CJ Group IV Preview
I'll just be doing quick looks at some of the brackets that are heavy with Shore Conference teams. I may do picks at some point, but the first round is such a crapshoot because of the different conferences, that to make them now would be pretending I know enough about the teams to do so, which I probably do not. I won't go too much into SJ I (Point Beach) or North 2 III (Holmdel) because there is only one Shore team in each.
Central Jersey Group IV
A remarkable number of teams made it into this bracket with 19 of the 23 eligible teams qualifying. That made for an early start to the playoffs with games this weekend, including wins by Brick Memorial and Marlboro over Freehold Twp. and Midd. North, respectively.
Here's a look at the first round matchup's set for Tuesday, including what I can tell you about the Non-Shore games. All games are set for 2 p.m. at the site of the home team unless otherwise noted.
#16 Marlboro at #1 North Brunswick, 3 p.m. at NBHS
Some people I've talked to love North Brunswick, others think they are a little overrated, and it seems no one is sure whether they have all the elements to win this section. The Raiders already got beat in the GMC Tournament semis, but they do have two studs named Ibrahim Kamara (forward) and Evans Ofari (center-mid.) and they go as they go. Kamara has top-of-the-line talent along the lines of a Kyle Bethel, but he relies on Ofari to set him up. Jackson lost to North Brunswick last year and coach Steve Bado said they took Kamara out of the game without much of a problem. Marlboro, meanwhile has showed they can play with anyone, but I'm not sure they can beat anyone. North Brunswick is not Howell so this would not be a shocking victory by the Mustangs, who beat Sayreville 6-0 last year as a #15 seed, but I do think that the talent on the field for North Bunswick looks like that of a number one seed. I would be impressed with a Marlboro win, but not surprised.
#18 Brick Mem. at #2 Rancocas Valley
A couple of coaches that have seen RV tell me they are pretty good, but I must admit, I don't know as much about them as I do about North Brunswick. They last to Hunterdon Central in last year's first round, and the Red Devils went on to the finals where they lost to Manalapan 3-2 in overtime. Brick Memorial is riding high right now and has been good enough to play with TR South and Jackson at times this year. They played Marlboro tough and they seem to have found consistency. I don't see the Mustangs going past the quarterfinals on friday, but they could certainly get there.
#14 Sayreville at #3 Hunterdon Central
As I mentioned before, Sayreville Bombers were the ones getting bombed last year when they bowed out to Marlboro 6-0 last year as a #2 seed. Maybe they like being the higher seed a little better, but this is a very good team they have to beat. I saw Hunterdon Central against Manalapan last year, with a roster made up with very few seniors (kind of like Howell this year). As long as they are not looking ahead to a rematch with Manalapan, I think the Red Devils (yes there are two Red Devils in this bracket, just like there are two Mustangs and two Raiders. That's what happens in a 19-team bracket) will have a chance at revenge when they meet Manalapan in the quarters.
#13 Trenton at #4 Howell
Howell may very well be the class of this section and if that's not enough, no Shore team will get a crack at them until the semifinals, at the earliest. Last year, they got Manalapan in the second round and we all know how that turned out. But before that, they beat up on Montgomery 6-0 and the Trenton team they'll be playing Tuesday doens't figure to fair much better. Again they, don't always finish and that could be the downfall of any team, but they probably are the best team on this side of the bracket, and that includes North Brunswick.
#12 Montgomery at #5 Steinert
Tough one to call here because while Steinert is good and has lost to some good teams, some of those teams are not group IV schools. Steinert lost to Princeton (a very good group III) in their conference championship, while Montgomery has played some very good competition in teams like Hunterdon Central and Bridgewater. I could see Montgomery pulling this one out and getting some more good competition (Howell) in the next round.
#11 Brick at #6 Manalapan
Manalapan is one of the top three teams in this bracket, but I think they get a tough draw in two regards. First, they have to play a Brick team that I think learned a lot from their 6-0 loss to Howell before the SCT. While Manalapan should be too much for them, I think you'll see that young, scrappy enthusiasm come through as opposed to the overwhelmed inexperience that showed against Howell. Second with regards to Manalapan, if they get by Brick, they have to play a team that gave them a lot of trouble in the sectional finals last year. They'll certainly want to take out their SCT frustrations on Brick by blowing them out, but I don't think Brick will let them. I think Manalapan will get past Brick without a major problem, but the next two rounds are very tricky.
#10 West Windsor South at #7 Jackson
Jackson has a lot of regrouping to do after getting blitzed 5-0 by Manalapan in the SCT semis. WWPS has a couple of tough matchups, but they are not as good as some of the other players Jackson has seen this year. I think the Jags bounce back with a first round win, and how they fare against Rancocas Valley in the next round will be telling as to how good either team is when they take on Manalapan or Hunterdon Central in the sectional semis. I don't expect Jackson to give up 4 goals to anyone from here on out, so as per usual, finishing will be the key.
#9 East Brunswick at #8 South Brunswick
Two more teams that might be a little better than the seeding indicates. South Brunswick, while different than North Brunswick, is not that far off from them. East Brunswick, meanwhile, handed North Brunswick its only loss this year. The Shore comes into play on this side if Marlboro starts another run by beating North Brunswick in the first round and plays one of these two in the second round.
