High school basketball: Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 rankings for Feb. 5, 2023

Simeon’s loss to St. Louis Vashon doesn’t look all that bad on paper. Vashon doesn’t have a great record, but it has played a rugged schedule and beaten some excellent teams.

I was able to catch the fourth quarter of the game after getting home from Metea Valley vs. Conant. The Wolverines didn’t look great, sort of folding at the end. I had a much more difficult time keeping them in the top spot this week than I did last week.

Benet just hasn’t been tested as thoroughly as Simeon. The Redwings don’t have one of the tougher schedules in the area, partly because the East Suburban Catholic is a bit down and likely because no one expected them to be this good. Benet faced Joliet West and Simeon at Pontiac and had the home game against Kenwood. That just isn’t enough regular, high-level tests for me to justify the Redwings over Simeon at this point, especially with the head-to-head loss. Benet hasn’t played a true road game against a top-10 caliber team.

But boy, was I close to elevating Benet to No. 1 this week anyway. We will find out an awful lot about Simeon over the next few days. Can the Wolverines send Robert Smith out with another city title?

Loyola dropped out this week after losing to De La Salle in triple overtime. Yorkville joins for the first time this season. The Foxes are very solid and the Southwest Prairie has proved to be even better than expected this season.

Championship week

Chicago Public Schools deserves kudos for its upcoming “City Basketball Championship Week.”

After years of scheduling incompetence, CPS has turned a corner. This week the Public League will host 11 conference tournament championship games at UIC and DePaul’s McGrath-Phillips Arena. The schedule was released on a dedicated website last week. Tickets are available and media requests have been accepted.

It’s an amazing turnaround. There were years in the past where the city final four’s location was unknown just 24 hours before game time.

“We have expanded our city basketball championships to include all of our girls and boys divisions (Blue, White, Green and Red) playing their title games at two legendary Chicago arenas,” CPS Sports Director David Rosengard said. “Our goal is to give CPL student-athletes and coaches the opportunity to play meaningful games at college venues creating lasting memories.”

The girls and boys Red Division championship games are on Saturday at UIC’s Credit Union 1 Arena. Both games will be televised live on WCIU-TV (CW26). Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to provide analysis on the girls game again this season.

Super 25 for Feb. 5, 2023With record and last week’s ranking

1. Simeon (23-3) 1Lost to St. Louis Vashon

2. Benet (25-1) 2At Marist on Friday

3. Kenwood (21-5) 3Huge week ahead

4. Joliet West (22-5) 4Beat Indianapolis Cathedral

5. Young (21-5) 5Hosts Curie Tuesday

6. Hillcrest (25-2) 6At TF North Thursday

7. Curie (18-9) 7Toughest road to city title

8. Brother Rice (24-3) 8Beat Mount Carmel

9. Rolling Meadows (24-4) 10At Glenbrook North Tuesday

10. Hinsdale Central (24-3) 11Big test at Lyons Saturday

11. Bolingbrook (21-6) 12Handled Lincoln-Way East

12. Hyde Park (22-5) 13Role players excelling

13. Oswego East (22-5) 14Probably underrated

14. New Trier (25-4) 16Big four-win week

15. Mount Carmel (21-5) 9Upset by Marmion

16. Downers Grove North (23-3) 19Beat Lyons, Glenbrook South

17. Proviso East (19-6) 18Took down Bloom

18. Lincoln-Way East (21-4) 17Lost to Bolingbrook

19. Marist (22-5) 20Still overachieving

20. St. Rita (16-10) 21Hosts Loyola Friday

21. Glenbrook North (23-3) 21Beat Glenbrook South this time

22. Lyons (21-4) 15West Suburban is tough

23. Marian Catholic (21-7) 25Hung with Benet

24. Glenbrook South (20-8) 22Late season rough patch

25. Yorkville (22-5) NRSouthwest Prairie is solid

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