Anza 75-55.
      With some solid preseason victories Cabrillo has arguments to be ranked even higher.  Unfortunately the Coast-South Conference is extremely lopsided this year with with only 2 teams with records above .500. Even worse, the conference features two teams with only 1 win on the season (Gavilan & Hartnell).  If they split with San Jose in conference it hurts their arguments to get a Top 8 seed come playoff time.  No pressure Cabrillo, but you have no wins against any teams that I have ranked ahead of you, so to hold your ground and fight for a Top 8 seed, you need to go undefeated in conference....just a prediction by yours truly.     On the other hand, if other teams slip, your wins over Sac City, Modesto, Foothill & Merritt will really benefit as they could be fighting for similar positions come seeding time.
KEY WINS: San Jose City (13-8), Las Positas (10-11), Merritt (12-8), Modesto (10-11) & Foothill (10-9)
LOSSES: San Francisco (20-1), DVC (16-4), Chabot (18-4), Butte (15-7), Skyline (9-9) & Delta (9-9)
     Up Next Cabrillo has:  @ Gavilan (1-15; 0-5) on 1/29 at 5pm
                                        @ Hartnell (2-15; 1-4) on 1/31 at 7pm

9 - Butte (15-7)   Conference (5-0)   (+2)
      Butte earned a spot in my rankings for the first time in Week 9, and has continued to jump up as they are riding a 9 game winning streak along with an impressive start in Golden Valley Conference play. Last week Butte had a huge win over Redwoods 66-65 & also Feather River 86-80.
      Has a huge week this week as they face 2 of the top 4 teams in the GVC.
      The Golden Valley Conference championship is going to hold more weight this year.  They aren't top heavy with any 'big-hitters', but they are not lopsided or full of 'duds' either.  This is a solid conference who will have just as much argument for teams getting in the playoffs as the Bay Valley, Coast-South & Central Valley.   Not sure how high teams from this conference will be seeded come playoff time, but I have a feeling at least 2 teams will earn bids to the postseason, possibly even 3 depending on how things turn out.
KEY WINS: Cabrillo (14-6), Lassen (16-11), Siskiyous (13-10), Redwoods (13-7), Las Positas (10-11), & Lane-Oregon (7-4).
LOSSES: CCSF (20-1), Chabot (18-4), Los Medanos (14-6), Siskiyous (13-10), Cuesta (15-9), Sierra (8-12) & Umpqua
    Up next Butte faces: Siskiyous (13-10; 2-3) on 1/29 at 7:30pm
                                   @ Redwoods (13-7; 3-1) on 2/1 at 4pm


10 - San Jose City (13-8)   Conference (4-1)   (-)
     The worst thing about being in a lopsided or mediocre conference is that any loss is going to hurt, and your wins aren't going to make you move up, unless they are against the #1 team in the conference.
     Last week SJCC defeated West Valley 78-50 to remain in 2nd place in the Coast-South Conference.
     Another physical and talented basketball team, San Jose is a team that can win on any given night.
     SJCC cannot afford to get another loss in conference if they want to have any arguments come playoff seeding time for a top 8-10 seed.  Their conference is just not strong enough to give them credit for a higher ranking from this point on, and can only hurt their ranking with anymore losses.   Based on CCCAA seeding rules, you cannot have a playoff seeding higher than a team that finishes ahead of you in your own conference. This can be disastrous if San Jose finishes behind Cabrillo, who I feel has, at best, a chance to get seeded as high as 8.  Lots of things can happen from this point on, however, since we are not even half way through conference play.
KEY WINS: Chabot (18-4), Lassen (16-11) twice, & Las Positas (10-11)
LOSSES: Fresno (22-1), DVC (16-4), Ohlone (17-4), Santa Monica (12-7), Merritt (12-8) & Reedley (9-9)
     Up next San Jose City takes on: @ De Anza (8-10; 3-2) on 1/29 at 7pm
                                                      Gavilan (1-15; 0-5) on 2/1 at 3pm


11 - Santa Rosa  (11-8)   Conference (4-2)    (-6)
    Santa Rosa drops six spots in my rankings after suffering their second loss in conference.  I have been giving them credit all season long because of a ridiculously strong preseason schedule, but they need to start pulling in more victories to be ranked as high as they were previously.
    Last week had a win over American River 89-57 & a loss against DVC 54-62.
     Has had the toughest preseason schedule in the state.   They are better than their record, and have a solid inside-outside game.  Has a tough week ahead of them, starting with the #1 Cosumnes River and then Modesto....both on the road.
     Will be rooting for Yuba to repeat as Bay Valley Champions.  Unfortunately won't have any other benefits in this particular playoff seeding category.
KEY WINS: Yuba (15-4), Los Medanos (14-6), Modesto (10-11) twice, Delta (9-9) & Marin (10-10)
LOSSES: San Francisco (20-1) 3x's, Fresno (22-1), Antelope Valley (19-4) & San Bernardino (19-7)
    Up Next SRJC faces:  @ Cosumnes River (18-4; 6-0) on 1/28 at 7:30pm
                                       @ Modesto (10-11; 3-3) on 1/31 at 7:30pm


12 - Lassen (16-11)    Conference (3-2)   (-)
      Was stung by Butte in the opening round of GVC play, then won 3 in a row before falling to Redwoods this past week 81-92.  They beat Siskiyous handily 80-58 earlier in the week.
      The Cougars are a talented group and are another team that can win on any given night.
      I predicted Lassen to repeat this year as GVC Champs, but can still earn a playoff spot if they finish in the Top 2.  Has some great wins under their belt in preseason, but also lots of losses.  But their should be no way a team that beat Cosumnes River twice & Yuba should be excluded during playoffs unless the Cougars just crumble in conference action.
      Will be rooting for CRC, Cuesta & Yuba to win their conferences as this will boost their playoff arguments dramatically.
KEY WINS: Cosumnes River (16-4) twice, Cuesta (15-9), Contra Costa (10-10), Yuba (15-4), Siskiyous (13-10) twice, Modesto (10-11), & Foothill (10-9)
LOSSES: Fresno (22-1), Ohlone (17-4), San Jose City (13-8) twice, Cosumnes River (18-4), Mt. Hood (11-1), Sierra (8-12), Sacramento City (9-11) & Wayne CC (6-2)
    Up Next Lassen faces:  @ Shasta (4-17; 1-4) on 2/1 at 7:30pm


13 - West Hills (11-8)   Conference (3-2)   (NR)
      2nd place in the Central Valley Conference deserves at least some recognition.  West Hills has had a nice season and is fighting for a playoff berth.  Must get 2nd place to have this argument, but they are currently tied with Sequoias & Reedley who both have similar postseason ambitions.
KEY WINS:  Allan Hancock (12-10), Delta (9-9), Moorpark (8-9), Reedley (9-9), & Columbia (10-11)
LOSSES: Bakersfield (11-9), San Diego Mesa (9-10) twice, De Anza (8-10), Glendale (15-4), Santa Ana (), Fresno (22-1), Sequoias (8-13)

