Barlow
COACH — Seth Babikan (1st)
CLASS — M
2006-07 RECORD — 14-11, 6-7 SWC
KEY PLAYERS — Sr. 5-7 G Aaron Kaufman; Sr. 6-0 F Dan Mercede; Sr. 5-11 G Jason Greenberg; Jr. 6-2 C Corey Stevens; Sr. 6-1 F Scott Hickling
THE GOOD NEWS — It's a young team, making it easier to install an entirely new system.
THE BAD NEWS — Only two players know what a varsity game is like.
OUTLOOK — Babikan, who comes over from St. Joseph, will get to mold this green group of players into a team of his liking. The focus will be on learning the new system, then beating beatable teams. Then Barlow can think about returning to prominence, which Babikan believes isn't too far off. Until then, he expects to compete and says his group will have a few surprises in store.

Bunnell
COACH — Pat Yerina (11th)
CLASS — L
2006-07 RECORD — 10-12, 7-6 SWC
KEY PLAYERS — Jr. 6-3 G/F Mark Harrison (13.7 ppg); Sr. 6-2 F Jeff Farrell; Sr. 6-2 G Ryan Butler; Jr. 6-4 C Terrell Coward (8.7 ppg)
THE GOOD NEWS — Harrison, fast becoming the best player in the league, leads a strong frontcourt.
THE BAD NEWS — Guards Dan Paolini (shoulder) and Taylor Lasko (baseball) aren't playing.
OUTLOOK — With an entirely new backcourt and five football players just getting back into the gym, this is a team built more for January than now. Bunnell might struggle until the pieces eventually fall into place. The Dawgs' success all depends on how long that takes. But Harrison is a star in the making and Coward isn't too shabby, either. This is your classic second-half team.

Kolbe Cathedral
COACH — John Pfohl (15th)
CLASS — S
2006-07 RECORD — 22-2, 13-0 SWC runner-up
KEY PLAYERS — Jr. 6-3 G Dominique Langston; Sr. 6-5 F Andrae Beckford (10.2 rpg); Sr. 6-0 G Zenabaay Moore; Soph. 6-1 G Ronnie Underwood; Sr. 6-0 F D.J. Ellis; Jr. 5-11 G Heath Henderson; Soph. 6-1 G Dan Carmichael; Soph. 6-4 F Jabare Roach
THE GOOD NEWS — Typical depth, plus Langston and Beckford are two of the SWC's best.
THE BAD NEWS — Departure of eight seniors, including 30 ppg star T.J. Robinson (St. Thomas More).
OUTLOOK — Though it lost a wealth of players, KC remains the favorite because of Beckford and Langston. Their leadership is key for a relatively new supporting cast. Kolbe Cathedral has won league titles with less. They're already an overwhelming favorite to win Class S.

Masuk
COACH — John DeGennaro (9th)
CLASS — LL
2006-07 RECORD — 15-8, 10-3 SWC
KEY PLAYERS — Sr. 6-2 G Steve Zazuri (15 ppg); Sr. 6-3 F Eric Green; Sr. 6-5 C Dan Sullo; Sr. 5-11 Jeff Gallagher; Jr. 6-4 F Jake Davies; Jr. 5-11 G Casey McDermott
THE GOOD NEWS — Zazuri, off to Sacred Heart next year, is one of the region's top guards.
THE BAD NEWS — He has an untested supporting cast. Six seniors graduated.
OUTLOOK — Masuk always finds a way to contend and should again despite massive personnel losses. Zazuri figures to draw a crowd (i.e. gimmick defenses) unless several other options emerge. Green and Sullo will be counted on mightily to counter the likes of the league's other frontcourt powers.

Newtown
COACH — John Quinn (12th)
CLASS — LL
2006-07 RECORD — 11-11, 6-7 SWC
KEY PLAYERS — Sr. 6-1 F Kevin Troy (11 ppg); Sr. 6-0 G Dan Smith; Sr. 6-0 G Jason Smith; Sr. 6-2 G/F P.J. Cochrane; Sr. 6-1 F Greg Rodden; Sr. 6-1 G Mike Maher; Jr. G Kurt Naciewicz
THE GOOD NEWS — Troy, one of the league's best players, has a nice supporting cast.
THE BAD NEWS — The 'Hawks aren't very big.
OUTLOOK — Optimism abounds with a veteran group that returns from a so-so 2006-07 season. Quinn believes his team can be good enough to contend for one of the SWC's top four playoff spots. That sentiment all starts with Troy and will ultimately depend on who else emerges. There seems to be plenty of candidates.

Notre Dame-Fairfield
COACH — Vin Laczkoski (2nd)
CLASS — L
2006-07 RECORD — 11-10, 6-7 SWC
KEY PLAYERS — Sr. 5-8 PG Alex Muniz; Sr. 6-0 F/G Matt Maya; Jr. 5-10 G Greg DeSantis; Jr. 6-3 F Joe Rooney; Soph. SG Mike Bartel; Jr. 6-5 F Jim Hock; Jr. 6-3 F Matt Caufield
THE GOOD NEWS — With Muniz, Maya and DeSantis, their cup runneth over with backcourt talent.
THE BAD NEWS — With tall junior forwards Caufield (academics) and Hock (transfer) sitting the first month, the Lancers are extremely small.
OUTLOOK — Right now it looks like an up-and-down season, and we're not talking about Vinny Laz's full-court attack. The Lancers hope to creat offense by pressing and running with its cadre of guards. That'll be enough against some SWC teams. Unless a big man emerges next month, it won't be enough to stop the league powers.

Stratford
COACH — Paul Dudzinski (11th)
CLASS — M
2006-07 RECORD — 13-10, 7-6 SWC
KEY PLAYERS — Sr. 6-0 G Tim Martin (14 ppg); Sr. 5-7 G Joe Charles (7 ppg); Sr. 6-5 F Tom Massey; Sr. 6-4 F Robert Dupree; Soph. 5-11 G Russell Payton; Soph. 6-4 F Brandon Sherrod; Soph. 5-11 G Jason Charles
THE GOOD NEWS — It's fast, big, deep and has enough guards to field two varsity teams.
THE BAD NEWS — It's a relatively inexperienced group.
OUTLOOK — Stratford never lacks a quality team. This season should mark its return to contender status. The team's overall youth will be a factor early, but veterans like Martin and Charles should see this team through. If the big men can get fully involved, the Red Devils will challenge for top four in the league.

Weston
COACH — Ryan Errico (1st)
CLASS — M
2006-07 RECORD — 24-4, 11-2 SWC, Class M champion
KEY PLAYERS — Sr. 6-3 F Jeff Ledwick (8 ppg); Soph. G Dan Chase; Sr. 6-3 F Jack Foster; Sr. G Mike Berliner; Sr. 6-3 F Josh Smith; Sr. 6-3 C Ted Saltz
THE GOOD NEWS — With Ledwick returning, the cupboard isn't completely bare.
THE BAD NEWS — Everyone else of consequence from last year's title team is gone.
OUTLOOK — The Trojans are completely starting over with a new coach and, with the exception of Ledwick, an entirely new team. There are plenty of upperclassmen who are primed to take control under new coach Errico, an assistant to former coach Billy Lovett last year. The adjustement may take time, but don't expect Weston to be completely outclassed.

Compiled by staff writer Sean Patrick Bowley