Pope Update

We've reached the stage of the proceedings where Seth Greenberg is attacking the UK fans for having expectations that are unrealistically high.

K-Pom has Arkansas beating UK 84-77 tonight.  Vegas has Arkansas winning by 6 1/2 points with a total over/under of 161.5.  That would come out to a score of something like . . . . 84 to 77, which makes me think that the bettors must be following Ken Pom.

I'm putting myself out there, and going on record as saying that I will be absolutely stunned if UK covers that 6 1/2 point spread.

Meanwhile, here are the top 20 boys' basketball teams in the Commonwealth, according to MaxPreps:

1.  Madison Cent:  20-1

2.  Cov. Catholic:  20-1

3.  Lou. St. Xavier:  15-5

4.  Daviess Co:  18-3

5.  Warren Cent:  15-3

6.  Geo. Rogers Clark:  15-3

7.  Lou. Jeffersontown:  12-3

8.  N. Oldham:  13-5

9.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  11-5

10.  McCracken Co:  18-3

11.  Boyd Co:  15-5

12.  N. Laurel:  16-4

13.  Lou. Male:  14-6

14.  Lou. Butler:  15-5

15.  Christian Academy-Louisville:  15-5

16.  Lou. Ballard:  12-5

17.  Grayson Co:  15-4

18.  Lou. DuPont Manual:  11-5

19.  Bell Co:  15-3

20.  Ashland Blazer:  13-4

MaxPreps Kentucky Rankings

After four weeks of high school football, we have enough data to use the MaxPreps rankings for the KHSAA.  Here is the top 20:

1.  Lou. Trinity:  3-1

2.  Christian Academy-Louisville:  4-0

3.  Lou. St. Xavier:  3-0

4.  Boyle Co:  3-1

5.  Ft. Thomas Highlands:  3-1

6.  S. Warren:  4-0

7.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  1-3

8.  Cooper:  2-2

9.  Franklin Co:  4-0

10.  Scott Co:  4-0

11.  Lou. Manual:  3-1

12.  Corbin:  3-1

13.  Lou. Male:  2-1

14.  Beechwood:  3-0

15.  Cov. Catholic:  2-2

16.  Pad. Tilghman:  3-1

17.  Bowling Green:  0-4

18.  Johnson Cent:  4-0

19.  Ryle:  2-2

20.  Woodford Co:  3-1

And here are the Power Eleven for western Kentucky:

16.  Pad. Tilghman:  3-1

29.  Mayfield:  3-1

30.  Madisonville-N. Hopkins:  4-0

42.  Union Co:  2-2

58.  Murray:  4-0

59.  Henderson Co:  1-2

61.  Graves Co:  1-3

73.  McCracken Co:  1-3

81.  Hopkinsville:  3-1

105.  Caldwell Co:  3-1

111.  Crittenden Co:  2-2

128 Teams Left

Here are the quarterfinals for the First Region Boys' Basketball Tournament, which will take place at Murray State University.  MaxPrep rankings shown for teams in the top 20.  That's a tough draw for St. Mary, although at least they don't have to play on Ash Wednesday:

Wednesday, March 5:

Paducah Tilghman (16-11) v. Fulton Co. (9-13)

Graves Co. (19-9) v. (4) Marshall Co. (27-2)

Thursday, March 6:

Carlisle Co. (14-16) v. Mayfield (20-9)

(6) Calloway Co. (28-3) v. Paducah St. Mary (23-8)

Meanwhile, here are the quarterfinals for the Second Region Tournament, taking place at Madisonville-N. Hopkins H.S.:

Wednesday, March 5:

Madisonville-N. Hopkins (15-12) v. Livingston Cent. (9-20)

Christian Co. (8-22) v. Union Co. (15-10)

Thursday, March 6:

Henderson Co. (22-6) v. Hopkinsville (15-15)

Lyon Co. (24-7) v. Dawson Springs (17-15)

MaxPreps has Henderson Co. ranked number 26, which is the highest ranking for any team in the Second Region.  (Lyon Co. is ranked number 61.)

Final KHSAA Football Rankings

Here is the final top 20 from MaxPreps.  State Champions are in bold:

1.  Lou. Trinity:  13-2 (6A Champ)

2.  Cooper:  14-1

3.  Paducah Tilghman:  15-0 (4A Champ)

4.  Ryle:  12-3

5.  Bowling Green:  13-2 (5A Champ)

6.  Boyle Co:  12-1

7.  Franklin Co:  13-1

8.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  9-5

9.  Christian Academy-Louisville:  12-3 (3A Champ)

10.  Ft. Thomas Highlands:  11-3

11.  Corbin:  12-2

12.  Covington Catholic:  11-3

13.  Lou. St. Xavier:  7-5

14.  Lou. Manual:  10-2

15.  S. Warren:  12-2

16.  Beechwood:  14-1 (2A Champ)

17.  Woodford Co:  10-2

18.  Great Crossing:  10-4

19.  Ashland Blazer:  11-2

20.  Lou. Male:  9-3

And here is the Power Eleven for the teams in our end of the Commonwealth:

3.  Paducah Tilghman:  15-0 (4A Champ)

29.  Union Co:  12-3 (3A Runner-Up)

34.  Graves Co:  9-3

39.  Madisonville-N. Hopkins:  7-4

43.  Mayfield:  9-3

68.  Henderson Co:  4-7

75.  Murray:  8-4

81.  McCracken Co:  6-6

102.  Caldwell Co:  5-7

103.  Hopkinsville:  3-7

116.  Crittenden Co:  4-7

The MaxPrep rankings go back to 2004.  This season is the first in which Tilghman finished at the top of the Power Eleven rankings.  It is also the first time that a Power Eleven team has finished in the MaxPreps Top Ten since Mayfield did it in 2017.  And it's the only time (going back to 2004) where a Power Eleven team has finished in the MaxPreps Top Five.  So it seems clear that this year's Tilghman team is the best football team in our section since at least 2004.  Congratulations to everyone at Tilghman!

And now, on to basketball season!

KHSAA Top 20

The regular season ends in Kentucky tonight for high school football.  It all goes so quickly, but it stays with you forever.  Here is the MaxPreps top 20:

1.  Boyle Co:  9-0

2.  Lou. Trinity:  8-2

3.  Cooper:  10-0

4.  Franklin Co:  9-0

5.  Ryle:  7-2

6.  Lou. St. Xavier:  6-3

7.  Lou. Manual:  8-1

8.  Paducah Tilghman:  9-0

9.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  6-3

10.  Lou. Male:  8-1

11.  Christian Academy-Louisville:  6-3

12.  Ft. Thomas Highlands:  8-2

13.  Corbin:  8-1

14.  Ashland Blazer:  8-1

15.  S. Warren:  8-1

16.  Woodford Co:  8-1

17.  Owensboro Catholic:  9-0

18.  Bowling Green:  7-2

19.  Lex. Christian:  7-2

20.  Cov. Catholic:  7-2

It's amazing that they have six classes in Kentucky, and somehow Paducah Tilghman ends up in the same class as the number-one team in the Commonwealth.

Here's the Power Eleven, for schools in western Kentucky:

9.  Paducah Tilghman:  9-0

33. Graves Co:  7-2

34.  Mayfield:  6-2

43.  Madisonville-N. Hopkins:  6-3

49.  Henderson Co:  4-5

52.  Murray:  7-2

58.  McCracken Co:  5-4

62.  Union Co:  7-2

84.  Hopkinsville:  3-6

98.  Caldwell Co:  3-6

115.  Marshall Co:  3-6

KHSAA Top 20

Here's the latest KHSAA top 20, according to Max Preps, with Power Eleven teams (those from our end of the Commonwealth) in bold:

1.  Boyle Co: 8-0

2.  Lou. Trinity:  7-2

3.  Cooper:  9-0

4.  Franklin Co:  8-0

5.  Lou. St. Xavier:  5-3

6.  Lou. Manual:  7-1

7.  Ryle:  6-2

8.  Lou. Male:  7-1

9.  Paducah Tilghman:  8-0

10.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  5-3

11.  Christian Academy-Louisville:  5-3

12.  Ft. Thomas Highlands:  7-2

13.  Corbin:  7-1

14.  S. Warren:  7-1

15.  Lex. Christian:  6-2

16.  Owensboro Catholic:  8-0

17.  Ashland Blazer:  7-1

18.  Woodford Co:  7-1

19.  Bowling Green:  6-2

20.  Cov. Catholic:  6-2

Here are the top 20 teams in the Virginia High School League (teams from Northern Virginia in bold):