     Up next West Hills has: @ Porterville (6-13; 0-5) on 1/29 at 7pm

                                          @ Reedley (9-9; 3-2) on 2/1 at 7pm

14 - Redwoods  (13-7)   Conference (3-1)    (NR)
    Has a very weird preseason schedule due to their location, playing several teams from out of state, so it has been difficult to determine where to place Redwoods this season.  But last week opened some eyes as they defeated Lassen 92-81 to take sole possession of 2nd place in the GVC, currently.  This conference seems to have the best 'home court advantage' in the state as many of these teams have to travel several hours to desolate locations where they face tough crowds & sometimes tough officiating.  Redwoods has their hands full this week as they will face Butte again as well as Shasta.
KEY WINS: Lassen (16-11), Siskiyous (13-10)
LOSSES:  Reedley (9-9), Mendocino (7-12), Modesto (10-11), Spokane CC, Los Medanos (14-6), Santa Rosa (11-8), Butte (15-7)
    Up Next Redwoods faces:  Shasta (4-17, 1-4) on 1/29 at 7:30pm
                                              @ Butte (15-7, 5-0) on 2/1 at 4pm

15 - Merritt (12-8)   Conference (6-3)   (-2)
      Merritt barely stays in the top 15 after a disappointing week last week.  They lost to Yuba on the road 86-98, which is acceptable.  But they followed that up by losing to Alameda given them only their 2nd win of the season 83-86.
      As long as Merritt finishes in the Top 2 in the BVC, they should earn a playoff spot.  If they fall off lower than this, however, they could be in danger of their season ending early.
      Will definitely be rooting for San Jose to win their conference, and hope that Bakersfield can emerge from last place in their conference to make these wins hold more weight come seeding time.
KEY WINS:  San Jose City (13-8) twice, Los Medanos (14-6) & Bakersfield (11-9)
LOSSES: Ohlone (17-4) twice, Yuba (15-4), Cabrillo (14-6), Allan Hancock (12-10), Monterey (10-10), Napa (7-12) & Alameda (2-15)
      Up next Merritt travels toYuba (13-4;  7-0) on 1/22 with a tip-off scheduled for 7:30pm.

Honorable Mention

Delta   (8-8)   Big 8 Conference  (3-3)
     Is in danger of falling out of playoff contention if they don't finish 5th or better in the Big 8.   Their will be a lot of arguments against any conference having more than 4 teams in the playoffs, and you don't want to put your team in that predicament.  Has great wins over Ohlone, Cabrillo & DVC which are great bargaining chips.  Unfortunately these chips can be drowned out by the losses to Columbia, Canada, West Hills, Reedley & Modesto.

Sacramento City  (9-11)  Big 8 Conference (2-4)
     The win over Santa Rosa was huge for Sac City.  Prior to that, their only win against a team above .500 was to Lassen.  Sac City is a talented group, but with their preseason results, they need some more big wins and a finish above .500 in conference to have a strong argument for a postseason berth.
 
Los Medanos   (14-6)    Bay Valley Conference (5-4)
     Came into conference with a 10-2 record.  They cannot get a playoff seed higher than a team who finishes above them in their conference.Has moved into 3rd place in the BVC after a lackluster start.  LMC must finish 2nd or 3rd to have a shot at playoffs.

Skyline   (9-9)    Coast-North Conference   (0-5)
     Losing to Las Positas is going to be giving Skyline nightmares for a long time.  They are now 0-5 in conference.  I cannot think up a metaphor to explain how fast Skyline is falling.  The wins over Cabrillo & Siskiyous can only help Skyline in the playoff picture if they finish 4th or 5th in conference.  Otherwise their season is set to end early.

Siskiyous   (13-10)  Golden Valley Conference (2-3)
    Is in the danger zone right now being in 4th place in the GVC.  Had a decent preseason and has a good argument for postseason, but not if they can't improve their standing in conference.  GVC will not get 4 teams into the postseason.  Losing to Redwoods will haunt Siskiyous for awhile until they can redeem themselves.

Las Positas  (10-11)   Coast-North Conference  (2-4)
    Beating Skyline was big for LPC, who seemed to have doomed themselves after losing to Canada.  They beat Siskiyous twice and Delta during preseason play.  This could be big if LPC is in postseason discussions.

Sierra (8-12)   Big 8 conference  (2-4)
     2 wins last week is showing some improvement.  Has a chance at a playoff berth if can overtake Sacramento City in sixth place in conference play.

Coach K's Northern California JC Rankings - Week 11

I have to admit, that weeks 10 & 11 had some exciting match ups that really shook up my rankings.  Week 10, in fact, was so frantic, that I actually decided to take an extra week to see how things played out in Week 11 before updating my rankings.
Ohlone & DVC, both ranked in my rankings #3 & #4 respectively, both took two losses in their first two weeks in conference.  Downside in being in some of the toughest conferences the state has to offer, you can lose on any given night.   We knew Cosumnes River was going to be a challenge for DVC, but Foothill overtaking Ohlone on the road... that was a bit of a surprise.  But then again, it's easy to forget why they call your schedule prior to conference the 'preseason'.  Everything seems to change when you're facing familiar opponents whom know your tendencies, offensive & defensive sets, etc.   Rivalries flare up and competition takes on another level.   Cabrillo proved, at least for the first half of the Coast-South Conference, that they are better than San Jose City.  Butte shook things up by defeating last years Golden Valley Champs on opening night.  Modesto has emerged out of mediocrity into Big 8 contention.  Yuba & Merritt, at no surpise, have dominated the Bay Valley.   All while Los Medanos & Skyline have totally vanished from my Top 15 after being rattled in conference play and starting 3-4 and 0-3 respectively.

Top 4 was pretty easy to determine, with Fresno, CCSF, Chabot & Cosumnes River taking the top spots this week.  However, with CCSF & Chabot set to face off this Friday in 'The City', this looks like another epic week in Northern California Juco hoops.
In other big games, Yuba & Merritt will face off on Wednesday.  A Merritt victory is the only shot at any team knocking Yuba off it's pedestal in the Bay Valley Conference this year.  Merritt is 6-1 so far and seems to be the only team capable of putting the 49ers to the test.
Cosumnes River has their hands full this week when they face both Delta & Modesto, before they face Santa Rosa next week.  One game at a time fellas..
Also, the Coaches Poll seems to be coming out weekly now on the cccaastats.org website.  Conferences with more teams seem to have an advantage in the Coaches Poll, I wonder if they can publish which teams put in the vote, and which teams did not.  See some obvious skewing in favor of the larger conferences....not that these polls really matter much....put as a fan in bothers me when I ask coaches if they put in their vote and their response is, "I don't know how, I guess I should find out"...   yikes

Here is Coach K's unscientific look at his Top 15 in Northern California JC Basketball for Week 11
*Again, this is not an official ranking, this is only my opinion. This ranking is only as serious as you make it*


1 - Fresno City (20-1)  Conference (3-0)    (-)
      Fresno maintains the #1 spot in my rankings after running off 3 more wins in the Central Valley Conference.  Took wins over Sequoias 78-64, Porterville 79-55 & West Hills 67-54 to start off the CVC (3-0).
      As long as FCC suffers no miraculous upsets in conference play, they should have home court advantage in playoffs with one of the Top 2 seeds, thanks to their strong preseason schedule.
KEY WINS:  West Hills (10-7), Chabot (17-3), Saddleback (16-4), Lassen (15-10), Yuba (13-4), Santa Rosa (10-7), Cuesta (15-7) twice, Allan Hancock (10-10), & Sacramento City (9-9).
LOSSES: Sierra (6-12)
      Up next FCC is Reedley (9-8; 3-1)on 1/22 @ 7pm in Fresno.


