Middleton Boys Basketball Team Disappointed by No. 5 Seed Ranking

The Middleton boys basketball team expressed shock and disappointment after being assigned the No. 5 seed in the WIAA Division 1 sectional tournament. The Cardinals, with a season record of 19-4 and losses only to teams currently ranked in the top ten, expected a higher ranking based on their performance.

Coach Kevin Bavery and his team were left reeling from the announcement made on Sunday. Just two weeks prior, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) had placed Middleton as a No. 2 seed in its mid-season report. However, after a close loss to No. 10 Verona and another defeat to No. 8 DePere, the Cardinals found themselves dropping three spots in the rankings.

“Gotta be a misprint, right?” Bavery remarked, expressing his surprise. “We were surprised about the No. 5 seed, thinking No. 3 would be the lowest. But in the end, it’s not about the seed. If you’re going to win your sectional, you have to be better than everyone at any time.”

Upcoming Matchups and Seeding Controversy

Middleton will face No. 12 seed Janesville Craig in a regional semifinal on March 6, 2024. Should they advance, they would meet the winner of the matchup between fourth-seeded Waunakee and 13th-seeded Mukwonago in the regional final on March 7 at 19:00.

The top seed in the sectional went to third-ranked Madison Memorial, which currently holds a record of 22-1. However, the movement of other teams past Middleton in the rankings raised eyebrows among the Cardinals’ supporters. Beloit Memorial, Verona, and Waunakee all surpassed Middleton, leading to confusion over the seeding criteria.

While Beloit holds a strong record of 20-2, it competes in the less competitive Southern Lakes Conference, with a strength of schedule ranked 168th nationally. In contrast, Middleton’s schedule ranks 56th, indicating a more challenging slate of opponents.

The Cardinals split their season series with Verona, winning one game at home and losing the other. Verona, currently holding a record of 17-4, is also trailing Middleton in the Big Eight Conference standings. Waunakee, despite being seeded fourth, has a history of losses to lower-ranked teams, including a significant defeat to a sub-.500 DeForest team.

Frustration and Respect for the Season

After the seedings were announced, Bavery articulated his frustrations regarding the lack of recognition for the team’s accomplishments this season. “It’s about the respect regarding the season we’ve had to date,” he stated. “I’ll take losses in great games to teams like DePere and Kaukauna any day compared to mismatch wins with lesser opponents that don’t give any real opportunity for growth.”

As the Cardinals prepare for their upcoming match, they will aim to channel their disappointment into performance on the court. With their focus on winning the sectional, Middleton understands that overcoming the challenges presented by their seeding will be essential to achieving their goals.