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.*