 2 - San Francisco (18-1)   Conference (3-0)    (-)
       Holding solid @ #2 after starting Coast-North Conference with a 3-0 record.  Took wins against Canada 108-65, Skyline 98-65 & Foothill 80-48.
       Still dominant in transition & on the glass CCSF is also a great defensive team.
       Finishing 1st in their conference should give CCSF a Top 2 seed come playoffs, and home court advantage.  A 2nd place finish in Coast-North Conference play should grant them at worst a Top 4 seed in playoffs.
      Will secretly be rooting for Santa Rosa to win the Big 8 to boost any necessary playoff seeding wiggle room.
KEY WINS: Skyline (9-7), Foothill (10-8), Mt. San Antonio (8-8), San Jose City (12-8), Cabrillo (12-6), Santa Rosa (10-7) 3x's, Butte (14-7), Delta (8-8)
LOSSES: Yuba (13-4)
       Next up San Francisco faces Las Positas (9-10;  1-2) on 1/22 @ 5pm in Livermore.


 3 - Chabot (17-3)   Conference (3-0)    (+2)
     Jumps up 2 spots after an impressive showing in the first two weeks of conference. Defeated Las Positas 94-67, Ohlone 80-75 & Canada 107-91.  The Ohlone victory was obviously huge for the Gladiators in many ways.  Ohlone has been ranked higher all year over Chabot, and this now gives Chabot a 2 game advantage over Ohlone in conference play.
   Chabot has the talent & athletes to compete with anyone in the state, however, allowing Canada to score 91 points shows that Chabot can still put in work on the defensive end.
    Their match against CCSF scheduled for this Friday will be the game of the week.  A Top 2 finish in the Coast-North Conference should earn Chabot a Top 4 seed come playoff seedings.   Chabot will probably be rooting for Cosumnes River, Butte & Cabrillo to win their conferences as this will also help their playoff seedings after Chabot took victories over these 3 schools earlier in the season.   Well, maybe not rooting for Butte, since Head Coach Denny Aye's son is the Head Coach for Lassen.....but you see what I'm getting at.  With a strong conference finish Chabot has a good argument come playoff time.....which is still a long way from now.
KEY WINS: Cosumnes River (16-4) twice, Ohlone (15-4), Cabrillo (12-6), Butte (14-7), Las Positas (9-10) twice
LOSSES:  Fresno City (20-1), Cosumnes River (16-4) & San Jose City (12-8)
    Next for Chabot is Skyline (9-7; 0-3) on 1/22 @ 7pm in San Bruno


4 - Cosumnes River (16-4)   Conference (4-0)     (+2)
      Has ran off 4 straight conference wins in the Big 8.  Results of the past 2 weeks include wins over DVC 72-64, American River 75-68, Sacramento City 98-89 & Sierra 85-69.  The win on the road against previously highly ranked DVC was a huge booster for the Hawks who face even more challenges this week. Has a chance to distance themselves as 2 of their next 3 opponents are tied for 2nd in the Big 8 Conference chase.
      Winning the Big 8 should put CRC comfortably in a Top 4 seed come playoff action.
      Will be rooting for Lassen & Cuesta to win their conferences, and be elated if Chabot can upend CCSF as these will boost their playoff seeding arguments.
KEY WINS: Chabot (17-3), DVC (14-4), Sacramento (9-9), Lassen (15-10), Las Positas (9-10), Cuesta (15-7)
LOSSES: Chabot (17-3) twice, Lassen (15-10) twice
     Up Next CRC faces a dangerous Delta (9-9;  2-2) on 1/21 @ 5:30pm


5 - Santa Rosa  (10-7)   Conference (3-1)    (+2)
    The Top 4 was a lot easier for me than ranking teams from this point on.  I have to give Santa Rosa the nod at this point since the other teams in question either lost 2 conference games already (Ohlone & DVC), or already lost to Santa Rosa in head-to-head competition (Yuba)
    Started the Big 8 with an impressive (3-1) record.  Took wins over Modesto 72-66, Delta 76-72 & Sierra 78-54 before falling to Sacramento City 48-52.
     Has had the toughest preseason schedule in the state.   They are better than their record, and have a solid inside-outside game.  They have seen the best competition the state has to offer.  Next weeks match against Cosumnes River will really give Santa Rosa a chance to make a statement, but first they need to get through this weeks match ups which feature American River & DVC.
     Will be rooting for Yuba to repeat as Bay Valley Champions.  Unfortunately won't have any other benefits in this particular playoff seeding category.
KEY WINS: Yuba (13-4), Los Medanos (12-6), Modesto (10-9) twice, Delta (9-9) & Marin (9-9)
LOSSES: San Francisco (18-1) 3x's, Fresno (20-1), Antelope Valley (17-4) & San Bernardino (19-6)
    Up Next SRJC faces American River (3-13; 0-4) on 1/21 @ 730pm


6 - Ohlone (15-4)   Conference (1-2)     (-3)
     Falls 3 spots after losing 2 of 3 in the opening weeks of the Coast-North Conference.  Considered dropping them even further but could not come up with a valid argument for placing any other team ahead of them.  Their preseason wins are just too solid at this point, and it's still early in the conference race, so no need to panic.
     In the opening weeks of conference play Ohlone lost to Foothill 63-66 & Chabot 75-80.  Their only win was against Las Positas 85-54.
     Yuba could have earned a spot this high, but the obvious mutiny placed by the Bay Valley Conference in this weeks Coaches Poll made me decide otherwise. (will explain this in Yuba's summary)
     Needs to really pick things up and fast.  A win against CCSF can change things quickly, but this is a tall order.  If can finish in Top 2 in conference, may still have an argument for Top 4 seed.  But is starting to look more like a Top 6-8 seed at the moment, until they prove otherwise with a stronger showing in conference.
KEY WINS: DVC (14-4) twice, Lassen (15-10), San Jose (12-8), Merritt (12-6) twice, Modesto (10-9), & Las Positas (9-10)
LOSSES:  Chabot (17-3), Foothill (10-8), Delta (9-9) & DVC (14-4)
     Has a chance to get back to their winning ways with their next 2 games against the current bottom dwellers of the Coast-North Conference.
     Up next Ohlone is @ Canada (5-14;  1-3) on 1/22 @ 7pm.


7 - Yuba  (13-4)   Conference (7-0)    (+4)
     Started the Bay Valley Conference with an unsurprising 7-0 start.  Last weeks wins were over Napa 82-70, Mendocino 58-43, Los Medanos 90-79 & Marin 74-53.
      Impressive as 7-0 sounds it was over teams with a combined record of 51-74.  The only team in the conference they have yet to face is Merritt, who is the only team in the conference within striking distance of Yuba.
      Yuba is a very talented group, and can easily rely on their talent over most opponents. They are the only team to beat CCSF this year, but they also have only 1 other win against a team with a record above .500.
     With a win over Merritt this week, they should have the Bay Valley Conference all but tied up.

** In regards to my previous statement of mutiny in this weeks State Coaches Poll.  Yuba was ranked #3 in the Northern California rankings ahead of Chabot & Cosumnes River.  Their is just no valid argument for this.  Along with Merritt being ranked higher than DVC, this looks like the power of a 9 team conference trying to bring relevancy to a sub par BVC.  I do feel Yuba & Merritt do deserve some credit, and are both good teams this year.  But their is no way Yuba is ranked that high at this moment.  Chabot beat 3 ranked teams with their 7 game winning steak compared to 0 ranked teams for Yuba in their current 7 game streak.  The combined record for Chabot's last 7 opponents (not counting JV teams because their is no data on this) is 69-63 vs Yuba's 51-74.  Cosumnes River's last 7 games were against teams with a combined record of 73-61, in which they won 6 of 7, only losing to Chabot.  Also, I feel that being first in the Big 8 & undefeated in the Coast-North hold a lot more weight at this moment than being first in the Bay Valley Conference, especially with the results for these teams in preseason competition.
I'm not condemning Yuba for being in a lackluster conference, I just don't understand why it's perceived so high that they are 7-0 in this conference at this point over teams still undefeated in much tougher conferences and better preseason showings.
----Please by all means leave comments on why you feel that I may be wrong, and why Yuba should be ranked ahead of these two teams at this moment in the season.
KEY WINS:  San Francisco (18-1), Los Medanos (12-6), Mt. San Antonio (8-8), Sacramento City (9-9) & Marin (9-9)
LOSSES: Fresno City (20-1), Lassen (15-10), Santa Rosa (10-7) & Columbia (9-10)
     Up Next Yuba faces Alameda (0-10) on 1/9 @ 7:30pm


8 - Diablo Valley  (14-4)   Conference (2-2)     (-5)
      Falls 5 spots & is really hurting right now. Are leaving lots of room for arguments to not be ranked this high.  In their first 4 conference games their only wins were against teams without a win in conference (Sierra & American River), while falling to Cosumnes River & Delta.  They are leaving themselves exposed right now as they now must face Sacramento (who just beat Santa Rosa), Santa Rosa & Modesto who are both 3-1 in Big 8 Conference games.  And this is all before they go on the road to Cosumnes River to start the 2nd half of conference play!  This can be a chance for them to prove again they are one of the top teams in the North this year, or a chance for them to fall into obscurity.
     Presently, their win over Cabrillo in head-to-head competition is keeping them above the Coast-South Conference's #1 team, but only for a moment.
KEY WINS:  Ohlone (15-4), Santa Monica (12-5), San Jose (12-8), Skyline (9-7), Cabrillo (12-6), Wayne CC (6-2), Foothill (10-8) twice
LOSSES:  Ohlone (13-2) twice, Cosumnes River (16-4) & Delta (8-8)
      Up next DVC faces a dangerous Sacramento City team (9-9; 2-2) on the road on 1/21 @ 7:30pm.


9 - Cabrillo (12-6)    Conference (3-0)  (+2)
      Taking out their Coast-South counterpart San Jose City last week has helped propel Cabrillo into the Top 10 in my rankings as well as #1 in the Coast-South Conference (tied with De Anza).  Has had wins over Hartnell 103-66, Monterey 63-44 & San Jose City 74-67.
      With some solid preseason victories Cabrillo has arguments to be ranked even higher.  Unfortunately the Coast-South Conference is extremely lopsided this year with with only 2 teams with records above .500. Even worse, the conference features two teams with only 1 win on the season (Gavilan & Hartnell).  If they split with San Jose in conference it hurts their arguments to get a Top 8 seed come playoff time.  No pressure Cabrillo, but you have no wins against any teams that I have ranked ahead of you, so to hold your ground and fight for a Top 8 seed, you need to go undefeated in conference....just a prediction by yours truly.     On the other hand, if DVC continues to slip, your wins over Sac City, Modesto, Foothill & Merritt will really benefit as they could be fighting for similar positions come seeding time.
KEY WINS: San Jose City (12-8), Las Positas (9-10), Merritt (12-6), Sacramento City (9-9), Modesto (10-9) & Foothill (10-8)
LOSSES: San Francisco (18-1), DVC (14-4), Chabot (17-3), Butte (14-7), Skyline (9-7) & Delta (8-8)
     Up Next Cabrillo travels to West Valley (7-12; 2-2) on 1/22 @ 7pm.


10 - San Jose City (12-8)   Conference (3-1)   (-2)
     The worst thing about being in a lopsided or mediocre conference is that any loss is going to hurt, even if it's to the #1 team.  To start conference play they have wins over Gavilan 83-46, Hartnell 92-47 & Monterey 88-72 before falling to Cabrillo 63-74.
     Another physical and talented basketball team, San Jose is a team that can win on any given night.
     SJCC cannot afford to get another loss in conference if they want to have any arguments come playoff seeding time for a top 8-10 seed.  Their conference is just not strong enough to give them credit for a higher ranking from this point on, and can only hurt their ranking with anymore losses.   Based on CCCAA seeding rules, you cannot have a playoff seeding higher than a team that finishes ahead of you in your own conference. This can be disastrous if San Jose finishes behind Cabrillo, who I feel has, at best, a chance to get seeded as high as 8.  Lots of things can happen from this point on, some teams can completely fall off the radar as others can emerge out of nowhere.  But one thing is for certain, with anymore conference losses 'Speed City' will be wearing their dark jerseys come playoffs.
KEY WINS: Chabot (17-3), Lassen (15-10) twice, Las Positas (9-10), & Sacramento City (9-9)
LOSSES: Fresno (20-1), DVC (14-4), Ohlone (15-4), Santa Monica (12-5), Merritt (12-6) & Reedley (9-8)
     Up next San Jose City takes on West Valley (7-12; 2-2) on 1/25 @ 3pm.


11 - Butte (14-7)   Conference (4-0)   (+4)
      Butte earned a spot in my rankings for the first time in Week 9, and has continued to jump up as they are riding an 8 game winning streak along with an impressive start in Golden Valley Conference play.  In the first two weeks of conference action Butte had wins over Lassen 99-88, Siskiyous 81-71, Shasta 72-59 & Redwoods 66-65.  This gives them a leg up on their competition, as three of these teams are going to challenge them for the conference championship.
      The Golden Valley Conference championship is going to hold more weight this year.  They aren't top heavy with any 'big-hitters', but they are not lopsided or full of 'duds' either.  This is a solid conference who will have just as much argument for teams getting in the playoffs as the Bay Valley, Coast-South & Central Valley.   Not sure how high teams from this conference will be seeded come playoff time, but I have a feeling at least 2 teams will earn bids to the postseason, if not 3.
KEY WINS: Cabrillo (12-6), Lassen (15-10), Siskiyous (13-9), Redwoods (12-7), Las Positas (9-10), Lane-Oregon (7-4) & Sac City (9-9).
LOSSES: CCSF (18-1), Chabot (17-3), Los Medanos (12-6), Siskiyous (13-9), Cuesta (15-7), Sierra (6-12) & Umpqua
    Up next Butte faces Feather River (4-14;  1-3) on 1/22 @ 7:30pm

12 - Lassen (13-9)    (-)
      Was stung by Butte in the opening round of GVC play, but has won their last 2 to start off 2-1.
      The Cougars are a talented group and are another team that can win on any given night.  They beat Feather River 100-92 & Shasta 78-57 after falling to Butte 88-99.  They still have to go up against Siskiyous & Redwoods who are going to play a part in the battle for this years GVC title.
      I predicted Lassen to repeat this year as GVC Champs, but can still earn a playoff spot if they finish in the Top 2.  Has some great wins under their belt in preseason, but also lots of losses.  But their should be no way a team that beat Cosumnes River twice & Yuba should be excluded during playoffs unless the Cougars just crumble in conference action.
      Their next 2 games are 'must wins' as they face Siskiyous & Redwoods.  They need these to distance themselves from the pack and still be within striking distance of Butte.
      Will be rooting for CRC, Cuesta & Yuba to win their conferences as this will boost their playoff arguments dramatically.
KEY WINS: Cosumnes River (16-4) twice, Cuesta (15-7), Contra Costa (9-10), Yuba (13-4), Siskiyous (13-9), Modesto (10-9), & Foothill (10-8)
LOSSES: Fresno (20-1), Ohlone (15-4), San Jose City (12-8) twice, Cosumnes River (16-4), Mt. Hood (11-1), Sierra (6-12), Sacramento City (9-9) & Wayne CC (6-2)
    Up Next Lassen faces Siskiyous (13-9; 2-2) on 1/22 @ 7:30pm in Susanville.