1.  Maury (Norfolk):  7-0

2.  Oscar Smith (Chesapeake):  7-0

3.  Battlefield (Haymarket):  7-0

4.  Phoebus (Hampton):  7-0

5.  King's Fork (Suffolk):  7-0

6.  Stafford (Falmouth):  7-0

7.  Dinwiddie:  6-1

8.  James Madison (Vienna):  7-0

9.  Huguenot (Richmond):  7-0

10.  Liberty Christian (Lynchburg):  6-0

11.  Highland Springs:  5-2

12.  Varina (Richmond):  5-1

13.  Matoaca (Chesterfield):  7-0

14.  N. Stafford:  5-2

15.  Fleming (Roanoke):  7-0

16.  Nanesmond River (Suffolk):  5-2

17.  Warwick (Newport News):  8-0

18.  Green Run (Virginia Beach):  8-0

19.  Indian River (Chesapeake):  4-3

20.  Kettle Run (Nokesville):  7-0

For Eric, here is the top 20 from the Indiana High School Athletic Association:

1.  Lawrence North (Indianapolis):  9-0

2.  Brownsburg:  8-1

3.  Westfield:  8-1

4.  Warren Cent. (Indianapolis):  8-1

5.  Indianapolis Cathedral:  5-3

6.  Crown Point:  9-0

7.  Center Grove (Greenwood):  5-4

8.  Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers):  6-3

9.  Ben Davis (Indianapolis):  4-5

10.  Indianapolis Bishop Chatard:  6-2

11.  Columbus North (Columbus):  8-1

12.  Fishers:  5-4

13.  Franklin Cent. (Indianapolis):  5-4

14.  Pike (Indianapolis):  5-4

15.  Lawrence Cent (Indianapolis):  4-5

16.  Carroll (Ft. Wayne):  7-2

17.  Concord (Elkhart):  9-0

18.  New Palestine:  8-0-1

19.  Evansville Memorial:  9-0

20.  Ft. Wayne Snider:  7-2

And finally, here's the top 20 from the Idaho High School Activities Association:

1.  Rigby:  7-1

2.  Rocky Mountain (Meridian):  8-0

3.  Madison (Rexburg):  7-1

4.  Coeur d'Alene:  6-2

5.  Skyline (Idaho Falls):  6-2

6.  Eagle:  7-1

7.  Hillcrest (Idaho Falls):  5-3

8.  Borah (Boise):  5-3

9.  Highland (Pocatello):  6-2

10.  Post Falls:  5-3

11.  Owyhee (Meridian):  5-3

12.  Timberline (Boise):  5-3

13.  Lakeland (Rathdrum):  6-2

14.  Sugar-Salem (Sugar City):  5-2

15.  Bishop Kelly (Boise):  7-1

16.  Boise:  4-4

17.  Kuna:  3-5

18.  Lewiston:  5-3

19.  Middleton:  4-4

20.  Meridian:  3-5

Rocky Mountain, Skyline, Eagle, Timberline, Lakeland, and Sugar City are all great names.  I also like the fact that one of the high schools in Boise is still called "Boise."  And I'm happy to see James Madison in the top 20 both in Virginia and in Idaho.

Latest KHSAA Football Rankings

Here is the current top 20 football teams in KHSAA, according to MaxPreps:

1.  Boyle Co:  7-0

2.  Lou. Trinity:  6-2

3.  Cooper:  8-0

4.  Franklin Co:  7-0

5.  Lou. Manual:  6-1

6.  Lou. Male:  6-1

7.  Ryle:  5-2

8.  Lou. St. Xavier:  4-3

9.  Christian Academy-Louisville:  5-2

10.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  4-3

11.  Paducah Tilghman:  7-0

12.  Lex. Christian:  5-2

13.  Ft. Thomas Highlands:  6-2

14.  Bowling Green:  6-1

15.  Corbin:  6-1

16.  Owensboro Catholic:  7-0

17.  Ashland Blazer:  7-1

18.  S. Warren:  6-1

19.  Lex. Bryan Station:  4-3

20.  Scott Co:  5-3

And here's the Power Eleven for Western Kentucky:

11.  Paducah Tilghman:  7-0

35.  Graves Co:  5-2

37.  Mayfield:  4-2

46.  Madisonville-N. Hopkins:  5-2

53.  Henderson Co:  2-5

55.  Murray:  6-1

63.  McCracken Co:  3-4

73.  Union Co:  5-2

93.  Hopkinsville:  2-5

97.  Marshall Co:  3-4

102.  Logan Co:  3-4

KHSAA Top 20

Here are the top 20 high school football teams in Kentucky, according to the MaxPreps rankings:

1.  Boyle Co:  6-0

2.  Lou. Trinity:  5-2

3.  Cooper:  7-0

4.  Lou. Male:  5-1

5.  Lou. St. Xavier:  4-2

6.  Franklin Co:  6-0

7.  Ryle:  4-2

8.  Christian Academy-Louisville:  5-2

9.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  3-3

10.  Paducah Tilghman:  7-0

11.  Lou. Manual:  5-1

12.  Lex. Christian:  5-2

13.  Ft. Thomas Highlands:  5-2

14.  Bowling Green:  6-1

15.  Corbin:  5-1

16.  Owensboro Catholic:  7-0

17.  S. Oldham:  6-1

18.  Ashland Blazer:  6-1

19.  Cov. Catholic:  5-2

20.  S. Warren:  5-1

And here are the Power Eleven rankings for the teams at our end of the Commonwealth.  Please note that no Power Eleven team has finished in the Top Ten for the Commonwealth since Mayfield did it in 2017.

10.  Paducah Tilghman:  7-0

34.  Graves Co:  5-2

40.  Mayfield:  4-2

46.  Henderson Co:  2-4

51.  Madisonville-N. Hopkins:  5-2

62.  Murray:  6-1

73.  McCracken Co:  2-4

77.  Union Co:  5-2

97.  Hopkinsville:  2-5

100.  Marshall Co:  3-4

103.  Logan Co:  3-4

State Champions According to MaxPreps

I'm creating a new label for this post ("MaxPreps") so that I won't have to spend time looking for it in the future.

Here is a list of the top high school football teams in Kentucky, according to MaxPreps, in each season going back to 2004 (as far back as MaxPreps goes).  To me, these are the true State Champions:

2025:  Lou. Trinity

2024:  Lou. Trinity

2023:  Boyle Co

2022:  Lex. Frederick Douglass

2021:  Lou. St. Xavier

2020:  Lou. Trinity

2019:  Cov. Catholic

2018:  S.  Warren

2017:  Lou. Trinity

2016:  Lou. Trinity

2015:  Lou. Male

2014:  Lou. Trinity

2013:  Bowling Green

2012:  Lou. Trinity

2011:  Lou. Trinity

2010:  Lou. Trinity

2009:  Lou. St. Xavier

2008:  Lou. Trinity

2007:  Lou. Trinity

2006:  Lou. Trinity

2005:  Lou. Trinity

2004:  Ft. Thomas Highlands

Here's the same list for the Virginia High School League:

2024:  Oscar Smith (Chesapeake)

2023:  Freedom (Woodbridge)

2022:  Freedom (Woodbridge)

2021:  Oscar Smith (Chesapeake)

2020:  Oscar Smith (Chesapeake)

2019:  Maury (Norfolk)

2018:  Manchester (Midlothian)

2017:  Salem

2016:  Highland Springs

2015:  Highland Springs

2014:  Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach)

2013:  Centreville (Clifton)

2012:  Lake Taylor (Norfolk)

2011:  Oscar Smith (Chesapeake)

2010:  Phoebus (Hampton)

2009:  Phoebus (Hampton)

2008:  Phoebus (Hampton)

2007:  Westfield (Chantilly)

2006:  Osbourn (Manassas)

2005:  Oakton (Vienna)

2004:  Landstown (Virginia Beach)

And finally, here's the list for the TSSAA:

2024:  McCallie School (Chattanooga)

2023:  McCallie School (Chattanooga)

2022:  Lipscomb Academy (Nashville)

2021:  McCallie School (Chattanooga)

2020:  Oakland (Murfreesboro)

2019:  Maryville

2018:  Oakland (Murfreesboro)

2017:  Brentwood Academy

2016:  Brentwood Academy

2015:  Independence (Thompson's Station)

2014:  Maryville

2013:  Maryville

2012:  Ensworth (Nashville)

2011:  Maryville

2010:  Ensworth (Nashville)

2009:  Memphis University School

2008:  Memphis University School

2007:  Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville)

2006:  Maryville

2005:  Maryville

2004:  Riverdale (Murfreesboro)

It will be a few weeks before we have enough data to get useful rankings out of MaxPreps, but I can say that Tilghman looks really good so far.