1 WHO, IF ANYONE, STOPS HOPKINS?

The defending Class 4A champion Royals are so good, they have Division-I players coming off the bench. Players are quick, athletic and possess an overall shooting touch most teams dream of. Familiarity doesn't hurt, either. "A number of these kids have played together since second grade," coach Brian Cosgriff said. "They know the little nuances. Chemistry goes a long way, it really does." But with that comes an inevitable awareness that every opposing team has its match-up with Hopkins marked well in advance of tip-off. Cosgriff has coached three teams to state championships and another to a runner-up finish. This might be his best team yet. "The bar is set extremely high and these kids know that," Cosgriff said. "Athletically, this probably is [the best team]. But it takes more than that. All the pieces are in place for this to be a great season."

2 NEW WAY OF SEEDING BIG SCHOOLS?

We're still three months and change from March Madness, but tournament talk already has begun. Bloomington Jefferson coach Andy Meinhardt favors using a 64-team playoff in lieu of section play to qualify for the Class 4A state tournament. "Some sections are so top-heavy," he said. "Shakopee last year [in Section 2] had [21] wins and they were the bottom seed." Meinhardt said Section 2 coaches this season voted to use the mathematical QRF formula to seed their tournament, and would use the same for the mythical 64-team field. "It would create a lot of excitement," he said. "And you'd get the best eight teams regardless of where they are geographically."

3 SHOT CLOCK CHATTER DIES DOWN

The idea of implementing a shot clock was a hot-button issue not long ago. Upon further review, not so much. Already thin budgets mean many schools are not willing or able to pony up for new equipment. And there is a lack of expertise in the rules of running the device. The combination of the two has hushed discussions. "It would be cool if it came in," Meinhardt said. "But it's not needed and I don't think we're ever going to see it."

4 UP-AND-COMERS

Those faces in gyms you're seeing? The ones you're used to watching in HD? Yep, those are big-time college coaches peeking in on games across the metro. Young, unclaimed talent dots rosters from conference to conference. Freshmen -- freshmen! -- forwards standing 6-foot or taller are present at Roseville, Bloomington Kennedy and Eden Prairie.

5 TIP-OFF CLASSIC THIS WEEKEND

All four defending state champions highlight a star-studded field in this weekend's annual Tip-Off Classic. Games will be played on three courts at Hopkins High School, beginning at 11:15 a.m. Saturday. In all, eight teams from last year's state tournament are in the mix. Two boys' basketball games also are among the slate of 14 games.

BRIAN STENSAAS