2019-20 Section 5AA Preview

This is the 16th preview in my 2019-2020 season preview series.  In this preview, a look at section 5AA.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 5AA (14 teams)
Defending Champion: Minneapolis North

Tournament Schedule:
Round of 16: Thursday, March 5th
Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 7th at St. Michael-Albertville
Semifinals: Wednesday, March 11th at St. Michael-Albertville
Finals: Friday, March 13th 8 PM at St. Cloud State

Predicted Seeding

1. Minneapolis North
2. Rockford
3. Maranatha
4. Breck
5. Blake
6. Holy Family
7. Litchfield
8. Watertown-Mayer 
9. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
10. SW Christian 
11. Providence Academy
12. Dassel-Cokato
13. Brooklyn Center
14. International School

This is the metro bias portion of the previews.  Minneapolis North despite some important losses at the guard spots keeps up the pace.  Rockford with 7 footer Calvin Sisk in the middle and a couple of guards coming back looks primed to be a major factor here as well.  They have a sneaky good game vs Cristo Rey at the Granite City Classic over the holiday break.  Maranatha and Breck each have a new coach and big holes to fill.  But they also have good pieces returning.  Blake's guard play will keep them a factor.  Holy Family has leading scorer Nick Hendler coming back and they have the tough Wright County East schedule to prepare with.  Watertown-Mayer returns everybody and looks to make a jump in the Wright County West.  But making up an 8 game league differential is tough even with Litchfield losing major pieces.  Providence loses everybody and has a new coach.  That's largely true for Brooklyn Center as well.

In 6AA, I see Spectrum winning a 1st round home game before bowing out.

Sleeper: Watertown-Mayer  Everybody is back from an 11 win team last year.  That makes them as good a choice as any.

Section Winner: Minneapolis North.  They're young but with Davon Townley inside and Willie Wilson outside they have a quality 1-2 punch.  Add in their ability to pressure and that puts them over the top.