With a few IHSAA sectional games starting tonight, I have decided to post my picks for the tournament. I've watched about 100 teams in person this season, but that is only about 1/4 of the field. This will likely be very ugly to look back on after the tournament, but hopefully I will pick some winners correctly. I will post my state championship match-up predictions tomorrow.

Here it goes...

Sectional 1- Munster

Munster is the number one ranked team by the AP and number 2 in the Sagarin ratings. They are probably the best defensive team in the state. They have good size and strength at every position. Senior Joe Crisman is their leader...he is going to play at Loyola next season.

Sectional 2- Merrillville

Merrillville is number three in the AP poll and number six in the Sagarin rating. Their only lose came against Munster. They have the most talent in sectional 2, but I could see Crown Point beating them in the championship game. Valparaiso is another team that could pull the upset on them. This is the last state tournament for hall of fame coach Jim East. I think that emotion will help Merrillville avoid a sectional upset.

Sectional 3- SB Riley

Sectional 3 seems pretty wide open. I could see South Bend Washington or Penn coming out of this sectional as well. But I have to go with chalk here and pick South Bend Riley.

Sectional 4- Warsaw

Warsaw is 18-4 on the season and is led by Indiana All-Star lock Nic Moore. Moore was injured late in the year with an MCL sprain, but I believe he will play. If the injury slows him down, Warsaw will be on upset alert as they rely on Moore to create most of their offense.

Sectional 5- Fort Wayne Northrop

Northrop is led by Purdue commit Bryson Scott. Twin brother Brenton Scott has had a great season as well. Fort Wayne Snider and Carroll both have very good chances at winning this sectional as well. I think the Scott twins will be too much though.

Sectional 6- Homestead

Huntington North and Jay County both have very good chances at winning this sectional. Homestead has the bye and plays the winner of the Huntington North/Jay County game though. That is why I am going with Homestead.

Sectional 7- Kokomo

Kokomo is 17-2 on the year and are led by junior D.J. Balentine. Kokomo has the toughest road in the sectional, but I think they get it done and add to their state record for sectional championships.

Sectional 8- Pendleton Heights

Pendleton Heights is 16-5 and led by Butler commit Kellen Dunham. Junior point guard Kendall Waters will miss the state tournament as he needs back surgery. His career on the court is in question, but we hope he makes a full recovery and we see him back on the court next season.

Sectional 9- Hamilton Southeastern

Hamilton Southeastern is led by superstar Gary Harris. HSE is ranked fifth in the AP poll and fourth in the Sagarin ratings plus they have a nice draw. You can never count out Noblesville though because they defend and execute.

Sectional 10- North Central

Sectional 10 is loaded...according to the AP poll North Central is #2, Cathedral #6, and Broad Ripple is #13. Plus there is Lawrence North, who is very talented, along with Lawrence Central and Warren Central.

Sectional 11- Center Grove

Center Grove is the elite team of sectional 11 and they have a favorable draw. Southport upset them in the sectional last year and Franklin Central is always tough to beat. Center Grove has three divison 1 players in Butler commit Andrew Smeathers, IPFW-bound Jonny Marlin, and D1 prospect Joe Reed.

Sectional 12- Pike

Pike is stacked with talent. Marquis Teague was recently named to the McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand Classic games, R.J. Hunter has been great all year, Zavier Turner is ultra quick and can shoot it, and the Josh Gentry defends, rebounds, and makes energy plays. Avon and Ben Davis have the talent to beat Pike, but Pike has to be the heavy favorite.

Sectional 13- Terre Haute North

Martinsville has the easier path, but Terre Haute North has too much talent. Indiana State signee Justin Gant leads the way for Terre Haute North.

Sectional 14- Bloomington South

Dee Davis leads the way for Bloomington South. The Xavier commit is a lock for the Indiana All-Star team. Spencer Turner stretches defenses with his deep shooting. I'm not totally sold on the supporting cast for Bloomington South but guards win games especially at tournament time.

Sectional 15- Bedford North Lawrence

Jennings County is 19-3 but haven't played a very tough schedule. Jeffersonville has the talent to beat Bedford North Lawrence, but no one to match up with Wright State signee Alex Pritchett. BNL is 18-2 on the season against a decent schedule.

Sectional 16- Castle

Castle is 18-2 against a fairly weak schedule. Castle has 2013 prospect Blake Simmons.

Sectional 17 -Gary Lew Wallace

Wallace has played a ridiculous schedule, but has consisted mainly of out of state powers. Guard play will determine how far Wallace goes this year after last season they reached the state finals. Michigan State commit Branden Dawson should be able to put the team on his back to get through sectionals at the very least.

Sectional 18- Andrean

Andrean has two very good sophomores in Nick Davidson and Collin Wojcik. Davidson has an offer from Valpo and interest from a host of other schools.

Sectional 19- Culver Academies

Culver Academies against Mishawaka Marian in the second round could be a very good game. Marian has super sophomore Demetrius Jackson at point guard.

Sectional 20- West Lafayette

Western is probably the favorite here, but I'm going with George Zhang and West Lafayette to win this sectional.

Sectional 21- Columbia City

This is a tough 3A sectional. Whitko has talented guard Zac VanDeWater and Logan Irwin. Wawasee is also tough and could win this sectional. Columbia City is my pick though.

Sectional 22- Maconaquah

Peru is probably the favorite in sectional 22, but I like the name Maconaquah so I am going with them.

Sectional 23- Fort Wayne Concordia

Concordia is 15-4, Harding has 2013 prospect V.J. Beachem. Leo is 15-6 and high scoring, but have struggled as of late.

Sectional 24- Delta

A weak sectional this year. I have to go with the history of Delta as my pick.

Sectional 25- Lebanon

Lebanon is 16-4 on the year and is lead by junior shooter Trey Hendrix. Danville led by Tyler Hall also has a good chance at winning this sectional as does Western Boone.

Sectional 26- Roncalli

Roncalli is 14-5 on the year and has played a strong schedule. They have great size plus steady guards. Roncalli should be able to make a deep run. A potential championship game of Brebeuf and Roncalli would be a great game. Indianapolis Howe has been playing well and shouldn't be counted out either.

Sectional 27- Rushville

I probably would have picked Hamilton Heights before Alex Etherington got injured this weekend on a dunk attempt. Rushville is a very solid team that can score at multiple positions.

Sectional 28- Batesville

Batesville, Greensburg, and South Dearborn all have a legitimate chance at winning sectional 28. Michael Menser is from Batesville and he was pretty good so I'm going with Batesville.

Sectional 29- Sullivan

Sullivan is 18-4 against a very weak schedule this season. Sullivan is led by Indiana State commit Rhett Smith.

Sectional 30- Corydon Central

This could be a very good sectional. Charlestown, Crawford County, Salem, and Corydon Central all have a great chance of winning the sectional.

Sectional 31- Washington

Washington is the 3A defending state champion and is led by McDonald's All-American Cody Zeller.

Sectional 32- Princeton

Jalen Packer has had a great senior season for Princeton. The championship game between Princeton and Evansville Bosse/Boonville should be a great one.

Sectional 33- Bishop Noll

The most underrated team in the state might be Bishop Noll. They have 4 D1 prospects in Adonis Filer, Milos Kostic, Ronnye Beamon, and 2014 prospect Larry Crisler.

Sectional 34-North Judson

North Judson is 19-1 on the season.

Sectional 35- Westview

Westview is 19-2 on the year.

Sectional 36- Prairie Heights

Sectional 37- Delphi

Delphi is 15-5 on the year. Seeger is probably the favorite here led by senior shooter Alexander Hutson.

Sectional 38- Fort Wayne Luers

Luers is 16-4 on the year against a tough schedule for a 2A school.

Sectional 39- Northfield

Sectional 40- Tipton

Tipton is 19-2 on the year, but this won't be an easy sectional for them. Guerin Catholic, Oak Hill and Madison-Grant have the ability to pull an upset.

Sectional 41- Winchester

Sectional 42 -Eastern Hancock

Sectional 43- Park Tudor

Park Tudor made it to the 2A state championship game last year behind Yogi Ferrel's efforts. Expect another deep run for Park Tudor this year.

Sectional 44- North Decatur

Sectional 45- Eastern Greene

J.T. Yoho leads Eastern Greene who has a 19-2 record.

Sectional 46- Covenant Christian

Sectional 47- Providence

Sectional 48- Forest Park

Forest Park is 21-0 on the year and ranked #1 in the 2A AP poll.

Sectional 49- Bowman Academy

Kouts is the #1 ranked team in 1A according to the AP poll, but Bowman Academy has played a brutal schedule and will be ready to roll through the 1A bracket again this season. Bowman gets an extra boost by Stephan Hawkins becoming eligible after sitting out the regular season due to him transferring from River Forest.

Sectional 50-Triton

Triton has 2013 prospect Clay Yeo.

Sectional 51- Canterbury

Canterbury is led by 2013 prospect Austin Hatch.

Sectional 52- Caston

Sectional 53- Lafayette Central Catholic

Lafayette Central Catholic has a nice, balanced team that could make a deep run in the tournament.

Sectional 54- Wes-Del

Sectional 55- Monroe Central

Sectional 56- Rockville

Sectional 57- Clay City

Sectional 58- Morristown

Sectional 59- Indianapolis Metro

Sectional 60- Jac-Cen-Del

Sectional 61- Orleans

Sectional 62- Rock Creek Academy

Sectional 63- North Daviess

Sectional 64- Evansville Day