We have road signs and banners signifying Class A championships in basketball. It means the same to our schools, plus they have the opportunity to play in the Sweet Sixteen.

The All "A" Classic made this debate almost meaningless. That's why some people resent it.

That makes sense. And since it's not a sanctioned KHSAA event, I wonder where we could find how much that tournament made? And I wonder why Richmond dropped it?

That makes sense. And since it's not a sanctioned KHSAA event, I wonder where we could find how much that tournament made? And I wonder why Richmond dropped it?

Do you think Richmond dropped it because of the class A not being sanctioned and EKU being a D1 arena? I know they had to drop the nonsanctioned games that were to be played in Rupp this year. Just curious.

^I can't recall. Seems it was for financial reasons if memory serves me. I think nWo had the answer for that one. Maybe we can rattle his chain to chime in here.

^I can't recall. Seems it was for financial reasons if memory serves me. I think nWo had the answer for that one. Maybe we can rattle his chain to chime in here.

It had to do with the OVC not clearing dates on an annual basis allowing for the tournament to be played.

 

The city of Richmond was much more enthrlled with the tournament than was EKU, who had to make a lot of concessions for the tournament to be played there.

 

Perhaps the "non-sanctioned" status now might enter into it, BUT at the time the decision was made this was not a factor.

 

The "A" Committee has a three year renewable contract with the Frankfort Convention Center. One of those years is in the book.

In watching the 60 Minutes piece on St. Anthony's legendary coach, Bob Hurlley, they mentioned that he has won 29 New Jersey State Championships.

 

When they show the footage of their title game with St. Patrick of Elizabeth, New Jersey, the game is a "North Jersey, Non-Public, Class B" State Championship game, which incidentally turned out to be the National Championship game.

 

New Jersey doesn't seem to be all that big to me, but if they have a Non-Public - Class B state title game, how in world many state champions are there in New Jersey per year.

 

This is something that I hope never, ever happens here in the Commonwealth.

 

The "A" State Tournament provides an outlet for those of us that will probably never ever win a KHSAA state championship, but still have the capabilities of winning a regional and making it to the Sweet Sixteen. I had the privilege of being a part of a team from a small school that played in the Sweet Sixteen, and let me tell you, there is nothing - NOTHING - like it.

 

While we conduct this monstrosity at the expense of the truly small Division III schools in the state, it is truly the "Greatest Show in Hoops." In order to accomodate all of the Division III schools into a class where one could actually win a state championship, it would be more of a "best of the worst" tournament (No offense - just stating a fact) and require more than 2 classes of basketball, thereby defeating the purpose of the true State Championship. Unfortunately, for the very small schools of the state, and most of the rest of we "mid-majors" it is a fact of life that in most years the big schools are going to have the most success and the small schools aren't going to make the Big Dance, but the accomplishment is oh, so sweet, IF you can pull it off.

There is a reason that every other state classifies basketball. I guess KY is just that special and smart to be unlike every other state. I think it would be different and it would take a while for people to adjust but it would work. The All A is a good tournament but it really isn't small schools. There is this notion that because basketball doesn't require as many people that a very small school can compete with big schools. 99 Percent of the time this just doesn't happen. Even 300 kids difference in enrollment is huge in every sport. The All A making some adjustments would be a great resolution to this problem and then there would be way less people seeing the need for classification. The KHSAA needs to step in and take control of this tourney. It could be a very good thing if altered some.

There are districts in this state that have the following enrollments.

 

District XY

 

School 1 - 1300

School 2 - 1250

School 3 - 900

School 4 - 215

 

Does that look fair to you?

Has anyone ever thought about how expensive it would be for schools if they classify basketball? Some of the schools in the Eastern or Western part of the state, how far would they have to travel for district or regional competition? That is all i hear about when football coaches, athletic directors and other people talk about the football playoffs. They always talk about how far they have to travel for district games and postseason. Think about that! At least the current structure of basketball allows communities that are close to play each other.

There is a reason that every other state classifies basketball. I guess KY is just that special and smart to be unlike every other state. I think it would be different and it would take a while for people to adjust but it would work. The All A is a good tournament but it really isn't small schools. There is this notion that because basketball doesn't require as many people that a very small school can compete with big schools. 99 Percent of the time this just doesn't happen. Even 300 kids difference in enrollment is huge in every sport. The All A making some adjustments would be a great resolution to this problem and then there would be way less people seeing the need for classification. The KHSAA needs to step in and take control of this tourney. It could be a very good thing if altered some.

There are districts in this state that have the following enrollments.

 

District XY

 

School 1 - 1300

School 2 - 1250

School 3 - 900

School 4 - 215

 

Does that look fair to you?

I surely understand your angle, and I'm sure you arguing for the little guy, which I sympathize with also. But to deny that the sweet16 isn't something truly special is a mistake, IMO. And while you may agree that the sweet16 is indeed special, yet not fair to the small schools, I don't understand why you then poo poo the All A tournament the way you do. How small a tournament do you want then to be a true small school tourney? Under 300 enrollment? There's a small school tourney and you're upset that it's too big. I have a feeling you'd be upset with the parameters of a classified field as well.

Often KY is compared to Ohio and their post season and classification. They're allowed fewer games (24 now I believe, possibly 22, I'm sure someone can correct me) and then what? Do the schools who bow out in the first round have a gripe? A full season of basketball and 23/25 games? Forgive me, but I'll take our format.

Often KY is compared to Ohio and their post season and classification. They're allowed fewer games (24 now I believe, possibly 22, I'm sure someone can correct me) and then what? Do the schools who bow out in the first round have a gripe? A full season of basketball and 23/25 games? Forgive me, but I'll take our format.

 

Right now it is 20 regular season games, but I believe it is next year they are going to 22 regular season games. Up until the late 70s (I think), it was 18 regular season games...baby steps?

New Jersey doesn't seem to be all that big to me, but if they have a Non-Public - Class B state title game, how in world many state champions are there in New Jersey per year.

 

New Jersey which seems to me to be smaller in area than Kentucky has 485 high schools in their state. I was trying to look up and decipher their tournament system. I may be interpreting it wrong, but it looks like they have 6 different state champions and then have a Tournament of Champions to end their season.

KY has a lot of good traditions in Basketball. I think a lot of it comes from UK's success over the years and it is good for our state to feed off that energy. Where does everyone think our state stacks up as far as talent and level of play compared to other states? I would say at best middle of the pack.

I just think it is still hard to pick and choose which sports to classify. I know our state doesn't have as many teams as some other states so breaking into six classes is to much but classifying certain sports and not others is just strange to me. Especially sports that have a similar number of schools competing state wide.

What I hear from college coaches regarding Ky talent, is Ky basketball has better coaching and fundamentals than most other states. Indiana has more talent and probably one of the strongest reputations for producing more ready players.

I have ties to a small school. I never hear them complain about one class in basketball. I do hear the small schools complain about the prospect of getting destroyed in the playoffs of football. I don't buy the argument that a class system is best for kids. How often are any of the legitimate A schools going to beat University Heights with enrollment under 100? UH will dominate. There will be others in each class. When my favorite team upsets a 5 or 6 A opponent in the district or region, there is as much pride in our community as though we have qualified for state. There is only one team that doesn't end the season with a loss. I think that realization that we all are going to lose except for one, makes eventual failure easier to swallow. Ky had a weak state tournament this year, but we had some great district and regional drama. If you classify, you lose many of the great regional games. Gallatin(1A) pulled off a 19 point 4th quarter comeback on Simon Kenton (a good 6A team). I have heard several people from all levels of classification talk about that game. The region and district are part of our current process. We lose a lot by classifying.