JotCast | Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.14.23

Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.14.23

Mike White

10:59

Hey, it's a little cold outside, so why not stay inside and heat things up with a little talk about high school sports. Second round of state basketball playoffs starts tonight. And how 'bout this: First day of spring sports games is Friday. So, any questions, fire away.

Bob spederson

11:00

Good morning Mike, I hope all is well. I know it’s early and hoops are still going on but, any chance in your mind that the Rams of Pine-Richland take the championship back to back in football this year?

Mike White

11:03

Wow. It's second round of state basketball playoffs, spring sports haven't even started yet - and the first question we get is about a team winning a football championship. But OK, I'll bite. Can Pine win it again? Of course they can. They'll always be near the top. They lost a decent amount I think, namely that guy at QB Palmieri.

JimmyJoe

11:03

Mike, are there any WPIAL teams that are prohibitive favorites to win state? Lincoln Park seems to be the one to me, but wanted your opinion.

Mike White

11:04

OK, some basketball talk. Good. I wouldn't say any WPIAL team is a prohibitive favorite in boys. Yes, Lincoln Park is very good. But remember. Neumann-Goretti is in 4A. Enough said. I'd probably say Imani is the WPIAL team that has the best chance to win a state.

PIAA Fun

11:04

Which team that lost in the WPIAL Finals or Semis would you expect to make the most noise in the PIAA's ?

Mike White

11:05

Depends on your meaning of "noise." Winning a few games? Sure, that's entirely possible. Winning a state title? No, I don't see that from any team that lost in the finals or semifinals.

blake castor

11:06

is it set in stone that Imhotep has the state championship on locks? or is there someone else you have in mind

Mike White

11:07

Sure. It's set in stone. Cancel the rest of the tournament and give the 5A trophy to Imhotep. C'mon, man. What do you mean "set in stone?" Nothing is "set in stone." But it would be a shocker if Imhotep didn't win it.

Easter Bunny

11:07

What do you know about Central Catholic's opponent State College? Can CC and New Castle navigate to meet each other in the semis?

Mike White

11:09

State College is very good. I saw them last year and they were decent. And a lot of those kids are back. Namely Braeden Shrewsberry, son of the Penn State coach. He's committed to Penn State. He's not a top 50 player in the country, but he's good. And their team is good. I think the game with Central will be close. Central certainly is good enough to win, but don't be shocked if State College wins. Again, I think it might a really good game.

Disappointed

11:09

USC's Hockey team is in the Penguin Cup finals. Guessing we can expect to be disappointed again at another embarrassing performance when a title is on the line ?

Mike White

11:10

Ahhhhh, the Upper St. Clair hater, complainer is back.

Guest

11:10

Hi Mike I was wondering if you think any of the 5A schools can compete against the schools out East?

Mike White

11:13

Can they compete? Of course they can compete. But will a 5A team from the west win? Highly doubtful. Besides Imhotep, Radnor is good. Archbishop Ryan is good. Good thing for WPIAL teams in 5A this year is that no Philly area teams are on western side of bracket, unlike past years. It's only WPIAL teams, District 10 and District 3 (Harrisburg and Reading area). I think a WPIAL 5A team has a pretty decent shot at going to state championship. But they will be a big underdog in the final.

Guest

11:13

What chance does Highlands have tonight against Licnoln Park and what do they have to do to keep it close?

Mike White

11:16

I still thing Highlands is a very good team. But they lost to Lincoln Park by 23 last time in WPIAL playoffs. I would say they have to hope that Lincoln Park has an off night and Highlands needs to shoot really well to be in it. Also, not give up many live-ball turnovers.

Mmmm donuts

11:17

Potato chips or pretzels on chocolate donuts. Thought ?

Mike White

11:17

Nothing but chocolate icing.

Treshaun Shmua

11:18

What's up I was wondering if you think Penn Hills will play Peters again in the state semifinals? That would be crazy

Mike White

11:19

It wouldn't be all that crazy. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising at all. I'd say it's a 50-50 chance right now. From what I've seen of some District 3 teams on film and scores of first round, there is not an overwhelming team outside of the WPIAL on the western side of the bracket in 5A. There is a definite chance Penn Hills and Peters could play again.

Chico Escuela

11:19

When the Beisbol preview come out ? Is been berry berry goo to me

Mike White

11:20

Baseball and softball previews Thursday or Friday.

11:21

Trying to figure out the way PIAA classifies schools for different sports. How is it some sports teams play at 6A and then at 5A for another sport? For example--USC is 6A for hoops, but 5A for baseball.

Mike White

11:22

First off, Upper St. Clair would be 5A in basketball, but they choose to play in 6A. Now, I'll try to explain how teams are in different classes in different sports. In fact, I'll do it in the next post.

11:27

Here's how teams can be in different classes in different sports. Let's take football and basketball as an example. Classes are based on enrollment. The PIAA takes the number of schools in a sport and divides it by the number of classifications. Let's say there are 600 schools in football. The top 100 in enrollment are 6A, the next 100 5A and so on. Now, there are more teams playing basketball in Pennsylvania than football (mostly smaller class schools that don't have football teams, or maybe charter schools). So, there might be 660 teams in basketball. So you're cutoff line changes. The top 110 teams are 6A, the next 110 5A and so on. So a team might be 105th in enrollment for football and be 5A. But the cutoff line drops in basketball, so being the 105th team might put them in 6A. Do you understand? Tried to explain best I could.

PeanutsGood

11:28

Mike White, were you in the NBA back in the mid 80s by any chance?

Mike White

11:29

Yes, I was still playing in the mid 1980s. I wore No. 23 in college at LSU, but wore No. 44 and No. 7 when I played in the NBA. Hope that helps. I wore suede Pro-Keds, too.

Disappointed

11:29

Not a hater Mike, an alumni who doesn't thinks this district is not as committed to winning as it used to be. The USC in my day wouldn't be OK with this. 2nd place is not acceptable

Mike White

11:32

I know, second in the WPIAL is just not good enough for you, Mr. High Standards. Those Upper St. Clair kids who finished second in the WPIAL, no matter the sport, should be expelled because - dagnabbit - it's championship or nothing.

2A Hoops

11:32

Saw 5 out of the 7 teams won, what’s the chances we get all 4 teams to advance on the west side of the bracket

Mike White

11:33

Pretty decent. I don't think there's an overwhelming team in 2A in the west outside of WPIAL teams.

Coach O

11:33

I watched a stream of Philly Catholic League championship game between Neumann and Roman Catholic at the Palestra( made me yearn for WPIAL games at the Field House). Place was packed. Electric atmosphere. Which is kinda of an irony isn’t it in that WPIAL schools are so upset about competing against the private schools for championships meanwhile I don’t think the Philly schools give much of a hoot about the state championship tournament nearly as much as their own.

Mike White

11:35

You're right on. They care some. But fan-wise, Philly fans don't care that much about state championships. Just look at how many fans come to the state finals from those schools. There are some Philly Catholic schools that bring some people, like an Archbishop Wood. But the Philly championships are big. Then again, the WPIAL championships are big to people over here.

Encouragement

11:35

Hey Mike have you seen that guard from south Allegheny i think his name is Cameron Epps he is the younger brother of Bryce and Antonio Epps? What is your thoughts on him if any?

Mike White

11:35

He's OK.

Breakfast

11:35

Eggs - How many is a good number for breakfast?

Mike White

11:35

I can't give an eggs-act answer to that? ..... Wooo hoooo.

Jaque

11:35

What's up Mike I was wondering what you think about Peters Township and Penn Hills rest of season?