Chasing history: A look at each Super 25 team's state finals dreams and history

Every team at this time of the season is chasing a dream and setting out to finish goals.

The hoop-educated know those dreams and goals come in all shapes and sizes, especially with the regular season coming to an end.

Maybe some of those dreams and goals (state championship, reaching Champaign) are bigger than others (ending long postseason droughts or winning a first-ever sectional title). But it’s crunch time for every team, every program and every coach and player. The dreams and goals are so much more in sight.

The following are the 25 teams ranked in this past week’s Super 25 rankings — all hopeful of making plenty of noise in coming weeks — who are chasing some kind of history. We examine each team’s current status and hopes as it relates and compares to past history.

No. 1 Benet

With the program’s first state championship won last season, Benet has its eyes set on joining a select group of programs and royalty: back-to-back state champions.

Even if this team has everything it needs to win a state championship this year — size, intimidating interior defense, rebounding, shooting and experienced guard play — it’s never, ever easy to do, no matter the circumstances or players returning.

This is far from a sure thing. But if the top-ranked Redwings reach that point of playing for a state championship, it will be their fifth title game appearance since 2014. That would be the most state title game appearances by any program during that time — more than Young, Morgan Park, Simeon and DePaul Prep.

No. 2 DePaul Prep

The move up to Class 4A presents something new — and daunting — after winning 2A and 3A titles the past three seasons. But a state championship next month would give the Rams four straight titles and entry into rare company. Only two teams have accomplished this in state history: Peoria Manual (1994-1997) and Simeon (2010-2013).

No. 3 Curie

Curie is among the city basketball giants. The consistent, high-level of success the Condors have enjoyed probably isn’t appreciated enough. While it did win a state championship in 2016, the other recent giants of the Public League — Simeon, Morgan Park and Young — all have multiple state titles. Curie and coach Mike Oliver have a shot at joining that club.

No. 4 Kankakee

The faithful have waited a long time for this. It was just a little over 11 months ago when Kankakee lost a sectional heartbreaker — a 65-63 loss to Metamora.

Kankakee returned the best player in school history from last season, 6-6 wing

Lincoln Williams, and then welcomed back transfer EJ Hazelett, a Division I prospect headed to Indiana State, this past summer.

Now, as one of the true Class 3A favorites, the hype in Kankakee is palpable, their fervor is felt, as the Kays are searching for their first-ever IHSA State Finals appearance.

No. 5 Warren

Legendary coach Chuck Ramsey won big in his 19 years as head coach at Warren. Now coach Zack Ryan is doing so as well. There are 11 sectional titles and three state runner-up finishes in program history, leaving only one thing left for this program to accomplish.

After falling just short last season, can the Blue Devils get over the hump and claim a state championship?

No. 6 Neuqua Valley

Coach Todd Sutton has won 700-plus games and reached a pair of supersectionals. But the program is still in search of its first trip to state. The road is very difficult but doable with the talent the Wildcats possess and the season they’ve put together.

No. 7 Homewood-Flossmoor

The Vikings broke through two years ago under coach Jamere Dismukes, capturing their first-ever state title. But a trip to state and another state trophy — and under a new coach, Brandin Brown — really would solidify H-F as the preeminent program in the south suburbs.

No. 8 Bolingbrook

Since 2015, Bolingbrook has won four sectional championships and qualified for state three times. While they’ve brought home three trophies, finishing third in 2015 and 2017 and fourth in 2022, the Raiders have never played in a state championship game.

It starts with winning arguably the state’s best sectional, where No. 1 Benet and No. 6 Neuqua Valley are the top two seeds. If it can take those two down? The Raiders could be on their way.

No. 9 Loyola

It’s been 50 years since the last time Loyola reached the IHSA State Finals. They came close in 2006, 2014 and the Covid-interrupted season of 2020.

Can the Ramblers beat Catholic League foe DePaul and neighborhood rivals New Trier and Evanston in the sectional? If so, it’s a legit taking-off-point as it would then enter the supersectional as the favorite.

No. 10 St. Patrick

Last season the Shamrocks and longtime coach Mike Bailey finally broke through, reaching the State Finals and finishing third in Class 3A. Now they take a step up. Can St. Pat’s go on a memorable run in 4A?

No. 11 Marist

The RedHawks won 29 games two years ago and 31 last season. They are knocking on the door of 30 wins again this season. But deep postseason runs at Marist have been lacking.

There was a sectional title 45 years ago — the only sectional championship in program history — but no Marist team has ever reached the IHSA State Finals. This one has a chance.

No. 12 New Trier

There is a long history of high-level success at New Trier, going back decades under multiple coaches. New Trier has qualified for state in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and four times since the turn of the century — 2000, 2002, 2023 and 2024. But an elusive state championship is what’s been missing.

No. 13 Evanston

Just like its biggest rival, New Trier, the Evanston basketball program has also had a huge historical presence in the sport.

In fact, six of the last seven coaches — Jack Burmaster, Herb Williams, Mike Hart, Paul Pryma, Bobby Locke and Mike Ellis — have all taken at least one team to state. Ellis has taken three teams alone, losing in the 2019 state championship game and finishing third in 2018 and again last year.

But it’s been a long, long time, nearly 60 years in fact, since the Wildkits won their only state championship. While it’s not an obvious state title contender, can Evanston, a fun watch with its offensive punch and perimeter shooting, match or surpass last year’s run?

No. 14 Fremd

Fremd basketball has won a ton of games, spanning five decades, under longtime coaches Mo Tharp and Bob Widlowski. Both had a team that finished fourth in the state — Tharp’s 1993 team and Widlowski’s 2017 team.

Something special is afoot again. Now a fresh-faced coach, Mike Brown, has a chance to add his name to the Fremd history books as the Vikings earned a No. 1 sectional seed.

No. 15 St. Ignatius

The program’s relevancy has been raised under coach Matt Monroe, who took over in 2016. There was a third-place finish in 2022 and a fourth-place finish in 2023, the first state trophies won in program history.

As the only team to have beaten top-ranked Benet, there should be a belief the Wolfpack could potentially better those previous finishes this year and play for a state championship.

No. 16 Palatine

The record-breaking season came just two years ago. The Pirates broke the school record for wins (28) and reached its first-ever IHSA State Finals, where it finished fourth in the state in Class 4A.

With a return trip to state this year — Palatine is the No. 2 sectional seed and does own a win over top-seeded Fremd — the Pirates would go to another level when it comes to Mid-Suburban League basketball royalty.

Coach Eric Millstone’s program would become just the second Mid-Suburban League school with two state trophies in the trophy case. Schaumburg was the other in 1999 (fourth in Class AA) and 2001 (Class AA state champs).

No. 17 Mount Carmel

We don’t want to sell the fortunes of this year’s team short. However, the youthful Caravan will be hard pressed to duplicate the program’s very best, both when it comes to the distant past (state champions in 1985) or recent history (state runner-up in 2024).

But what about a third straight sectional championship?

As the No. 4 seed playing on its home floor in the sectional, winning three in a row — and with the bulk of its team coming back next season — would be an unprecedented program achievement and a big-time accomplishment. And it would certainly be a launching point to next season.

No. 18 Kaneland

You have to start with the unbeaten record. Yes, the Knights are a perfect 29-0. When will the first defeat come? Will it come?

There has never been an unbeaten state champion since the arrival of four classes in 2007. There hasn’t been an unbeaten state champion since Seneca’s 35-0 team in 2006. The last big school state champ with a perfect record was King in 1993.

While most won’t know or remember, Kaneland does have a pair of IHSA State Finals appearances. There was the Class A state runner-up finish in 1973 and a state quarterfinal appearance in 1982. But a lot of time has passed since the Knights played on the state’s biggest stage — and even longer for an unbeaten state champ.

No. 19 Glenbard East

As the top seed in the sectional, the Rams, who are 27-3, should surpass the school’s all-time win total of 28 victories next week with a regional championship. Plus, a soft sectional also provides a lot of runway for a postseason push.

But there is a lot of work still to do in order to match the school’s best team and season. The 2010-11 team won 28 games and reached the state semifinals before settling for a third-place finish.

No. 20 Waukegan

With a strong postseason run, this group will return relevancy to Waukegan basketball.

Remember, this is a program many believed was dead and buried after a 3-27 season just four years ago. Coach Ron Ashlaw and this group has pumped life back into Waukegan basketball.

There was a sectional appearance last season and a likely return this season. But if the Bulldogs make the most of a third opportunity playing Warren in the sectional? The postseason ceiling will be determined by how well it can consistently defend.

There hasn’t been a sectional title since the Jereme Richmond days 16 years ago. Taking down Jaxson Davis and Company will be a monumental task. They’ve lost twice to Warren — by three points back in December and by 13 points last month.

No. 21 Lincoln Park

The Lions made their first city title game appearance in over 120 years this season, so there is already a huge sense of accomplishment at the North Side school.

They will soon need to turn the page and be on the quest of winning the first sectional championship in school history. That’s the big picture goal.

But just winning a regional championship won’t be easy to do as the No. 6 seed in a loaded sectional.

No. 22 Hillcrest

All this program has done is win. Since 1990 — first under coach Tom Cappel and then for the past 19 years under Don Houston — the Hawks have been a perennial power.

The highlight was the 2010 state championship. But are Don Houston’s Hawks in the midst of writing a new memorable chapter in Country Club Hills?

With a late-season push and a weakened Class 3A field, suddenly Hillcrest appears to be a significant player this postseason. This would make five IHSA State Finals appearances if the Hawks can return to state for the first time since 2012.

No. 23 Kenwood

This has been a budding program for some time now. And the Broncos have been so close in recent years to reaching the IHSA State Finals, losing in the supersectional in 2023 and again last season.

But those two teams were expected to get there — and beyond. Both of those teams were awarded No. 1 sectional seeds. Last year’s team was 27-1 and the top-ranked team overall heading into the postseason, while the 2023 team was ranked No. 3 in the Super 25 when the regular season ended.

This year’s team is entering the postseason in a completely different mode and fashion. As the No. 7 seed in the tough Mount Carmel Sectional, the Broncos are a sleeper and looking to sneak up on some higher-seeded foes.

With two juniors leading the way, Kenwood looks to play the role of spoiler and build momentum heading into next season.

No. 24 Young

With four state championships and three state runner-up finishes since 1998, Young is already an established state powerhouse. But the Dolphins are also not accustomed to losing in the sectional.

True, it’s only been three years without a sectional championship. However, a sectional loss this season would make it four years without winning one, something unheard of in the Tyrone Slaughter era. It would be the longest stretch for the Dolphins since Slaughter took over as coach in 2005.

No. 25 Hyde Park

The history of playing high-stakes basketball late in the season is short. Very short. It basically starts and ends with the 2008-2009 team, coached by the late Donnie Kirksey with starring roles provided by Malcolm Griffin and Fabyon Harris.

In addition to playing in a city championship game that season, which it lost to North Lawndale, Hyde Park won its only sectional championship. The run ended in a supersectional loss to Young.

Under coach Jerrel Oliver, Hyde Park has been inching its way closer. The Thunderbirds have won three straight regional championships. But they’ve lost in the sectional semifinals all three years.

This year? The road is paved pretty nicely for the Thunderbirds. Now can they take advantage of it?

Seeded first in a very winnable sectional, Hyde Park is in prime position to make program history. The likes of De La Salle, King, Leo, Hillcrest and Thornton are the beatable teams standing in its way of a state semifinal appearance in Champaign.