East Aurora @ Neuqua Valley

East Aurora (5-2, 1-0) at Neuqua Valley (6-2, 2-0)

Neuqua Valley came into the season as the slight favorite in an even Upstate Eight Conference race, but in his team preview Wildcats coach Todd Sutton listed East Aurora among the area's best teams, and his slight favorite in the UEC. He said, and Tomcats coach Wendell Jeffries concurs, that East Aurora has a quick, deep lineup that creates matchup problems. East Aurora, which has lost to Wheaton North and Proviso East, has four players averaging at least 10 points and 5 rebounds: William Brown, Tramell Weathersby, Andrew Dockery -- all 6-foot-3 and up -- and junior Jamar Sheppard, who leads with 15 points a game. "But Neuqua Valley is probably going to be the only team we'll play all year that will be deeper than us," Jeffries said. To this point, though, "Our offense is not good," Sutton stated bluntly. "Our timing errors have everything messed up right now." The Wildcats, who've lost to York and Bolingbrook but beat Morton by 10 points, scored just 5 second-half baskets in a 63-56 win over Naperville Central. Wing-forward T.J. Jordan got a knee-on-knee hit that game, but should play tonight. Jordan, guard Anton Wilkins, forward Derek Raridon and post Danny Pawelski are Neuqua's consistent scorers. Against East Aurora, they'll have to defend consistently, keep East Aurora away from the offensive glass, and try to control tempo.