Central Jersey Group IV
A remarkable number of teams made it into this bracket with 19 of the 23 eligible teams qualifying. That made for an early start to the playoffs with games this weekend, including wins by Brick Memorial and Marlboro over Freehold Twp. and Midd. North, respectively.
Here's a look at the first round matchup's set for Tuesday, including what I can tell you about the Non-Shore games. All games are set for 2 p.m. at the site of the home team unless otherwise noted.
#16 Marlboro at #1 North Brunswick, 3 p.m. at NBHS
Some people I've talked to love North Brunswick, others think they are a little overrated, and it seems no one is sure whether they have all the elements to win this section. The Raiders already got beat in the GMC Tournament semis, but they do have two studs named Ibrahim Kamara (forward) and Evans Ofari (center-mid.) and they go as they go. Kamara has top-of-the-line talent along the lines of a Kyle Bethel, but he relies on Ofari to set him up. Jackson lost to North Brunswick last year and coach Steve Bado said they took Kamara out of the game without much of a problem. Marlboro, meanwhile has showed they can play with anyone, but I'm not sure they can beat anyone. North Brunswick is not Howell so this would not be a shocking victory by the Mustangs, who beat Sayreville 6-0 last year as a #15 seed, but I do think that the talent on the field for North Bunswick looks like that of a number one seed. I would be impressed with a Marlboro win, but not surprised.
#18 Brick Mem. at #2 Rancocas Valley
A couple of coaches that have seen RV tell me they are pretty good, but I must admit, I don't know as much about them as I do about North Brunswick. They last to Hunterdon Central in last year's first round, and the Red Devils went on to the finals where they lost to Manalapan 3-2 in overtime. Brick Memorial is riding high right now and has been good enough to play with TR South and Jackson at times this year. They played Marlboro tough and they seem to have found consistency. I don't see the Mustangs going past the quarterfinals on friday, but they could certainly get there.
#14 Sayreville at #3 Hunterdon Central
As I mentioned before, Sayreville Bombers were the ones getting bombed last year when they bowed out to Marlboro 6-0 last year as a #2 seed. Maybe they like being the higher seed a little better, but this is a very good team they have to beat. I saw Hunterdon Central against Manalapan last year, with a roster made up with very few seniors (kind of like Howell this year). As long as they are not looking ahead to a rematch with Manalapan, I think the Red Devils (yes there are two Red Devils in this bracket, just like there are two Mustangs and two Raiders. That's what happens in a 19-team bracket) will have a chance at revenge when they meet Manalapan in the quarters.
#13 Trenton at #4 Howell
Howell may very well be the class of this section and if that's not enough, no Shore team will get a crack at them until the semifinals, at the earliest. Last year, they got Manalapan in the second round and we all know how that turned out. But before that, they beat up on Montgomery 6-0 and the Trenton team they'll be playing Tuesday doens't figure to fair much better. Again they, don't always finish and that could be the downfall of any team, but they probably are the best team on this side of the bracket, and that includes North Brunswick.
#12 Montgomery at #5 Steinert
Tough one to call here because while Steinert is good and has lost to some good teams, some of those teams are not group IV schools. Steinert lost to Princeton (a very good group III) in their conference championship, while Montgomery has played some very good competition in teams like Hunterdon Central and Bridgewater. I could see Montgomery pulling this one out and getting some more good competition (Howell) in the next round.
#11 Brick at #6 Manalapan
Manalapan is one of the top three teams in this bracket, but I think they get a tough draw in two regards. First, they have to play a Brick team that I think learned a lot from their 6-0 loss to Howell before the SCT. While Manalapan should be too much for them, I think you'll see that young, scrappy enthusiasm come through as opposed to the overwhelmed inexperience that showed against Howell. Second with regards to Manalapan, if they get by Brick, they have to play a team that gave them a lot of trouble in the sectional finals last year. They'll certainly want to take out their SCT frustrations on Brick by blowing them out, but I don't think Brick will let them. I think Manalapan will get past Brick without a major problem, but the next two rounds are very tricky.
#10 West Windsor South at #7 Jackson
Jackson has a lot of regrouping to do after getting blitzed 5-0 by Manalapan in the SCT semis. WWPS has a couple of tough matchups, but they are not as good as some of the other players Jackson has seen this year. I think the Jags bounce back with a first round win, and how they fare against Rancocas Valley in the next round will be telling as to how good either team is when they take on Manalapan or Hunterdon Central in the sectional semis. I don't expect Jackson to give up 4 goals to anyone from here on out, so as per usual, finishing will be the key.
#9 East Brunswick at #8 South Brunswick
Two more teams that might be a little better than the seeding indicates. South Brunswick, while different than North Brunswick, is not that far off from them. East Brunswick, meanwhile, handed North Brunswick its only loss this year. The Shore comes into play on this side if Marlboro starts another run by beating North Brunswick in the first round and plays one of these two in the second round.
posted by Matt Manley at 1:43 PM
1 Comments:
Matt- What is your thoughts w/ SJ- Group 4 w/ three TR teams and Group 3 w/ Pinelands and Central?
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