Keep in mind that tbis is a state poll and St. Pats has only lost to 1 team in the state (st benedicts) and they are not eligible for state honors. St pats 3 losses have all been to nationally ranked top 10 teams by a total of 3 points. They are the best team in the rankings hands down!
Rob - 14 years ago
St. Pats and other private school programs aren't allowed to recruit although they have an advantage over public schools who can only draw students from within their district. I don't pity the "poor" public schools who have million dollar budgets, training facilities that resemble professional venues, strength coaches and enrollments in the 1,000's.The private schools are not the Duke University's of high school basketball with million dollar benefactors. They get by with enrollments in the 2-500 range, underpaid but dedicated staff operating always from 'hand to mouth'.I don't know where some people get their ideas from, but most of what is said about these schools is pure speculation. It doesn't matter how many losses you have(EX:NCAA Basketball).Its who you have played and beaten. Should St. Pats be allowed to be number#1? According to the criteria thats been used the last 15 years, No. However, if they are not given consideration based on their schedule, whoever does win it, will have an invisible asterisk next to their title forever.
Bradley Harrell - 14 years ago
I am a life long Elizabeth resident, and i love high school hoops and football. Elizabeth hasn't given me anything to cheer about in years, so I've been following the hometown parochial school. afterall I live right around the corner. But in my opinion I don't think that none of the parochial schools should be allowed to compete in the t of c. They have an unfair advantage over the public schools with the ability to recruit. Since the beginning of the t of c it has been dominated by the parachial powers such as St. Pats & St. Ants, with a few former public powers stepping up once in a blue moon. But if thats the case why not let St. Benedicts compete in the state tourney ? I know that they are a prep school but up to just a few years ago they were allowed to compete in the Essex county tourney. So my opinion let everybody compete.
Jeff - 14 years ago
St. Pats High School is a very good team, #1 in the state of NJ and #5 in the USA Today Super 25 at this time. They are also the ONLY team in NJ with multiple National Power Teams on the regualr season schedule. But, when it comes to the NJSIAA state tournament which they will not be competing in, and there will be someone else named the Tournament of Champions Winner they shouldnt be the #1 team in the State of NJ at the end of the season. In my mind, they should be in the top 10, its only fair. When you break a rule, there are consequences!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rick - 14 years ago
At this poing St.Pats should not be number one. They have 3 losses and Pat Cat has none. I don't care how many points they lost by.
Pat Cat has played some nationally ranked teams also and are undefeated. Pat Cat beat Austin Rivers(Doc's son) team, who previously had beaten St. Benedicts. Pat Cat also demolished a St.Peter's Prep team who just beat Oak Hill. St. Pat's lost to Oak Hill and St. Benedicts.
No way is St. Pat's deserving of the no.1 rank at this point
It is about time. The private schools seem to make their own rules. The NJSIAA needs to evaluate the private school programs,especially when it comes to recruiting.
St.Pats should be banned from the county tournaments as well.
Ron - 14 years ago
Saint Pat's a true highscholl team now there is a joke!!
John - 14 years ago
Yes, St. Pats should be #1...They are the best true high school team competing in this state and also in the tri-state area. It's a shame that the other very good teams will not get a chance to match up against them in the state tourn. Who lost? We all did!
Eric - 14 years ago
St. Pats should be allowed to finish #1 in NJ. It wasn't the players' faults that they were banned and punished. Yes there are teams that are undefeated or have less losses but look at St. Pat's losses. All one-point losses to Oak Hill, St. Benedicts, and Findlay Prep (all three elite powerhouse programs). They have outplayed just about every team on their schedule and they deserve a #1 state ranking.
It is not about st.pats been banned from the states, why they shouldn't be #1. they have lost 3 games and Paterson Cath have NOT loss, also st.ants only lost 2 game, It not the fact that you might like one team more that the other. I like all 3 teams, and with all respect st.pats should not be in the #1 spot after 3 losses, may be its because you cover more of st.pats games, than you do Paterson Cath,or St.Ants all three teams have players, that put up the same amount of points, if you might take the time out and cover all three teams.
Keep in mind that tbis is a state poll and St. Pats has only lost to 1 team in the state (st benedicts) and they are not eligible for state honors. St pats 3 losses have all been to nationally ranked top 10 teams by a total of 3 points. They are the best team in the rankings hands down!
St. Pats and other private school programs aren't allowed to recruit although they have an advantage over public schools who can only draw students from within their district. I don't pity the "poor" public schools who have million dollar budgets, training facilities that resemble professional venues, strength coaches and enrollments in the 1,000's.The private schools are not the Duke University's of high school basketball with million dollar benefactors. They get by with enrollments in the 2-500 range, underpaid but dedicated staff operating always from 'hand to mouth'.I don't know where some people get their ideas from, but most of what is said about these schools is pure speculation. It doesn't matter how many losses you have(EX:NCAA Basketball).Its who you have played and beaten. Should St. Pats be allowed to be number#1? According to the criteria thats been used the last 15 years, No. However, if they are not given consideration based on their schedule, whoever does win it, will have an invisible asterisk next to their title forever.
I am a life long Elizabeth resident, and i love high school hoops and football. Elizabeth hasn't given me anything to cheer about in years, so I've been following the hometown parochial school. afterall I live right around the corner. But in my opinion I don't think that none of the parochial schools should be allowed to compete in the t of c. They have an unfair advantage over the public schools with the ability to recruit. Since the beginning of the t of c it has been dominated by the parachial powers such as St. Pats & St. Ants, with a few former public powers stepping up once in a blue moon. But if thats the case why not let St. Benedicts compete in the state tourney ? I know that they are a prep school but up to just a few years ago they were allowed to compete in the Essex county tourney. So my opinion let everybody compete.
St. Pats High School is a very good team, #1 in the state of NJ and #5 in the USA Today Super 25 at this time. They are also the ONLY team in NJ with multiple National Power Teams on the regualr season schedule. But, when it comes to the NJSIAA state tournament which they will not be competing in, and there will be someone else named the Tournament of Champions Winner they shouldnt be the #1 team in the State of NJ at the end of the season. In my mind, they should be in the top 10, its only fair. When you break a rule, there are consequences!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At this poing St.Pats should not be number one. They have 3 losses and Pat Cat has none. I don't care how many points they lost by.
Pat Cat has played some nationally ranked teams also and are undefeated. Pat Cat beat Austin Rivers(Doc's son) team, who previously had beaten St. Benedicts. Pat Cat also demolished a St.Peter's Prep team who just beat Oak Hill. St. Pat's lost to Oak Hill and St. Benedicts.
No way is St. Pat's deserving of the no.1 rank at this point
It is about time. The private schools seem to make their own rules. The NJSIAA needs to evaluate the private school programs,especially when it comes to recruiting.
St.Pats should be banned from the county tournaments as well.
Saint Pat's a true highscholl team now there is a joke!!
Yes, St. Pats should be #1...They are the best true high school team competing in this state and also in the tri-state area. It's a shame that the other very good teams will not get a chance to match up against them in the state tourn. Who lost? We all did!
St. Pats should be allowed to finish #1 in NJ. It wasn't the players' faults that they were banned and punished. Yes there are teams that are undefeated or have less losses but look at St. Pat's losses. All one-point losses to Oak Hill, St. Benedicts, and Findlay Prep (all three elite powerhouse programs). They have outplayed just about every team on their schedule and they deserve a #1 state ranking.
It is not about st.pats been banned from the states, why they shouldn't be #1. they have lost 3 games and Paterson Cath have NOT loss, also st.ants only lost 2 game, It not the fact that you might like one team more that the other. I like all 3 teams, and with all respect st.pats should not be in the #1 spot after 3 losses, may be its because you cover more of st.pats games, than you do Paterson Cath,or St.Ants all three teams have players, that put up the same amount of points, if you might take the time out and cover all three teams.