13 - Merritt (12-6)   Conference (6-1)   (NR)
      Merritt earns a spot in the Top 15 after a nice start in Bay Valley Conference play.  In the last 2 weeks they have had wins over Los Medanos 91-90, Marin 78-62, Solano 93-81 & Contra Costa 96-93.
      Merritt has the talent to make another nice run this season.  Is the only true challenger to Yuba in the Bay Valley Conference.  Needs to get a win against Yuba in order to have a chance at a Conference Championship, since Merritt already suffered a conference loss to Napa, and no other team seems to be able to get within striking distance with Yuba.
      As long as Merritt finishes in the Top 2 in the BVC, they should earn a playoff spot.  If they fall off lower than this, however, they could be in danger of their season ending early.
      Will definitely be rooting for San Jose to win their conference, and hope that Bakersfield can emerge from last place in their conference to make these wins hold more weight come seeding time.
KEY WINS:  San Jose City (12-8) twice, Los Medanos (12-6) & Bakersfield (10-9)
LOSSES: Ohlone (15-4) twice, Cabrillo (12-6), Allan Hancock (10-10), Monterey (8-10) & Napa (6-11)
      Up next Merritt travels toYuba (13-4;  7-0) on 1/22 with a tip-off scheduled for 7:30pm.


14 - Foothill (10-8)   Conference (3-1)   (NR)
     Emerges in my rankings for the first time this year as they have started out strong in Coast-North Conference action.  In the first two weeks of conference, they had wins over Ohlone 66-63, Canada 95-72 & Skyline 72-64 before falling to CCSF 48-80.
     Foothill did have a decent preseason schedule, unfortunately, they did not accumulate any exciting victories during that span.  They are in desperate need of their continued momentum in conference play. It is my prediction that 4 teams will earn postseason berths in the Coast-North Conference this year.  Foothill looks to eliminate Skyline, Canada & Las Positas from this category, and challenge the rest for the top spot in Coast-North contention.   Still has to face Chabot & Las Positas, so the tide can turn very quickly in Los Altos Hills.
KEY WINS: Ohlone (15-4), Skyline (9-7), De Anza (8-8)
LOSSES: Riverside (8-13), Monterey (8-10), DVC (14-4)twice, LA Harbor (14-4), Lassen (15-10), Cabrillo (12-6)
     Up next Foothill faces Las Positas (9-10;  1-2) on 1/24 @ 5pm


15 - Modesto (10-9)   Conference (3-1)   (NR)
      The Pirates started Big 8 Conference action in a Big way with an impressive 3-1 showing that has them tied for 2nd place, currently.   They have wins against Sacramento City 79-77, Delta 68-63 & American River 95-87 after falling to Santa Rosa 66-72 in the opening game.
       Modesto has some pieces this year, and are another team in the Big 8 that can win on any given night.  Still has to face DVC & Cosumnes River, which could be a chance for them to make a bigger splash.
       If finishes in the Top 4 of the Big 8 Modesto will have a spot in the postseason.  Any finish worse than that, they are at the hands of the seeding committee.  But it is rumored that the Big 8 can have an argument for up to 6 teams earning postseason berths this year, a tough order for their conference rep, but a beneficial rumor for those in the Big 8.  But based on MJC's preseason outcomes, if they are to finish 5th or 6th they could be bumped out.  Losing to teams like Los Medanos, Reedley & Contra Costa could be disastrous if those teams are on 'the bubble' for playoff contention and it comes down to head-to-head results.
KEY WINS: Sacramento City (9-9), Delta (8-8), Skyline (9-7), Redwoods 12-7),
LOSSES: Sierra (6-12), Santa Rosa (10-7) twice, Los Medanos (12-6), Reedley (9-8), Contra Costa (9-10), Lassen (15-10), Ohlone (15-4), & Cabrillo (12-6)


Honorable Mention

De Anza (8-8)   Coast-North Conference (3-0)
      3-0 looks impressive, but then again, 2 of those wins were against teams that have only 1 victory for the entire season.  De Anza showed strides last year at this time, so am not counting them out until I see them go up against SJCC & Cabrillo.  Must get in top 2 to have a shot at playoffs.  However, their win against West Hills could propel them into one of last playoff spots should it come down to those two teams.  I just don't see the Central Valley having any argument for two teams, but their is always a chance to squeeze another team in based on other teams completely bottoming out in conference play.

West Hills  (10-7)   Central Valley Conference (2-1)
     Has a slight chance of earning a playoff bid if they can go 10-2 in conference play with a 2nd place finish. But they are plagued with such a weak conference they have left themselves with very little room for mistakes at this point.  Can guarantee a spot in playoffs if they can pull out a 'W' over Fresno, but they only have one more chance at that.     If Delta finishes 5th or 6th in the Big 8 & West Hills finishes 2nd in the CVC, then they have a strong argument to be given a playoff berth over Delta, since they have the advantage here in head-to-head competition.    I also feel that their schedule against so many Southern California teams will plague them, since they don't have the head-to-head victories or 'like opponents' to give them leverage at the seeding committee bargaining table.

Delta   (8-8)   Big 8 Conference  (2-2)
     Is in danger of falling out of playoff contention if they don't finish 5th or better in the Big 8.   Their will be a lot of arguments against any conference having more than 4 teams in the playoffs, and you don't want to put your team in that predicament.  Has great wins over Ohlone, Cabrillo & DVC which are great bargaining chips.  Unfortunately these chips can be drowned out by the losses to Columbia, Canada, West Hills, Reedley & Modesto.

Sacramento City  (9-9)  Big 8 Conference (2-2)
     The win over Santa Rosa was huge for Sac City.  Prior to that, their only win against a team above .500 was to Lassen.  Sac City is a talented group, but with their preseason results, they need some more big wins and a finish above .500 in conference to have a strong argument for a postseason berth.
   
Los Medanos   (12-6)    Bay Valley Conference (3-4)
     Came into conference with a 10-2 record, but is falling and falling fast.  They cannot get a playoff seed higher than a team who finishes above them in their conference.  So this means, if they can't finish ahead of Mendocino, Marin, Solano & Contra Costa (all whom they are either tied with in conference or are behind currently) then LMC will be a spectator during postseason.  The Bay Valley will be hard pressed to get more than 2 teams in the playoff picture.  LMC must finish 2nd or 3rd to have a shot.

Skyline   (9-7)    Coast-North Conference   (0-3)
     Losing to Las Positas is going to be giving Skyline nightmares for a long time.  They are now 0-3 in conference, and still have to face Chabot & Ohlone this week!  I cannot think up a metaphor to explain how fast Skyline is falling.  The wins over Cabrillo & Siskiyous can only help Skyline in the playoff picture if they finish 4th or 5th in conference.  Otherwise their season is set to end early.

Redwoods  (12-7)  Golden Valley Conference (2-1)
     Good thing for Redwoods & the rest of the GVC crew, is that this years conference could get as many as 3 teams in the playoff picture.  Butte, Lassen, Redwoods & Siskiyous all had a decent preseason and are worthy of the postseason talks.   However, to guarantee a playoff berth, I would say these teams need to focus on a top 2 finish in conference play, otherwise it's in the hands of the seeding committee at that point.
Especially for Redwoods, who has 3 JV teams on their schedule and several other teams from out of state.  This will really hurt arguments in their favor.

