Why is basketball different?

[theguru]

Trinity and St. X dominate high school football in Kentucky. This year LexCath won it all in 3A (and the second best team in 3A was probably CovCath), Owensboro Catholic was close in 2A and NCC dominated the 1A game. However, in basketball, 15 out of the 16 regions were won by public schools. In other words, the public schools dominated this year in basketball. Why?

 

Why can't the private schools have anywhere near the same level of success in basketball that they have in football? Or, stated another way, why can't the public schools have anywhere near the same level of success in football that they have in basketball?

 

Is it coaching? Resources? The best athletes playing basketball and not football? Administrators standing in the way of football while they give their all to basketball?

 

Something is not right here folks...

[Goliath]

Good question... You'd think with their being several more private small schools in basketball and not football that they would dominate basketball like they did football or better.

How many private schools play basketball as oposed to football?

[MountainThunder]

1. Fewer good players needed to have a solid program.

2. Long tradition of many publics on having good basketball programs

3. With many parents, basketball is still king and they often push the younger athletes towards that sport

4. This is still a basketball first state in the eyes of many

5. Several of the better athletes do not play football at many public schools so they can play year round hoops. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by parents urging and sometimes by the few basketball coaches who don't want their star hoops players to play football. Football coaches do not have that luxury, especially in many rural areas.

6. I still know several mommies in rural KY who will not let their kids play little league football as they believe it is too hard on the body, but will let them play hoops on concrete all day long as they don't see it as a contact sport. Therefore, many never play football or begin to play way later and haven't developed the same skills they may have for hoops.

 

A few reasons I can come up with.

[Cynical]

(and the second best team in 3A was probably CovCath), ...

 

The second best team in 3A lost in the state title game. You can't apoint a team that can't get out of the region 2nd best in the state. That's a really poor statement.

 

As for Basketball vs. God's game, in football, to win a state title it takes nearly 22 - 30 good quality players with 1 or 2 superstars. Very few public schools have this makeup, and those that do, come along once in a blue moon. The privates are stacked this way year in and year out and thus the odds are heavily in their favor due to frequency of makeup. To win a state title in basketball, you just need 2-3 superstars and 6 or so supporting cast members. Plenty of public schools have this makeup and the sheer numbers of public vs. private schools puts the odds heavily in public's favor.

[freshstart]

Regions 12,13, 14, 15, 16 don't have very few private schools and the ones there are very small, even lucky enough to put together a team. I don't know about the number of private schools in the other regions. Was it a couple of years ago that Trinity was in the final basketball game and of course Lec Cath always is good. On the other half of the gender, the girls private schools do pretty well in basketball. Most of the girls teams that will win their region will be public but the top teams will be private. Same way in other girls sports, especially volleyball. One answer to one of your questions about coaching. NO. The coaches are not better in private schools in football, but the talent year end and out is for sure better.

[OlBallCoach]

IMO alot of public schools do not have the off season programs that your better private school teams have in football and do not use the spring practice properly. And that comes down to coachs being willing to put the time in to do the job.

[Chicks dig Scars]

The second best team in 3A lost in the state title game. You can't apoint a team that can't get out of the region 2nd best in the state. That's a really poor statement.

 

Give theguru a break. He is biased towards northern Ky and carries the pro-private school flag regularly.

 

I still contend that the public/private debate has very little to do with football with the exception of the Louisville 4A schools. It has more to do with girls sports and other minor sports. Of course privates winning 3 of 4 football state titles certainly added fuel to the fire this year.

[Alabama Larry]

Different sport all together. One great player can carry a team where as in football its more of a team thing. How many players are used, look at the total amount of coaches, more injuries in football, Example...Could a "Pistol Pete" type player be found in football? Football is more of a numbers game and the private schools get those numbers.

[strike-3]

As many have already stated, it is simply a numbers issue, or more importantly that lack of numbers needed. In Basketball two or sometimes even one great player are all that is needed. In football, if you are going to take on St. X you had better have at least 22 solid players if not great ones.

[Long Time Warrior]

Different sport all together. One great player can carry a team where as in football its more of a team thing. How many players are used, look at the total amount of coaches, more injuries in football, Example...Could a "Pistol Pete" type player be found in football? Football is more of a numbers game and the private schools get those numbers.

 

Good example, Trinity folk get on here and "brag" about holding Shawn Alexander to under 100 yards during their state game. I believe it was the only game all year he was held to that number. Could Trinity have held Pistol Pete to under 40 points, I don't think so! Different game Basketball than Football. In football you can have several guys on the other teams best player but in basketball you can maybe double team for a while but not the whole game.

[MountainThunder]

Good example, Trinity folk get on here and "brag" about holding Shawn Alexander to under 100 yards during their state game. I believe it was the only game all year he was held to that number. Could Trinity have held Pistol Pete to under 40 points, I don't think so! Different game Basketball than Football. In football you can have several guys on the other teams best player but in basketball you can maybe double team for a while but not the whole game.

 

If my school had held a future NFL MVP under 100 yards in a game, I would be proud too! :thumb:

[NEERFAN]

More upsets in hoops, you don't have to run a play ever 30 seconds, easier to control the clock and limit posessions.

[mountainmutt]

1. You can only play 5 guys at a time in basketball.

 

2. A basketball team with 8 quality players is loaded.

 

3. In basketball, it is much easier for one or two players to completely dominate the game.

 

4. The demographics involved with private schools is a factor.

 

5. Football is a very expensive sport. Privates definately have an advantage.

 

6. Basketball is played on many different levels. Self improvement is easier in basketball. Imoroving in football requires coaching and facilities. Kids play basketball all the time at home.

 

7. You need at least 30 good football players to win at a high level. A weakness at any position can be easily exposed.

[stick1]

Football is the ultimate team game. You would think with all of the droids walking the hallways in the private schools that they would have an advantage especially X+T where they have many more droids to choose from. Dunbar, Henry Clay and Henderson Co are the three biggest schools in the state but they are all home watching too. Football is like a machine. It takes all the parts well oiled and working together to acomplish greatness. Basketball is a lot of fun but if you have a kid like Lofton, Slaughter etc they can carry teams by themselves. To win it all there has to be some kind of supporting cast though ala Pippin and Rodman.

[Long Time Warrior]

If my school had held a future NFL MVP under 100 yards in a game, I would be proud too! :thumb:

 

I'm not discrediting what they did and I agree with you. I'm just stating how it's different in basketball vs football. You can gang up in football but basketball won't allow for this. Unless you have "A Gouine" on the team. Make sure he has his pads on though!