Class 4A boys' basketball tournament

1Can anyone stay with Hopkins? The undefeated Royals are the clear class of the field, carrying a national ranking and four Division I signees into the state tournament. The head of the group is Royce White, a Gophers recruit. Incidentally, White will switch his jersey from No. 33 to No. 52 for the tournament.

2Seeding, Part I: There was some controversy over which team deserved the No. 3 seed -- Osseo or St. Cloud Tech. Osseo arguably played a tougher schedule and lost twice, while Tech enters the tournament undefeated. Osseo was given the nod, dropping Tech to No. 4 and potentially setting up a showdown of undefeated teams -- St. Cloud Tech vs. Hopkins -- in Thursday night's semifinals.

3Seeding, Part II: The vast majority of coaches say they would prefer if the tournament was seeded 1-8. Currently, only the top two classes are seeded, and only the top four teams are given seeds. Their quarterfinal opponents are chosen by random draw.

4The four seeded teams have combined for only four losses, while the other four teams have a combined 43 losses.

5Four of the five members of the Star Tribune All-Metro first team are playing in the tournament: White and Raymond Cowels of Hopkins, Mike Bruesewitz of Henry Sibley (the Metro Player of the Year) and Sam Dower of Osseo. All four are Division I recruits. Those four players, along with Jordair Jett of Class 2A entrant St. Bernard's, were named as the five Mr. Basketball finalists Tuesday.

6 Winona might be the tallest team in the tournament. In addition to 6-10 Alec Brown, the Winhawks have seven other players on their roster listed as 6-4 or taller. The Winhawks (17-10) lost eight of their first 12 games while Brown sat out because of an eligibility rules violation; since his return, Winona is 15-2 and has won 11 games in a row.

7Bloomington Jefferson and Apple Valley give the Lake Conference dual representation. Five of Jefferson's seven losses were by five points or fewer. The two teams split during conference play.

8Henry Sibley guard Maurice Hernandez stepped on a teammate's ankle in practice last week and has been hobbled since then. His availability and/or effectiveness is questionable heading into today.

9Blaine entered section play with a record under .500 but rallied to earn a berth at state with a 15-14 overall record.

10Four of St. Cloud Tech's victories this season are by two points or fewer, including a 61-60 victory over Buffalo in the section final.

CLASS 4A

QUARTERFINALS

Wednesday • At Target Center

• Blaine (15-14) vs. Hopkins (No. 1 seed, 28-0), 10 a.m.

• Winona (17-10) vs. St. Cloud Tech (No. 4, 29-0), noon

• Bloomington Jefferson (19-7) vs. Henry Sibley (No. 2, 27-2), 2 p.m.

• Apple Valley (16-12) vs. Osseo (No. 3, 27-2), 4 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Thursday

• Quarterfinal winners, 6 and 8 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday

• Semifinals winners, 8 p.m.

CLASS 3A

QUARTERFINALS

Wednesday • At Williams Arena

• New Prague (21-8) vs. Mankato West (No. 1 seed, 27-1), 10 a.m.

• Rogers (18-11) vs. Spring Lake Park (No. 4, 23-6), noon

• Grand Rapids (25-3) vs. Minneapolis Washburn (No. 2, 23-5), 2 p.m.

• Little Falls (18-11) vs. St. Paul Johnson (No. 3, 25-4), 4 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Thursday

• Quarterfinal winners, noon and 2 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday

• Semifinals winners, 6 p.m.

CLASS 2A

QUARTERFINALS

Wednesday • at Target Center

• Virginia (28-2) vs. Plainview/Elgin-Milville (29-1), 6 p.m.

• Triton (24-6) vs. St. Bernard's (26-3), 8 p.m.

Wednesday • At Williams Arena

• Pelican Rapids (30-0) vs. New London-Spicer (23-8), 6 p.m.

• Montevideo (21-7) vs. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (22-7), 8 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday

• Quarterfinal winners, 6 and 8 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday

• Semifinals winners, 2 p.m.

CLASS 1A

QUARTERFINALS

Thursday • At Williams Arena

• Chisholm (29-1) vs. Faribault Bethlehem Academy (28-2), 11 a.m.

• Granada-Huntley-East Chain (26-0) vs. Minnesota Transitions (28-2), 1 p.m.

• Cass Lake-Bena (24-6) vs. Ada-Borup (25-4), 3 p.m.

• Ellsworth (27-3) vs. Sebeka (24-3), 5 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday

• Quarterfinal winners, noon and 2 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday

• Semifinals winners, noon