HNT/GMC Boys Basketball Top 10

1. Linden (4-1): Linden opened the season with a win over Union County foe Westfield before falling to Blair by four points on Dec. 18. The Tigers bounced back by going undefeated at the Governor's Challenge in Maryland over Christmas break, and will face the No. 1 team in the state, the Patrick School, on Tuesday at Kean University and will travel to Plainfield on Thursday.

2. St. Joseph (6-0): With the loss of a number of players from last year's GMC Tournament champion team, St. Joseph had a few question marks to start the season, namely how will the underclassmen handle the pressure? So far, it seems as if they're handling things just fine. After struggling early in the season-opener against East Brunswick, the Falcons came from behind to win 49-43, and just kept winning, earning victories over Piscataway and Monroe and then going on to win the Neptune Holiday Jubliee as the No. 7 seed. St. Joseph will travel to J.P. Stevens on Tuesday before hosting GMC Red Division foe Perth Amboy on Thursday and Paramus Catholic on Saturday.

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3. Woodbridge (6-0): Woodbridge returned five starters from last year's team that finished 20-9 and advanced to the GMC Tournament semifinals. That experience seems to have paid off as the Barrons have yet to lose a game. Woodbridge, which sits atop the GMC White Division at 3-0, is averaging 65.5 points per game while holding opponents to 48.5 points per game. The Barrons will travel to Sayreville on Wednesday before hosting J.F. Kennedy on Thursday.

4. South Brunswick (5-0): Last season's GMC Tournament finalists seem to be doing just fine after graduating six players, including Home News Tribune All-Area First Team selection Eric Savage. The Vikings have wins over Old Bridge, Monroe, J.P. Stevens, North Brunswick and New Brunswick and have been averaging 62.8 points per game. South Brunswick will look to keep the winning ways going as it faces two Red Division foes this week, Piscataway on Tuesday and East Brunswick on Thursday.

5. Sayreville (5-2): The Bombers opened the season with a loss to North Brunswick, but rebounded and won their next five games before falling to Mater Dei Prep in the Red Bank Regional Buc Classic Holiday Tournament final. Sayreville faced another tough test in the Skyland Conference's Gill St. Bernard's on Monday night, then will close out the week at home against an undefeated Woodbridge team on Wednesday, Colonia on Friday and against Bayonne at home on Saturday.

6. Carteret (6-1): After only losing one player to graduation last season, Carteret is building off the experience its players gained last season. The Ramblers, who are in first in the GMC Blue Division at 3-0, opened the season on a four-game winning streak before falling to Matawan in the first round of the Husky Holiday Classic. Carteret bounced back and won its next two games against Tottenville (N.Y.) and Manalapan, and will look to keep the winning streak alive when it faces Metuchen on Wednesday and Colonia on Saturday.

7. Old Bridge (4-2): Old Bridge started the season with a loss against South Brunswick before winnings its next four games against Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Edison and Union. The Knights were dealt a loss by Ocean Twp. in the Husky Holiday Classic at Matawan and will be looking to get back on track when they face Red Division foes East Brunswick on Tuesday and J.P. Stevens on Thursday and Bishop then host Ahr on Saturday. 

8. Piscataway (2-3): With new head coach Darius Griffin at the helm this season, Piscataway is looking to rebound after going 7-23 a year ago. The Chiefs opened with a win over Perth Amboy, but then lost its next three games against Red Division opponents St. Joseph and Old Bridge and fell to Ramsey by three points in the first round of the Morris Knolls Holiday Tournament. Piscataway picked up a win against Morris Knolls on Dec. 28 and will look to get back on track when it faces South Brunswick on Tuesday and Monroe on Thursday.

9. Perth Amboy (2-3): Perth Amboy has also had a tough schedule so far this season, facing Red Division opponents Piscataway, Old Bridge and East Brunswick in its first three games. After a win against East Brunswick on Dec. 22, the Panthers picked up a win against Brick Township in the first round of the Monroe Holiday Tournament before falling to Robbinsville in the final round. Perth Amboy will host Monroe on Tuesday before traveling to an undefeated St. Joseph on Thursday.

10. Rahway (4-1): The Indians started the season 4-0 before falling to A.L. Johnson in the semifinals of the John "Butch" Kowal Tournament 36-35 on Dec. 30. Rahway will host New Providence on Wednesday. 

Records through Sunday. Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego