
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Notre Dame of Fairfield’s Josh Reaves atempts a shot as Kolbe Cathedral’s Nazire Vereen defends during basketball action at University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn., on Friday Feb. 2, 2018.
There are five undefeated teams still left in the state. How many will enter the postseason that way? Let’s peer into our crystal ball…
East Catholic
Rest of the way: The Eagles have five/four games remaining, all in the CCC: Windsor, at Manchester, East Hartford, at Northwest Catholic and South Windsor. East Catholic is No. 1 for a reason and is the team to beat regardless of how it finishes in both the CCC and Division I state tournaments.
Prediction: 20-0.
Notre Dame-Fairfield
Rest of the way: The Lancers have been burying their South-West Conference opponents of late, including Kolbe Cathedral, the toughest matchup they have faced in a month, last Friday. They have six games left: at Barlow, at Stratford, Kolbe, Newtown, Pomperaug and Brookfield.
Pomperaug and Kolbe are the toughest two teams left on the schedule. But Notre Dame will be the heavy favorite in both, and neither team can keep point guard Tyler Bourne out of the lane.
Prediction: 20-0.
Guilford
Rest of the way: Guilford is probably the biggest surprise of the remaining undefeated teams here. Xavier, Cheshire, at Hand, at Sheehan, at Fairfield Prep and Platt Tech are left. The Indians are trying to win their first SCC Hammonasset Division title since a co-championship in 2002.
Prediction: 19-1.
Prince Tech
Rest of the way: Prince Tech has already gotten through a formidable non-conference schedule against Bloomfield, Weaver, Mt. Pleasant (R.I.), Immaculate and Norwich Free Academy. The team has left Goodwin Tech, at New London, at Ellis Tech, Grasso Tech, Capital Prep, at Crosby and East Lyme.
This would be a tough schedule for East Catholic to go through without a loss, let alone Prince Tech. Delshawn Jackson has been unstoppable thus far and will get his numbers against all of the remaining teams and regardless of the finish, Prince Tech will be more than prepared for the Division III tournament.
Prediction: 18-2
East Hampton
Rest of the way: East Hampton returned virtually everyone from last year’s runner-up finish in the Shoreline Conference. The Bellringers have won by double digits in every game during this calendar year and is the favorite in Division V.
Left on the schedule are at Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, at Westbrook, Creed, Hale-Ray and at Portland.
Prediction: 20-0.
Don’t look past East Hartford giving EC a game.