CIF San Diego Section 2020 boys basketball Division 1 bracket breakdown: Top storylines to watch
The CIF San Diego Section released their 2020 high school boys basketball playoff brackets on Saturday. In Division 1, Santa Fe Christian and Carlsbad are the two top seeds.
The 16-team Division 1 bracket gets started with first round games on Tuesday night. The two teams that reach the final will advance to the CIF State Tournament.
Scorebook Live California reporter Bodie DeSilva breaks down the top storylines from the Division 1.
- BRACKETS: OPEN DIVISION | DIVISION 1 | DIVISION 2 | DIVISION 3 | DIVISION 4
THE FAVORITE?
Santa Fe Christian enters the playoffs as the one-seed and beat Carlsbad in an early January matchup, but I've got Carlsbad as the team to beat. The Lancers have one of the county's best scorers in Jailen Nelson and finished 8-2 in the highly competitive Avocado West League, with both losses coming to Torrey Pines. Getting Caleb Nelson back from a football injury has been a big key for Carlsbad.
WHICH LOWER SEEDED TEAM CAN PULL OFF AN UPSET?
There isn't an obvious answer to me on this one. La Jolla Country Day played better as the league season went on, and I could see them giving seven-seed Mission Hills a tough game in round one. Three-seed El Camino has won 16 of their last 17 games, though the one loss in that span was to Westview. The Wildcats will take on Westview again in round one, but I expect El Camino to play much better this time around.
OFFICIAL PREDICTION?
Four of the Avocado West League teams are represented in this bracket. I'll go with Carlsbad over San Marcos, with two of the county's best guards, Jailen Nelson and Devon Arlington, squaring off for the third time this season.
