Full disclosure: When the Star Tribune staff puts together features previewing winter sports, there are basic pieces of information – top returning players, previous state tournament appearances, competition outside of high school – that help shape what we think will happen.

That said, now that we're several weeks into the winter action, and through some challenging holiday tournaments that featured some great matchups, it's time to take another quick look at some of the top winter sports to see how some teams stack up heading into the bulk of conference play and eventually the postseason.

Just as it is on the boys' side, the conversation in girls' basketball starts with Hopkins at the top. But while the Royals have cruised somewhat expectedly to an 11-0 start, the most impressive team in the metro so far might be Class 3A Hill-Murray.

The Pioneers (9-0) have six victories by at least 25 points. One of their closer games was a 59-45 victory over Class 4A contender Eden Prairie early in the season.

"We've got to play at this level all the time and that's going to be the challenge," Hill-Murray coach Erin Herman said after that game.
 

Take a look at a the picks from our other top winter sports to see which teams are ready for a run at the postseason.

Boys hockey

Girls hockey

Boys basketball