Insider: A closer look at the top hoops teams in 4A

So, who the heck is No. 1 in Class 4A? And who are the next nine? Not that it matters much, since it'll be taken care of on the court in coming weeks, but it's still a fun argument. With so many top-10 teams losing again this week, I decided to tear up my 4A ballot and start all over again. Here's a breakdown of the teams I considered (I'll post my ballot later). What do you think?

HOMESTEAD

Record: 15-1

Sagarin Rating: 4

Strength of schedule: 28

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 3-0. Defeated No. 9 Fort Wayne Carroll twice, 46-34 and 48-39. Defeated No. 30 Warsaw 60-59. Also owns out-of-state wins over Memphis White Station (83-67) and Columbus Northland (76-48).

Loss(es): Lost 49-36 to Chicago Curie in the second game of the season. Senior point guard Jordan Geist missed the season's first three games after transferring from Penn.

Overview: Strong resume. Caleb Swanigan, a 6-9 senior, is probably the most talented player in the state. Schedule not as tough overall as some but winning by an average of 19 points a game and haven't lost to an in-state team.

EVANSVILLE REITZ

Record: 17-0

Sagarin Rating: 1

Strength of schedule: 34

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 1-0. Reitz destroyed No. 6 New Albany 81-51.

Loss(es): None.

Overview: Reitz is averaging more than 90 points a game and its closest games have been against Vincennes Lincoln and Evansville Central (both by 14 points). Even if the schedule isn't as tough as others, the Panthers deserve credit for taking care of business.

SOUTHPORT

Record: 13-2

Sagarin Rating: 5

Strength of schedule: 6

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 6-2. Own two wins over Brownsburg (12), and one each over Ben Davis (14), Bloomington South (8), Park Tudor (11) and Warren Central (29).

Loss(es): Lost in four overtimes to No. 7 Pike (92-86) and No. 10 Lawrence North (62-49).

Overview: Both losses came to teams in the Sagarin top-10. The Cardinals have played well against top competition.

CARMEL

Record: 13-2

Sagarin Rating: 3

Strength of schedule: 8

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 4-2. Claim wins over New Albany (6), Pike (7), Pendleton Heights (25) and Warren Central (29).

Loss(es): Lost to North Central (2) and Brownsburg (12) by a combined 10 points.

Overview: No bad losses. Tough games upcoming vs. Ben Davis, Lawrence North, Warren Central and Warsaw, among others.

PIKE

Record: 11-3

Sagarin Rating: 7

Strength of schedule: 2

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 3-2. Defeated Ben Davis (14), Southport (5) and Brownsburg (12).

Loss(es): Rockford Auburn (Ill.), Ben Davis and Carmel.

Overview: No bad losses, but the Red Devils lost to Carmel by 17 points.

NEW ALBANY

Record: 13-2

Sagarin Rating: 6

Strength of schedule: 21

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 2-2. Defeated Bloomington South (8) and Silver Creek (24).

Loss(es): Carmel (3) and Evansville Reitz (1).

Overview: The only black mark, really, is that the loss to Reitz was by 30 points.

NORTH CENTRAL

Record: 11-2

Sagarin Rating: 2

Strength of schedule: 7

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 4-2. Wins over Richmond (16), Carmel (3), East Chicago Central (21) and Lawrence North (10).

Loss(es): Lost to Ben Davis (14) and Lawrence North (10) in back-to-back games by a combined five points. Have since avenged loss to Lawrence North.

Overview: Looks pretty strong overall, considering scores of losses and Friday's win over Lawrence North. Several tough games to come.

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH

Record: 12-2

Sagarin Rating: 8

Strength of schedule: 19

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 0-2.

Loss(es): Fell to New Albany (6) by 17 points and Southport (5) by five points.

Overview: The losses aren't so bad, but there is a lack of quality wins for the Panthers.

LAWRENCE NORTH

Record: 12-3

Sagarin Rating: 10

Strength of schedule: 4

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 5-2. Own wins over Tech (23), Warren Central (29), North Central (2), Southport (5) and Pendleton Heights (25).

Loss(es): Lost to Warren Central in overtime and North Central by five points. The loss outside the top-30 came by three points to Noblesville, which is No. 43 in Sagarin.

Overview: Three losses by a combined 15 points and wins that stack up pretty well against most on this list.

BEN DAVIS

Record: 12-4

Sagarin Rating: 14

Strength of schedule: 9

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 4-3. Defeated Pike (7), North Central (2) and Warren Central (29) twice.

Loss(es): Lost to Southport (5) by three points, Brownsburg (12) by 13 points and Brebeuf Jesuit, which is No. 76 by Sagarin, by two.

Overview: Solid wins and two of the losses – Brownsburg and Brebeuf – came with key players out.

RICHMOND

Record: 15-2

Sagarin Rating: 16

Strength of schedule: 39

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 1-2. Knocked off Scecina (18) by four points.

Loss(es): Fell to Tech (23) by one point and North Central (2) by 19 points.

Overview: Just not a whole lot to competition against top teams. The win vs. Scecina is strong.

COLUMBUS NORTH

Record: 13-2

Sagarin Rating: 13

Strength of schedule: 29

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 0-2

Loss(es): Dropped games against Scecina (18) and Mooresville (19) by a combined 10 points.

Overview: No big-time wins so far. Will get a chance Friday vs. Southport.

FORT WAYNE CARROLL

Record: 14-2

Sagarin Rating: 9

Strength of schedule: 51

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 0-2.

Loss(es): Both losses came to Homestead (4) by a combined 21 points.

Overview: An overtime win over Penn is solid but not much else pops out on the schedule.

EVANSVILLE CENTRAL

Record: 11-1

Sagarin Rating: 45

Strength of schedule: 70

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 0-1

Loss(es): Came as close as anyone to Evansville Reitz, falling by 14.

Overview: Gets another shot at Reitz on Friday.

EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL

Record: 10-3

Sagarin Rating: 21

Strength of schedule: 16

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 0-2.

Loss(es): Lost to Brownsburg (12) by four and North Central (2) by two. The other loss is to a better-than-its record Lawrence Central (35) by eight points.

Overview: Solid wins over Griffith and Crispus Attucks, but lacking big 4A wins.

BROWNSBURG

Record: 13-4

Sagarin Rating: 12

Strength of schedule: 17

Record vs. top-30 by Sagarin: 4-3. Owns wins over Warren Central (29), East Chicago Central (21), Ben Davis (14) and Carmel (3).

Loss(es): Lost to Southport (5) twice by 15 and 17 and Pike (7) by 11. Also lost to Fishers (41) by four points.

Overview: Saturday's win over Carmel on the road is Brownsburg's most impressive of the season.