Preseason Rankings: No. 8 Sandia Matadors
The 2015-2016 season has officially started and today we start our countdown of the top 50 programs in New Mexico Big School Division (6A-4A).
More: Preseason Rankings Home: 50-1 | Rankings 72-51 | Preseason Preview Page
The Sandia Matadors are coming off a 16-11, 7-1 season reaching the Elite Eight game.
Overview: The Sandia Matadors might have one of the best teams outside of the Top-4 in 6A boy's basketball. Head coach Alvin Broussard has had the Matadors as one of the top 6A teams consistently since arriving as head coach. The Matadors again will have a deep roster with talent all the way down. The big man on campus is 6-foot-8 forward in Caleb Wroten who is one of the best back to the basket big men in New Mexico. Wroten averaged a double-double last season with 12.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest along with 1.7 blocks per game.
Last Season
Record: 16-11, 7-1
Home Record: 6-4
Away Record: 7-6
Neutral Record: 3-1
Post Season: Elite Eight; Lost to Cleveland (81-77 OT)
Points per game: 56 (1514)
Points against: 51.4 (1388)
Realistic Prediction: The Matadors nearly upset the Cleveland Storm in the Elite Eight before losing a fourth quarter lead. The Matadors are still searching to get over the hump having lost in two Elite Eights and a Final Four in 2014. This team, in all honesty, could be ranked higher and might be my underdog favorite to go to the title game. Right now we predict them at 15-19 wins and an Elite Eight game.
Biggest Questions: Are they a two-man show? Will they play to their strengths in that two-man show?
Chances
District Champ: 90%
Playoff Team: 100%
Elite Eight: 95%
Final Four: 85%
Title Game: 75%
Returning Players: Well, if you read the biggest question section we look at the two man show. The other player that creates the 1-2 punch in the guard to post man game is Bobby Tapia a 5-9 shooting guard who was one of the best, unknown, guys to shine in the state tournament last season.
Roster
Jeremiah Stanley (2016)
Eric Sandlin (2016)
Caleb Wroten (2016)
Bobby Tapia (2017)
Zion Caston (2018)
The 2015-2016 season has officially started and today we start our countdown of the top 50 programs in New Mexico Big School Division (6A-4A).
More: Preseason Rankings Home: 50-1 | Rankings 72-51 | Preseason Preview Page
The Sandia Matadors are coming off a 16-11, 7-1 season reaching the Elite Eight game.
Overview: The Sandia Matadors might have one of the best teams outside of the Top-4 in 6A boy's basketball. Head coach Alvin Broussard has had the Matadors as one of the top 6A teams consistently since arriving as head coach. The Matadors again will have a deep roster with talent all the way down. The big man on campus is 6-foot-8 forward in Caleb Wroten who is one of the best back to the basket big men in New Mexico. Wroten averaged a double-double last season with 12.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest along with 1.7 blocks per game.
Last Season
Record: 16-11, 7-1
Home Record: 6-4
Away Record: 7-6
Neutral Record: 3-1
Post Season: Elite Eight; Lost to Cleveland (81-77 OT)
Points per game: 56 (1514)
Points against: 51.4 (1388)
Realistic Prediction: The Matadors nearly upset the Cleveland Storm in the Elite Eight before losing a fourth quarter lead. The Matadors are still searching to get over the hump having lost in two Elite Eights and a Final Four in 2014. This team, in all honesty, could be ranked higher and might be my underdog favorite to go to the title game. Right now we predict them at 15-19 wins and an Elite Eight game.
Biggest Questions: Are they a two-man show? Will they play to their strengths in that two-man show?
Chances
District Champ: 90%
Playoff Team: 100%
Elite Eight: 95%
Final Four: 85%
Title Game: 75%
Returning Players: Well, if you read the biggest question section we look at the two man show. The other player that creates the 1-2 punch in the guard to post man game is Bobby Tapia a 5-9 shooting guard who was one of the best, unknown, guys to shine in the state tournament last season.
Roster
Jeremiah Stanley (2016)
Eric Sandlin (2016)
Caleb Wroten (2016)
Bobby Tapia (2017)
Zion Caston (2018)
