Intramural Preseason Rankings

It's here! We have it! It has arrived! Who is ready for Intramural basketball 2013?!!!
With the draft behind us all that is left to do is dissect each team's draft strategy and how their team looks on paper. Last year was one of the most exciting years of intramural basketball. The preseason rankings looked like this. How did it all end up? With the #1 team of the preseason rankings beating the #2 team of the rankings. So please believe these rankings hold a lot of weight. The season is so short that each team needs to get off to a fast start and every game is important. The league seems to be top heavy once again. There are going to be some battles. There might even be a little bad blood. So let's dive into what each team looks like on paper. But please don't forget, intramural basketball is played in the Thunderdome, not on paper.

1. Demion and Boom
Last year Demion and Boom looked stacked. They steamrolled their way through the regular season. They had a 1 point loss to Jordan and Mitch's squad but besides that they were unstoppable. So what happened? Micah Robinson is what happened. They were exploited and embarrassed in their playoff loss to the Orange team. They lost their poise early in the game and never got it back. Who knows what would have happened if Micah's boss had made him work like he was supposed to. The truth of the matter is that it just wasn't Demion and Boom's time. Is this year their time? It very well could be. They have the complete package of scoring and defense. You know what you are going to get when you play a team that has both Demion and Boom, a nonstop barrage of big dudes taking you to the cup. Now they have added Tim and Chapi making them the best defensive team in the league. To top that off they have Sean "never saw a three he didn't like" Lawson stretching the D from the outside. If these boys keep their poise expect them to be cutting down nets in March, but that is a BIG if.

2. Tyler and Rich
Richard's team has been in the championship game for three years in a row. They are 1-2 in these games. This year he used the same formula that he has used for the last three years. Get the best person available and jump on that guy's shoulders. Tyler Morrison happens to be the co captain this year. The play of Tyler will decide if Richard gets back to the championship. The reason this team is ranked this high is because of how Tyler has looked in preseason scrimmages. He has looked like he could be the most dominant player in the league. He might not score the most points but the combination of scoring and defense puts him near the top. Kyle and Riley round off the most physical front court int he league and late night sensation Elliot completes this team at the point guard position. If you would have bet that Richard's team was going to be in the championship the last three years you would have made some money. I'm betting they go right back.

3. Mitch and Jordan
The last time we saw this team they were upset in the playoffs...and now they are upset. They have brought back Zach Frishman but they lost their prized big man Tim Lebard. They were extremely bold in the draft room and have Rayshaun and Kyle Latterel to for this year's squad. The biggest question marks surrounding this team now is is age and chemistry. Let's face it Rayshaun is the third oldest person in the league and Zach Frishman hasn't been seen in the thunderdome all year. And chemstry wise I'm not sure if this group of guys has ever even imagined playing with each other. It will take Mitch and Jordan's leadership to corral this group and turn them into a unit. Still I wouldn't want to be the team that is playing these guys once they figure it out.

4. Jared and Drew
What is the hardest thing to do in sports? Repeat. and what could possibly be harder then doing that? Doing it for a third time. That is the problem facing Jared and Drew's squad. This squad is coming out of the gate as the most confident squad in the league. And why shouldn't they be? With Jared at the helm his teams have been in the championship game for the last three years winning two out of three.
This year's version of Jared and company looks quite a bit different then Jared's teams in the past. Yes he is bringing back Drew Meckelburg who is ready to step up in a huge way but what about the rest of the team? What has helped Jared in the three previous years is the play of physical big men. Michael Adams, Edgar and Aaron Flores are not walking through that door my friend. What we do have is Tyler Underwood and Andrew Stevens ready to carry on that tough physical tradition. These guys are good, but are they going to have team's sweating like they were when they had to face Michael and Edgar? I'm not sure. Funny thing is that this is exactly where Jared wants to be in these rankings. He wants people to underestimate him. And that is the scary thing about Jared. More often then not his irrational confidence isn't irrational at all. That boy good!

5. Kody and Ethan
If somebody would have been handing out report cards in the draft room this team would have received an A. This is by far the most intriguing team in this league. They have all the potential in the world to be incredible and horrible at the same time. The back court of Micah and Hugo are as good as any team in this league. And the front court of Kody and Ethan looks just as devastating. Well then why is this team ranked in the lower half of these rankings? Well I'm from the Show Me State and I haven't seen these boys play yet. The key to this team is the play of Koderage Hines. His Jeckyl and Hyde routine has been perplexing as anything has ever been at late night basketball. One night he will dominate the post and get every rebound. The next night he will try his favorite Jimmer Fredette impression with mixed results. Either way you know that he is going to bring it all game long. Micah has gone from an old soul to just an old man. Will his knees be able to hold up? Will his boss let him off work. If this team is going anywhere it will be on the shoulders of Micah and Kody.

6. Chad and Will
How did Chad play in last year's intramurals? OH SNAP! He didn't get a chance to play. And if you know Chad Carlson nobody is madder then he is. Sidenote: This year's intramurals is stacked up much better then last year's version. There are way more good players and this reminds me of my first four years in intramurals....i'm so old. That being said there is no shame being ranked low in this year's rankings. Any team can propel themselves up the rankings by their play. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is the team that makes the biggest splash. Curt Carlson raining threes, Devon Morris playing that antagonizing D, Josh Allison getting every single loose board and the Korean Demon Zach Morrison taking homeys to the cup. This is the kind of squad that can have you on upset alert real quick. I might be more excited to see this team play then any other team in the league.

7. Matt and Josh
This year there is no true "freshman team" so for power ranking purposes this will be that team since one of the captain's is a freshman. Both of these boys are from Minnesota so they know about that cold D!!! They picked up Defensive player of the year candidate Ricky Amimo and best teammate you could have Carl Dupper. Also making his sophomore season appearance with what you might call a chip on his shoulder is Jared "J Money" Messenger. Last year he was the captain of the freshman squad and this year he is on it again, which should make him feel very comfortable. Rounding out this squad is Ryan "Gimme All Three Of Thees" Chaffee, Jeff "Rat Tat Tat" Ratter and Ryan "I gots three keeds" Perry. This squad is gonna turn some heads if they figure out what they are doing. Just thinking about all these games in Thunderdome makes me crunk!!!

8. Chad and Mikey
Hey someone has to be last and I don't think it could have happened to a better group of guys. I really have no idea what to say about this squad. I'm not sure if this was a serious thing? Can somebody give me some insight?

Once again thanks for reading this thing. Let's make it a discussion. Either hit the comments on facebook or under here. I'm really looking forward to this season and I think it could be the best of all time!!!