Several boys basketball teams have held the No. 1 spot in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings this season, but Paul Dunbar High School will carry it into the biggest five days of the year.
The Bulldogs (29-6) hold the top spot entering the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 set for Wednesday-Sunday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.
Coach Scott Chalk likes his team’s chances but noted parity has been the overriding theme of this boys basketball season in Kentucky.
“There’s some balance among the top 10 or 15 teams, maybe even beyond that,” Chalk said. “There are a lot of teams that have some really good pieces.”
MORE COVERAGE | Schedule for Boys Sweet 16
Paul Dunbar is among eight top-20 teams that reached the Sweet 16, joining No. 3 Mercer County, No. 5 Trinity, No. 6 Christian County, No. 8 Bowling Green, No. 9 Newport Central Catholic, No. 13 South Laurel and No. 14 Doss.
Paul Dunbar faces a highly anticipated first-round game, meeting Mercer County (33-1) at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Mercer County has won nine in a row since suffering its only loss of the season — 77-59 at Lafayette on Feb. 6.
“I wasn’t that upset when it happened,” Chalk said of the draw. “We’ve tried all year to play all of the best teams. I feel like it’s the best thing for us. In games we know we’ll be challenged, we’re locked in and more focused and excited to play.”
Paul Dunbar-Mercer County is one of three first-round games matching top-20 teams. Trinity will meet Newport Central Catholic at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, and South Laurel will face Christian County at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
If the Litratings hold, Saturday’s semifinals would match Paul Dunbar against Trinity and Doss against Christian County. The Litratings favor Paul Dunbar over Christian County in Saturday’s 2 p.m. championship game.
RATING THE SWEET 16 FIELD
The Litkenhous Ratings for the teams that qualified for this week’s Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.
Team (State ranking) Litrating
Paul Dunbar (1) 102.1
Mercer County (3) 99.8
Trinity (5) 98.3
Christian County (6) 95.2
Bowling Green (8) 94.4
Newport Central Catholic (9) 94.2
South Laurel (13) 92.8
Doss (14) 92.3
South Oldham 89.0
Taylor County 87.8
Murray 83.9
Lawrence County 83.8
Owensboro Catholic 80.4
Mason County 80.2
Elliott County 78.1
Buckhorn 75.5