2019-20 Section 2AAAA Preview

This is the 21st preview in my 2019-2020 season preview series.  Continuing our look at the class AAAA sections we stay in the south metro with section 2AAAA.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 2AAAA (8 teams)
Defending Champion: Eden Prairie

Tournament Schedule:
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, March 4th
Semifinals: Saturday, March 7th at Highest Seed (both games)
Finals: Friday, March 13th at High Seed

Predicted Seeding

1. Eden Prairie
2. Prior Lake
3. Shakopee 
4. Chaska
5. Edina
6. Minnetonka 
7. Chanhassen
8. Bloomington Jefferson 

Once again, this section is absolutely stacked.  I project 3 conference champions and a runner-up here as the top 4 seeds.  Eden Prairie and Prior Lake are the clear top 2.  Shakopee and Chaska will battle for the 3 seed.  Edina is the clear next best team in the group.  The Hornets getting beat up by the top of the loaded Lake vs Chaska winning the weak Metro West will be an interesting seeding battle to watch.  Then it drops off to a couple of grit and grind squads that will be tough outs every night.  Jefferson falls into the 8 slot.  Nice thing with this section is most of the teams see each other in non-conference play.  As an example, of the projected top 5, the only missing matchup of teams is Prior Lake vs Edina.  That makes for a bunch of very good games to see in December.  Biggest one of those games is Prior Lake vs Eden Prairie in the tipoff classic on December 7th.

Sleeper: Minnetonka.  With a tough power forward in Cameron Steele and a defensive mindset to go with a tough schedule to prepare, the Skippers are the only team I can pick to have a chance to surprise in the state's toughest section.

Section Winner: Eden Prairie.  Losing Ariel Bland is a big loss for the Eagles.  He was their best matchup for defending Dawson Garcia.  But Prior Lake has plenty of other pieces to replace and Eden Prairie returns everybody else.  Too much shooting and discipline for Eden Prairie to not make it thru this tough group.