Ready to get some answers

So who you got?

We're about to be knee deep in playoff basketball games, so hopefully you've got someone to root for over the next few weeks.

With the postseason in full swing, Eyes on Five takes a look at the upcoming Class 3A and 4A girls basketball field while anxiously awaiting the unveiling of the boys brackets.

1. Can Montini do it again?:

If any team has a bull's eye on it, it's the defending Class 3A champion girls team at Montini. The Broncos know it and accept it as a challenge.

But are they ready for it?

“Some minutes I think we are and some minutes I'm not sure. There are just moments when we look really, really good,” Montini coach Jason Nichols said. “... Hopefully we can figure out that we can be really, really good and we can string that together and go pretty far.”

The Broncos (24-5) have the talent for a repeat, but they play a lot of youngsters, which explains the inconsistent play. They are counting on veterans Kelsey Bogdan and Rainey Kuykendall to show the underclassmen what it takes to go to state.

If the seeds hold, No. 1 Broncos would meet No. 4 Glenbard South (21-3) at the Orr sectional semifinals, with the winner facing No. 2 Marshall or No. 3 North Lawndale. Nichols knows all three teams are tired of bumping into the Broncos in the postseason and would love to knock off Montini.

This might be the best chance for Glenbard South. The Raiders start four seniors and a junior. They have size and quickness to go with experience.

“They're probably tired as all heck about reading about Montini,” Nichols said of the Raiders. “They're going to be ready for that game.”

The Broncos will have to be ready also. A return trip to Normal is far from guaranteed.

“I would say this is probably one of the tougher stretches in the past few years,” Nichols said of the bracket.

2. How far can Benet go?:

Benet has had a lot of good seasons, but this might be the Redwings' best in a while. They are led by seniors Emily Eshoo (Bradley) and Emily Schramek (Northern Michigan), plus junior Kathleen Doyle, who has many major Division I programs pleading for her to commit.

The Redwings (25-3) have the No. 1 seed at the Class 4A Oswego East sectional for a reason. They're not going to get hung up on their seed, though.

“The No. 1 seed doesn't mean anything when you get on the court,” said first-year Benet coach Joe Kilbride.

Benet won't have it easy on the court, starting with the winner of the Naperville Central-Naperville North game at the Joliet West regional.

At the sectional either No. 4 Oswego East or improving No. 5 Bolingbrook — “Bolingbrook is a team that's a scary team,” said Neuqua Valley coach Mike Williams — would be waiting in the semifinals. No. 2 Neuqua Valley (21-6) or No. 3 Oswego would provide a great game in the final.

The Wildcats feel they've never been better this season.

“It's been an up and down season,” Williams said, comparing his team's persistent battle with injuries to the Chicago Bulls' season. “We've been banged up. We've had some key kids who have been injured, and our schedule was tough.”

The Redwings also have played a number of very good teams.

“We've played a really good schedule,” Kilbride said. “There's no question that they're battle-tested and ready.”

Starting next week everyone finds out who is most ready.

“I think it's going to be as interesting as heck to see how it all pans out,” Williams said. “I don't think it's going to be one you walk right through. It's going to be who's peaking at the right time. That's what it's going to come down to.”

3. Digging in:

Does defense win championships? We're about to find out.

If you look at DuPage County boys basketball teams with a chance at long playoff legs, a common theme is defensive play like their lives depend on it. For teams like Benet (18-6) and Lake Park (19-4), it's definitely true.

Both have shown flashes of offensive explosiveness but any deep playoff run will be based on defense. Fifteen times Benet's held teams to 46 points or fewer, including five straight times during the Redwings' current seven-game winning streak — a streak that's put the Redwings in a position to vie for the top seed in the Class 4A East Aurora sectional.

It's the same situation with Lake Park, which has held teams to 46 points or fewer 17 times. The Lancers have lost two of their last three games heading into Friday's DuPage Valley Conference game against Glenbard North, but they're still in the hunt for a No. 1 seed in the Class 4A Barrington sectional.

Defense is always key in the playoffs, but it's a difference-maker for Benet and Lake Park. It fuels their competitive fire and forces frustration on teams trying to get into an offensive rhythm.

We'll soon know if it's enough to carry them through their respective sectionals.

4. On the other hand...:

Is it possible for teams to make a playoff run by outscoring their opponents? We'll find that out as well.

Neuqua Valley (21-3) — a solid bet to be the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A Bolingbrook sectional — has played its share of defensive gems this season, but the Wildcats can flat-out pummel teams with their scoring ability. The Wildcats average 67 points per game, which is 7 points more than any other area team.

Five times Neuqua Valley's won despite allowing 60 points or more. It's not a habit the Wildcats prefer, but it's nice to know you don't have to panic during a shootout.

The biggest playoff darkhorse in DuPage County is Willowbrook (18-6), whose 12-game winning streak has given the Warriors their most wins in 40 years. Like Neuqua Valley, their offense can be overpowering.

Willowbrook pulled within a game of Morton atop the West Suburban Gold standings by outlasting the Mustangs in an 80-78 slugfest. It's the ninth time the Warriors have scored at least 65 points, and they've averaged 73 points in their last five games.

When push comes to shove in the playoffs, you always need that big defensive stop — maybe a handful. But you also need that big bucket, and Neuqua Valley and Willowbrook have the guys who can get it.

5. Stat time:

With eight 3-pointers in Tuesday's loss to Glenbard West, Wheaton Warrenville South senior Josh Ruggles tied a program record for 3s in a game.

The 6-foot-2 guard, committed to Grace College, scored a personal-high 38 points to raise his average to 18.7 points a game. Ruggles has knocked down 77 3-pointers heading into Friday's DuPage Valley Conference game against Naperville North.

Follow Kevin on Twitter @kevin_schmit

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz