Missouri Coaches Poll and a few odds and ends

I just finished looking at Bill Gunn's post for the Missouri Basketball Coaches Poll and have added my ratings and a few comments below each class ranking.  For the most part, I think the right teams are in the top ten and I added a few that the coaches may be overlooking.

Hey, Bill, I know you don't make these ratings but when are you going to have them look at my statistically based ratings?  I know a few are because I see them added to my Twitter Follower list.  Must be doing something right?

A few odds and ends:
1) Why do some teams understand the importance of their bench in the game and others don't?  I am not talking about points off the bench, but rather, cheering from the bench (and I don't mean jeering from the bench).  A couple of years ago, I observed Antonio Sanders, a Eureka junior at the time, leading the bench players in a very vocal "D-Up, D-Up, D-Up" chant that really got the floor players working hard on the defensive end.  A vocal bench can help overcome a home crowd advantage and give the guys on the floor a little boost in confidence.  I have also heard some nasty bench sportsmanship too, where bench players are hooting and jeering when the other team is taking a free throw or has a turnover.  I think that is poor sportsmanship and that turns me off.  But why don't more benches have a cheerleader like Tony was?  You want to get in the game?  Be the best cheerleader on the sideline until you get that opportunity!

2) My ratings are a statistical average over the entire season and not based on just one game.  A five hundred team can upset a very good team in one game but that doesn't mean that I am going to rate the lesser team over the more consistent team because of one outcome.  There are a lot of factors that go into the outcome, including injuries, illnesses, college visits, etc that take key players out of games.  I don't see who is missing when I add in a score, but it is rare that I will weight one game outcome over the entire season ratings.  So, if you are making a positive comment, rather than just hooting me down, please send me the multiple game results rather than "my team beat those guys" (but, hey, they sucked the rest of the season, fella).

3) You always see the top scorers getting recognition but what about those sparkplugs?  I am talking about the guys that lead the team in assists, steals, or deflections?  The guys that set the tone on defense and seem to be everywhere, hawking the ball handler, making the defensive stop, starting the fast break?  When one of these guys is missing, the team is passive or lethargic.  Good things don't happen and you realize how much you miss them.  So here's to the guys that really motor on the court.  Guys like Davion Hayden and Keshawn Kent (Lovejoy), Justyn Boyd (Roosevelt), Larry Abbey (UCity), Walter Bursey (Madison), Preston Fortner (FH), Ethan Lattimore (Vianney), Jhalon Asher-Sanders and Nate Parker (Eureka), Kellen Thames (Pattonville), Chris Hill (Brentwood), Shaun Isom (Metro) and Jaidon Anthony-Head (Carnahan) to name just a few.  REV it up Guys.  You make things happen.  Keep on Motoring.

I am working on the Girls MBCA poll and I hope to get something out in short order.  Check that out at www.gramas2020/blogspot.com
Missouri HS Girls basketball ratings
2019-2020 MBCA Boys' Basketball Poll #7 (Release 2/6)
Bill Gunn • MoSports 
MOSports.com
2019-2020 Boys' Basketball Poll #7 (Release 2/6)
The MBCA Basketball poll is selected by a panel of coaches representing each of the 8 MBCA districts and each of the five Missouri basketball classes.
Class 1 My Rating
1 South Iron 123.9
2 Dora 121.5
3 Platte Valley (Jefferson w/ South Nodaway) 90.2
4 Mound City 89.7
5 Cairo 97.2
6 Delta 99.8
7 St. Elizabeth 100.6
8 Mercer 83.3
9 Princeton 95.8
10 Oak Ridge
Others receiving votes:
Lesterville 101.1
Leeton 83.6
My Comments: Macks Creek, Walnut Grove, Chilhowee, Lockwood, Fair Play and Climax Springs could be on this list. 
Class 2 My Rating
1 Greenwood 120.4
2 Hartville 117.2
3 Skyline 105.5
4 Oran 105.4
5 Crane 102.0
6 Van Far 84.5
7 New Franklin 100.1
8 Milan 104.5
9 Crest Ridge 99.3
10 East Buchanan 94.7
Others receiving votes: 
Bernie 99.9
Mid Buchanan 98.5
Thayer 99.3
Campbell 75.3
Slater 100.0
Portageville (not listed this week) 91.3
My Comments: Linn, Slater, Thayer, Lakeland and North Andrew belong
Class 3 My Rating
1 Blair Oaks 122.0
2 Father Tolton 125.5
3 Charleston 118.1
4 Cardinal Ritter 130.8
5 Trinity Catholic 136.1
6 Monroe City 104.4
7 Kennett 104.0
8 Palmyra 107.1
9 University Academy Charter 111.6
10 O'Fallon Christian 118.3
Others receiving votes: 
Montgomery County 101.4
St. Michael the Archangel 110.2
My Comments: Lift for Life, Lutheran North, Soldan, Liberty Mountain View, Handcock, New Madrid County, St. James and KC Central Academy belong.
Class 4 My Rating
1 Vashon 140.8
2 Raytown South 125.4
3 McCluer 125.8
4 MICDS 122.2
5 Grandview 128.7
6 Cape Notre Dame 116.4
7 Bolivar 115.9
8 Ladue 119.0
9 Ruskin 124.7
10 Nevada 117.6
Others receiving votes:
Lincoln Prep 103.6
Central (Cape Girardeau) 130.5
My Comments: Westminster, Confluence, St. Dominic, U City and Normandy should be on here somewhere.
Class 5 My Rating
1 Christian Brothers 139.7
2 Chaminade 136.4
3 Mehlville 136.8
4 Francis Howell 133.7
5 DeSmet 138.9
6 Raymore Peculiar 127.1
7 Staley 126.0
8 Liberty 121.7
9 Park Hills South 123.7
10 North Kansas City
Others receiving votes: 
Joplin 125.5
Parkview 109.9
Rockhurst 119.6
William Chrisman 123.0
My Comments: Webster Groves, Truman, Raytown belong.

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