[Stardust]

Top to bottom better than than 07/08, I'd say the 9th is more balanced now, but not better. The top teams of this year coming into the 9th, Highlands, Boone and Newport have all played below their billings, so it would be hard for me to say that the 9th is better. Take Holmes out of the mix, and the top 4 teams of 07/08 beat the top four teams of this year.

Couple that with the skills and athletes of Holmes, they should still dominate, not have games like they have had this year. In 07/08, they dominated the games against the weaker teams, but they still handily beat the teams that were conisder the top tier of the 9th.