Just like that, we have made it to the final week of the K1 regular season. With 30 of the 36 games having been completed, each team will have one final opportunity to improve upon their seeding for the playoff tournament. The day will kick off with a highly anticipated matchup between Team 1 (6-1) and Team 8 (5-2). Another key matchup takes place directly after as Team 5 (3-3) squares off against Team 4 (3-4) in the battle for the fifth seed. Team 9 (5-1) will then follow with a doubleheader, where a sweep would give them the number one overall seed in the playoffs. Team 2 (5-2) will look to secure a potential third seed with a win against Team 7 (2-4). Team 6 (1-6) and Team 7 (0-7) will close out the day in the battle for the eighth seed.

Team 1 vs. Team 8
Week six kicks off with a blockbuster matchup between Team 1 and Team 8. Team 1 enters the game with a record of 6-1, while Team 8 is 5-2. With a win, Team 1 will secure a top two seed in the tournament. If Team 8 comes out on top, they could create some chaos at the top of the standings, where we could potentially see a three way tie for second place. If Team 9 were to split their doubleheader on Sunday, we could potentially see a four-way tie for first place. Regardless of how things play out in the standings, brace yourselves for this matchup of superstars. Team 8 has been playing as well as any team in the league, led by the double-double machine Seth Johnson. Johnson is averaging 23 points and 17 rebounds per game. Forward Bobby Crivokapich, along with guards Andre Robertson Jr. and Gerald Duckworth, have all been playing superb basketball, and round out a really formidable starting lineup. Team 1 big men Trey Johnson and John Martin will have their hands full on the interior with Johnson, and will also use the rebounding presence of forward Dennis Koger. If there is an advantage for Team 1 against Team 8, it’s their depth, especially at the guard position. Team 1 will look to juggernauts Chris Green and Ray Lawrence to score from the outside. Sit back and enjoy this one, as two of the most talented teams open up the week six schedule.

Team 5 vs. Team 4
Team 5 kicks off an extremely difficult doubleheader on Sunday against Team 4, who is as talented as any team in this league. Team 5 comes into the game at 3-3, and has struggled a bit against the top teams in the league. They are led by player of the year candidate Terrell Hendrix, who is averaging just shy of 20 points per game. They will look to use their downhill offensive attack to get to the bucket. If there is an X-factor for Team 5, it has to be the play of big men Demarcus Macon and Lamarius Lillard. They will have the difficult task of slowing down Team 4’s, Kale Maupin, who leads the league in scoring average with more than 24 points per game. He also averages just shy of 11 rebounds per game. Team 4’s depth at the guard position will also aid them in this one. The improved play of Caleb Johnson, Justin Glenn, and Christian Straw, makes them a slight favorite in this one. Although Team 4’s record is just 3-4, they have shown the ability to play with every team in the league. Three of their four losses have come by a combined five points, including a 72-70 defeat last week to league-leading Team 9. Team 4 will look to get back to .500 and secure the fifth seed in the tournament. A win for Team 5 would give them the fifth seed.

Team 9 vs. Team 5
As difficult as game one of Team 5’s doubleheader is on Sunday, game two won’t be any easier as they take on the league’s number one team in Team 9. Team 9 is coming off of a last second win against Team 4 last week, as they were led by Tyree Mosley’s 31 points. Expect Brian Hernandez to be back in the lineup, pairing up with Red Binion. Hernandez comes in averaging 20 points per game in the three contests that he has participated in. Although Team 5 will have a height advantage, they will be giving up a lot of pounds, as their slender and athletic lineup will have to find a way to play physical and secure rebounds against the very strong and physical Team 9. Maurice Terrell showed his ability to play on the interior a week ago as he went toe to toe with Team 4’s Kale Maupin. As we wrote a week ago, Team 5 is still searching for its first signature win of the season. If they can’t get it against Team 4, they will have one more chance to get it against Team 9.

Team 9 vs. Team 7
Despite a week two forfeit to Team 6, Team 9 has put itself in a position to secure the number one seed on Sunday. They have beaten the second, third, and fourth place teams in the league, along the way to some blowout wins against some of the bottom teams in the league. Assuming they get past Team 5 in the opener, expect them to use their physicality and experience in this one, as they take on a solid Team 7 that has been playing some of its best basketball as of late. We have already talked about Team 9 and their ability to matchup defensively against anyone. Look for them to find ways to slow down Team 7’s talented trio of guards, in Patrick Cullom, Jaquan Boxley, and Darian Bosby, who are all averaging more than 16 points per game. As this game progresses, look for the shorter rotation of Team 7 to hurt them, as Team 9 pulls away in this one and finishes the year at 7-1.

Team 2 vs. Team 7
Despite a tough opening game against Team 9, look for Team 7 to come into this contest with some confidence. Team 7, who had a very difficult schedule to start the season, has been playing some great basketball as of late, and will like their chances to pull off an upset against the 5-2 Team 2. Meanwhile for Team 2, who has the chance to secure the number three seed with a win, they will look to use their depth and balanced scoring, against the very short bench of Team 7, who will be on the second game of a doubleheader. Although Team 2 doesn’t have any dynamic scorers, they are one of the deepest teams in the league, and play with as much swagger as anyone. CJ Link, Jared Harris, and Braijon Thomas all average double figures for Team 2, and big man Antwan Peterson has rebounded the ball well since coming over from Team 5. While the trio of guards for Team 7 will likely score their points, the key to this game hinges on the play of center Shaye Carter. Carter, who comes into the day averaging 13 points per game and six rebounds, will have to play his best basketball against a Team 2 that crashes the glass. In the end, Team 7 will have to find a way to overcome its numbers disadvantage and play its best game defensively, if it wants to pull off an upset on Sunday.

Team 6 vs. Team 3
Ironically, game number 36 on the regular season schedule, will also be game number one of the playoffs. Team 6 and Team 3 come into the game, having secured the bottom two spots in the league standings, and will face off on May 2nd in the 8 vs. 9 game to kick off the playoff tournament. Although this game wouldn’t jump out to you on paper, the reality is that both teams desperately want a win in this one. Despite Team 6 entering the game with a 1-6 record, their only win came via forfeit, and they would like to get their first true win of the season on Sunday. Team 3, who enters the game at 0-7, is in the same boat, and will look to use their improved play and ball distribution to take down Team 6. Although the teams have similar records, their play styles contrast quite significantly. Team 6 shoots more three’s than any other team in the league. And if they are hitting, Team 3 may really struggle to defend the perimeter. Team 3’s advantage will come both in their athleticism, and in their depth. Team 6 typically plays just six guys, while Team 3 goes ten or eleven deep. Picking a winner in this one is difficult, but the improved play of Team 3 may give them a slight edge, so long as they can slow down the outside shooting of guards Vince Harrison Jr. and Alex Mitchner for Team 6. Harrison is coming off of a 35 point performance a week go against Team 7.