Siskiyous   (13-9)  Golden Valley Conference (2-2)
    Is in the danger zone right now being in 4th place in the GVC.  Had a decent preseason and has a good argument for postseason, but not if they can't improve their standing in conference.  GVC will not get 4 teams into the postseason.  Losing to Redwoods will haunt Siskiyous for awhile until they can redeem themselves.

Las Positas  (9-10)   Coast-North Conference  (1-2)
    Beating Skyline was big for LPC, who seemed to have doomed themselves after losing to Canada.  They beat Siskiyous twice and Delta during preseason play.  This could be big if LPC is in postseason discussions.

Sierra (6-12)   Big 8 conference  (0-4)
     Why am I mentioning Sierra?  I don't know, I guess because I believe they are far better than their record and with a number of big wins could turn their entire season around.   Maybe their team isn't built for their high pressure defense?  It's not leading to points on their end, since they are only averaging 54 points per game, and giving up 74 points per game isn't proving their defense is very effective.  It's not leading to turnovers either, as Sierra is only getting 3 steals per game.    Well, I haven't seen them play in awhile, but I was there to witness them give Frenso their only loss of the season.  And I saw them give Chabot a scare.  Not sure how they are getting outrebounded by 11 on a nightly basis either.   Lots of holes.   For a team ranked in the preseason at #3 and quoted by Coach Fusano "this could be my best team ever" I can't help but feel some disappointment.     It's still early in conference play, but if they don't turn it around quickly, the opening game of the season will be the highlight of the year for Sierra.
    On top of the Fresno win, they do have wins over Butte, Cuesta & Lassen.  So, just like the Jim Carrey quote from Dumb & Dumber, "So you're saying there's a chance!"

Central Valley Conference Preview & Predictions

2013-14 Central Valley Conference Preview & Predictions


Fresno City has dominated the Central Valley Conference for 10 years and running.  This year looks like it may be the easiest walk thru the CVC for the Rams in quite a while.  College of Sequoias has challenged FCC in recent years, but comes into conference with a 5-11 record, although they are playing better recently.  West Hills has the 2nd best record coming into CVC play at 8-6.  With no other ranked teams in their path, Fresno is expected to finish again on top.

Central Valley Conference Current records
	Conf.		All
	W-L		W-L
Fresno	0-0		17-1
West Hills Coalinga	0-0		8-6
Columbia	0-0		7-8
Reedley	0-0		6-7
Porterville	0-0		6-8
Sequoias	0-0		5-11
Merced	0-0		1-11

2013-14 CVC Results

1	Fresno	12-0
2	Sequoias	10-2
3	West Hills	7-5
4	Reedley	5-7
6	Porterville	3-9
5	Columbia	4-8
7	Merced	1-11

Coach K's Predictions for 2013-14

1) Fresno        12-0
2) West Hills    8-4
3)  Sequoias     7-5
4)  Reedley      6-6
5)  Columbia    5-7
6)  Porterville   4-8
7)  Merced      0-12

1) Fresno -  Currently my #1 ranked team in Northern California.  Beaten more highly ranked teams than anyone else in the Top 5, which is necessary because their conference has only 1 or 2 playoff teams this year.  Continues to overwhelm opponents with their style of play.  In nights they do not have the talent advantage, they overwhelm their opponents with the mental advantage.   State Championship contenders this year.

2)  West Hills - the only other team to make my Top 15 rankings this season.  When they are hot beyond the arc they are very tough to beat.  Is the only team I see in this conference capable of upsetting Fresno with a victory this year.

3)  Sequoias - Playing better recently than when they started the season.  Has good size and athleticism, which can help them finish 3rd place in this conference.  Has a chance to finish as high as 2nd, or as low as 5th.

4)  Reedley -  Has has some good victories this season, but is stuck with a mediocre preseason record.  Has shown they can surprise as the season progresses, so I wouldn't count them out.  Another team that can finish as high as 2nd place in the CVC.

5) Columbia - Highlight of the season are their wins over Yuba & Delta.  Has already lost to Reedley this year in preseason play, so will have to put them in the bottom half of the conference predictions.  However, with the quality victories they already posses, they have a chance to finish as high as 2nd or 3rd with a few big wins.

6) Porterville - Another team that can either finish as high as 2nd or 3rd, or as low as 6th.  The battle for middle ground in this conference may be the most exciting thing this year in the CVC.  Porterville has a good group and comes into conference with a decent record.  Could surprise.

7) Merced - Recently showed Hartnell they weren't the bottom dwellers this year in Northern California.  But will likely finish last in the CVC again.

Coach K's Northern California JC Rankings - Week 9

   Not a lot of action during Week 9, so not any major adjustments in the rankings.  But still, for those that did compete last week there was some great match ups.   Saddleback visited Fresno for a taste of some NorCal competition before conference play.  CCSF decided to visit their neighbors in Silicon Valley for an exciting Bay Area Battle.  The Bay Valley Conference started Conference play while all other conferences will be starting this week.
  


Here is Coach K's unscientific look at his Top 15 in Northern California JC Basketball for Week 9
*Again, this is not an official ranking, this is only my opinion. This ranking is only as serious as you make it*


1 - Fresno City (17-1)      (-)
      Fresno maintains the #1 spot in my rankings after defeating Southern California powerhouse, Saddleback (14-3), who came up to Fresno for a taste of the Rams.  Final score was 64-54.
  Still overwhelming teams with their style of play, Fresno has had a solid preseason schedule, which is necessary for them as the Central Valley Conference won't offer them anymore quality wins this year to help for playoff seedings, with the exception of possibly West Hills.
KEY WINS:  Chabot (14-3), Saddleback (14-3), Lassen (13-9), Yuba (8-4), Santa Rosa (7-6), Cuesta (11-7) twice, Allan Hancock (9-8), & Sacramento City (7-7).
LOSSES: Sierra (6-8)
      Not much competition left for FCC with the Central Valley conference historically not offering much of a challenge for the Rams.
      Up next FCC opens up conference play on 1/11 vs. College of Sequoias (5-11) @ 7pm in Fresno.

 2 - San Francisco (15-1)    (-)
       Decided to give CCSF the #2 nod over Ohlone, on talent alone at this point.  CCSF did have a nice win against San Jose (9-7) 81-69 over the weekend.
       Still dominant in transition & on the glass, CCSF is still a contender for conference as well as state this year. But they have Ohlone & Chabot ambitiously breathing down their necks this year in conference contention.
KEY WINS: Mt. San Antonio (8-4), San Jose City (9-7), Cabrillo (9-6), Santa Rosa (7-6) 3x's, Butte (10-7), Delta (6-6) & Sierra (6-8) twice
LOSSES: Yuba (8-4)
       Next up San Francisco opens up conference play against Canada (4-11) on 1/8 @ 7pm in San Francisco.

 3 - Ohlone (13-2)      (-)
     No games this past week.  Based on their current resume of victories thus far in the season, the Renegades have an argument to be ranked as high as #2.  I just feel that CCSF has the talent level along with the winning streak to give them the edge at this moment in the season.   Ohlone does, however, have a much more impressive resume of victories this year and tougher preseason schedule in my opinion.  The Coast-North Conference will be an all out battle this year with several teams capable of taking the Championship.
KEY WINS: DVC (12-2) twice, Lassen (13-9), San Jose (9-7), Merritt (7-6) twice & Modesto (7-8)
LOSSES: Delta (6-6) & DVC (12-2)
      Next action is vs Foothill (7-7) as they open up the Coast-North Conference action on 1/8 @ 7pm

4 - Diablo Valley  (12-2)    (-)
      No games this past week.  Looking good as they roll into Big 8 conference play.
Big man Tom Witzel has not played since Dec 14th, not sure how serious his injury is.  DVC has done well in his absence, taking 5 victories in a row.
KEY WINS:  Ohlone (13-2), Santa Monica (11-3), San Jose (9-7), Skyline (9-4), Cabrillo (9-6), Wayne CC (6-2), Foothill (7-7) & Monterey (7-8)
LOSSES:  Ohlone (13-2) twice
      Up next DVC opens up Big 8 Conference play against Cosumnes River (12-4) on 1/7 @ 7:30pm in Pleasant Hill

 5 - Chabot (14-3)   (-)
     Holding solid at #5 after defeating College of Sequoias (5-11) 68-56 over the weekend.  The loss against San Jose City is really hurting Chabot at the moment, since 3 of the 4 teams ranked ahead of them have beaten SJCC this year.  However, Chabot gets to face 2 of these teams in conference play to prove if they should be ranked higher.  Chabot seems to be loaded with talent & athletes, while also averaging less than 7 turnovers a game.  Should help make the Coast-North Conference an epic battle this year.
KEY WINS: Cosumnes River (12-4) twice, Cabrillo (9-6), Butte (10-7), Las Positas (8-7), Sierra (6-8)
LOSSES:  Fresno City (17-1), Cosumnes River (12-4) & San Jose City (9-7)
    Next for Chabot is district rival Las Positas (8-7) on 1/8 @ 7pm in Hayward to open conference play.
*The late Tony Costello will be inducted into the Chabot Hall of Fame @ halftime for his tenure as head coach at Chabot before becoming head coach at Las Positas

6 - Cosumnes River (12-4)     (-)
      No games this past week, but still holds their spot at #6 in my rankings. 
      Jaycob Velasco is a consistent inside-outside force, and when AJ Bridges is playing well the Hawks are very tough to beat.  In the 2 losses to Chabot, Bridges had 0 field goals & averaged only 1 point, but had 28 points in their win.  The guard has been known to put up some serious numbers when he gets going.
      The Hawks are legitimate contenders, along with a handful of other teams, to take the Big 8 Conference Title this year.
KEY WINS: Chabot (14-3), Lassen (13-9), Las Positas (8-7), Cuesta (11-7), Porterville (6-7) & Monterey (7-8)
LOSSES: Chabot (14-3) twice, Lassen (13-9) twice
     Up Next CRC opens up Big 8 Conference play @ DVC on 1/7 @ 7:30pm in what could be the game of the week!

7 - Santa Rosa  (7-6)       (+1)
    Really tough for me to figure out who to place at #7.  Figured I would give Santa Rosa the nod based on their current 4 game winning streak that includes some big victories.   Most recently defeated Redwoods (10-6) 74-60 on the road.
     Has had the toughest preseason schedule in the state.  Has played just about every top ranked team in the state this year.  They are better than their record, and have a solid inside-outside game.  They have seen the best competition the state has to offer, so they will be ready for the tough Big 8 Conference play that awaits them this week.
KEY WINS: Los Medanos (10-2), Yuba (8-4), Modesto (7-8) & Marin (8-5)
LOSSES: San Francisco (15-1) 3x's, Fresno (17-1), Antelope Valley (15-3) & San Bernardino (15-4)
    Up Next SRJC opens up the Big 8 Conference @ Modesto (7-8) on 1/7 @ 730pm

8 - San Jose City (9-7)     (-1)
     Drops just one spot after losing to CCSF (15-1) 69-81.  Has had a solid preseason schedule.  Will fight with Cabrillo as favorites to win the Coast-South Conference.
     Another physical and talented basketball team, San Jose is a team that can win on any given night.
KEY WINS: Chabot (14-3), Lassen (13-9) twice, Las Positas (8-7), & Sacramento City (7-7)
LOSSES: Fresno (17-1), DVC (12-2), Ohlone (13-2), Santa Monica (11-3), Merritt (7-6) & Reedley (6-7)
     Up next San Jose City takes on Gavilan (1-10) on the road, 1/8 @ 7pm

9 - Lassen (13-9)    (-)
      Has played more games than anyone in California to date, which could benefit them as they have a young team.  Has gone 3-3 in the last 6 games and seems to be a bit inconsistent lately.  But has had a solid preseason schedule which will benefit them come conference play.  Their win over Yuba keeps them ranked ahead of the 49ers at this point. 
      The Cougars are a talented group and are another team that can win on any given night.
KEY WINS: Cosumnes River (12-4) twice, Cuesta (11-7), Contra Costa (6-7), Yuba (8-4), Siskiyous (10-7), Modesto (7-8), Monterey (7-8) & Foothill (7-7)
LOSSES: Fresno (17-1), Ohlone (13-2), San Jose City (9-7) twice, Cosumnes River (12-4), Mt. Hood (11-1), Sierra (6-8), Sacramento City (7-7) & Wayne CC (6-2)
    Up Next Lassen travels to Butte (10-7) to start conference play on 1/8 @ 7:30pm

 10 - Yuba  (8-4)    (-)
     Started the Bay Valley Conference with 2 wins; Solano (5-8) 93-66 & Contra Costa (6-7) 95-71.
    I considered ranking them ahead of Lassen & Santa Rosa before noticing they lost to both in head-to-head competition.
      A talented group, its a little tough to figure Yuba out at this moment.  They are the only team to beat CCSF this year, but have also shown that they can be beaten on any given night.
KEY WINS:  San Francisco (15-1), Mt. San Antonio (8-4), Sacramento City (7-7) & Marin (8-5)
LOSSES: Fresno City (17-1), Lassen (13-9), Santa Rosa (7-6) & Columbia (7-8)
     Up Next Yuba faces Alameda (0-10) on 1/9 @ 7:30pm

11 - Cabrillo (9-6)     (-)
      Holds tight at #11 after a convincing victory over Modesto (7-8) 87-51.
      Cabrillo has a talented squad, but depth seems to be somewhat of a concern at times for them.  Is going to battle San Jose City for the Coast-South Conference title this year.
KEY WINS: Las Positas (8-7), Merritt (7-6), Sierra (6-8), Sacramento City (7-7), Modesto (7-8) & Foothill (7-7)
LOSSES: San Francisco (15-1), DVC (12-2), Chabot (14-3), Butte (10-7), Skyline (9-4) & Delta (6-6)
     Up Next Cabrillo travels to Modesto (7-7) on 1/4 @ 6pm.

12 - Los Medanos (10-2)   (-)
    A lackluster preseason schedule prevents me from ranking LMC higher at this moment.  Will have a chance to prove themselves when they face the few tougher opponents in the Bay Valley Conference.
   Last week LMC defeated Mendocino (3-9) 66-64 in the conference opener
   Los Medanos is reportedly a very good shooting team, which can mean a long night for anyone they face, if they get hot from beyond the arc.
KEY WINS: Redwoods (10-6), Butte (10-7), Marin (8-5) & Modesto (7-8)
LOSSES:  Santa Rosa (7-6) & Monterey Peninsula (7-8)
     Up Next @ Marin (8-5) on 1/7 @ 7:30pm in what should be a great conference battle.

