The Journal Sentinel ranks boys and girls teams both on a statewide and area basis each Sunday and Tuesday during the basketball season. Of the hundreds of e-mails and phone calls the members of the Preps Plus staff receive each month, it's safe to say the majority of them are either taking issue with where a particular team is ranked or asking why their particular team isn't ranked at all. Many are also curious as to the process that goes into ranking teams. And that's a question that really has no specific answer. A number of factors go into ranking teams, most notably record, strength of conference, strength of non-conference schedule, tradition and coaching.
Personal opinion based on observation of the teams also weighs heavily.
Currently there are no undefeated teams ranked in the Journal Sentinel's large-school boys rankings. 1-ranked team, Milwaukee Vincent, has two losses, while four of the next five teams have just one loss. The Vikings' two losses came to Milwaukee Washington and Wauwatosa East, each ranked in the top 10 all season. No. 1 all season, and Minneapolis De La Salle in Minnesota, vaulted Vincent from ninth to first. The Division 3 boys rankings also have a team with two losses on top, Wisconsin Heights, with an undefeated Manitowoc Roncalli right behind at No. 2.