13 - Skyline (9-4)    (+1)
    Went to overtime with West Valley (5-10) over the weekend, but came out victorious 67-65 at the buzzer.   Hasn't had the toughest preseason schedule but they have one of the toughest conferences in the state so they will definitely get a chance to show what they are made of when they face CCSF, Ohlone, Chabot, Las Positas & Foothill.
KEY WINS: Cabrillo (9-6), Marin (8-5) & Siskiyous (10-7)
LOSSES: DVC (12-2), Siskiyous (10-7), Modesto (7-8) & Shasta (3-13)
     Up Next they open up conference play vs CCSF (15-1) on 1/10 @ 5pm

14 - Butte (10-7)    (NR)
      Jumps into Coach K's ranking for the first time. On a 4 game winning streak at the moment.  Defeated Simpson JV 71-60 last week.  Solid team that will make some noise in the Golden Valley Conference & fight for a playoff spot this year.
KEY WINS: Cabrillo (9-6), Las Positas (8-7), Lane-Oregon (7-4) & Sac City (7-7).
LOSSES: CCSF (15-1), Chabot (14-3), Los Medanos (10-2), Siskiyous (10-7), Cuesta (11-7), Sierra (6-8) & Umpqua
    Up next Butte opens up the Golden Valley Conference against Lassen (13-9) on 1/8 @ 7:30pm in what should be a great game

15 - Sierra (6-8)     (-)
     After reviewing most the teams schedules in Northern California I can feel comfortable putting a team under .500 in the Top 15.  They are the only team this year to defeat #1 Fresno City (17-1) with a solid team that can pull out a 'W' on any given night
    No games this past week.
    A very well-rounded group, Sierra plays aggressive defense along with a deep bench.
KEY WINS: Fresno City (17-1), Lassen (13-9), Cuesta (11-7), Butte (10-7) & Modesto (7-8)
LOSSES:  San Francisco (15-1) twice, Chabot (14-3), Citrus (7-4), San Diego (9-6), Cabrillo (9-6), Las Positas (8-7), & LA Pierce (6-10)
   Up Next Sierra opens up Big 8 Conference play @ Delta (6-6) on 1/7 at 5:30pm

Honorable Mention

Marin (8-5)
   Almost broke my Top 15 this week, but just doesn't have the necessary wins against good teams to get there, yet.  Will face Los Medanos (10-2) this week in conference play.  This will be their chance to make a statement.

Merritt  (7-6)    
      Lost 4 of last 6 but still a legitimate contender for the Bay Valley Conference title.  Had a worse record last year prior to conference (2-7) and made a run to the State Final 4.  So could be deadly if they have a repeat turn around like last year.  Nothing like a mediocre conference to get some confidence and momentum into playoffs.  However, that being said, I believe it would be very difficult to make playoffs if they don't finish in the Top 2 of their conference.  The Coast-North & Big 8 are both very tough, and the Golden Valley Conference might be able to slide more than 1 team in the playoffs this year, which could steal that third spot from the Bay Valley.
 
Redwoods (10-6)
     I apologize to Redwoods.  Its tough for me to determine where to rank them with many of their games being against teams from Oregon which I don't know anything about.  This is their best start in awhile, and if can finish in Top 2 of their conference can earn a playoff spot.

Contra Costa (6-7)
     Like LMC, Merritt & Yuba.  Contra Costa needs to have an incredible showing in their conference play to have any argument for a playoff spot.  The depth of Coast-North & Big 8 Conferences hurt them along with the resurgence of the Golden Valley which has just as much argument as Bay Valley does right now for 2 or 3 playoff teams.

Sacramento City (7-7)

Delta (6-6)
   
West Hills (8-6)

Foothill (7-7)

Modesto (7-8)

Las Positas (8-7)

*Feel free to chime in with any comments or suggestions.*

Bay Valley Conference Preview & Coach K's Predictions

The Bay Valley Conference features 16 teams in Northern California.  Since it is the largest conference in Northern California, it starts earliest.  Games start 1/2/14

Preview
Historically Yuba is the dominant program in the Bay Valley Conference winning the last 7 in a row!
However, Merritt, Contra Costa & Los Medanos have been steadily improving and have their eyes on ending the 49ers reign.

Current records pre-conference for the Bay Valley Conference 2013-2014

Bay Valley
	Conf.		All
	W-L		W-L
Los Medanos	0-0		9-2
Yuba	0-0		6-4
Marin	0-0		6-5
Merritt	0-0		6-5
Contra Costa	0-0		6-6
Napa	0-0		4-6
Solano	0-0		4-7
Mendocino	0-0		3-7
Alameda	0-0		0-8

Last years results
1)  Yuba              15-1
2) Contra Costa   12-4
3) Merritt             11-5
4) Marin               9-7
5) Mendocino       9-7
6) Solano              6-10
7) Los Medanos   5-11
8) Alameda           3-13
9) Napa Valley      2-12

Coach K's Predictions for 2013-14
1) Yuba                13-3
2) Merritt              12-4
3) Contra Costa    11-5
4) Los Medanos    10-6
5) Marin                 9-7
6) Napa Valley       6-10
7) Solano               5-11
8) Mendocino        4-12
9) Alameda            2-14


1) Yuba - Just like the stock market, the best way to determine what will happen in the future, is to look how they have done in the past, especially in the Bay Valley Conference.  Yuba has won 7 in a row.  Their record shows they may be down this year compared to years in the past, but I feel this isn't the case.  They still have all the pieces to make a deep run in the playoffs and take another conference title.   I feel this will, however, be the most competitive year in recent years for the conference with Merritt breathing down the 49ers necks the entire way.

2) Merritt - Has had a better start this season than last year so I'm going to use that to place them at finishing a close 2nd this year.  Last year they came into conference with a dismal 2-7 record then had a solid 3rd place finish in conference making one of the last playoff spots.  Having most key returners back from last years State Final Four team gives them a shot at knocking Yuba off the totem pole.   I have a feeling this will be the most competitive year for the #1 finish in quite a while.

3) Contra Costa - Lacks the size of last years team but still has lots of fire power and athleticism.  I feel the Bay Valley with have a 'big 4' this year, in these teams will be fighting hard and anyone can finish 1 thru 4.  Contra Costa is playing better lately and could make a splash if they can get a 'W' vs. Yuba.

4) Los Medanos - Has a great record coming into conference, but had a similar record last year before going a horrible 5-11 in conference play.  They do seem to be quite a bit better this season, however, so I'm not going to go as far as saying they will finish 7th place again.  I do feel they can compete for 1st along with Yuba, Merritt & Contra Costa making this an interesting push for the BVC title.

5) Marin - Has stepped their game up over years past, and should finish in the upper half of conference this year as well.  They are competitive and able to win on any given night.  A couple big wins can propel them up to the top of the title race along with playoff contention.

6) Napa Valley - Seemingly much improved from last years 8th place team.  Should be able to defeat the bottom teams in this conference, and give the top teams a challenge.  Not quite there yet, but could surprise.

7) Solano - Also improved over previous teams.  They are athletic and have good size, so they are also able to at least compete with everyone in the conference, making sure nobody has an easy night.  Could surprise and finish as high as 5th place.

8) Mendocino - Talented enough to get some victories over the bottom teams, but just doesn't seem to quite have the pieces this year to compete with the top programs.

9) Alameda - Currently all I know is they are 0-8, which is enough for me to not go out of my way to get an in-depth scouting report.  Good enough to pick up a couple of wins as they have come close to getting some victories this year.  Most teams with their record have been blown out on most nights, but Alameda has stayed within single digits on multiple occasions, so they won't be a walk in the park either.