Smith County and Jones City basketball teams, or could be volley ball teams, or softball teams, etc. have played 3 times previously during the year, once in a regular season scheduled game and twice in 2 separate tournaments. Smith County is 3-0 in those contests and lets say for arguments sake none of the wins were "blowouts" , but none of the victories were ever really in doubt either. Both have good records and are considered good teams.

 

So, flash forward to state tournament time. Smith County wins their region, and Jones City wins their region. Low and behold, they meet in the state tournament, and Jones City beats Smith County.

 

 

Whose considered the best team in this scenario and why?

Smith County.

I agree, Smith. You have 4 games to base your decision on. Just because the game Jones won happened to be a playoff game doesn't mean it carries more weight in deciding the better team. 4-1 is always better than 1-4. The only way that changes is if Jones was missing significant players in all 3 of the losses.

What if the games were early in the season while Jones City was still trying to figure out who they were...then they figure it out and on the biggest stage they beat Smith County.

 

If Jones goes on to win the title, 40 years from now they'll have a ring and Smith will be saying "So what, we beat you". Jones then offers to let them look at his ring. :lol2:

I've had similar discussions about Golf, Racing and Fishing.

Player A wins biggest event (Masters, Daytona or Bass Masters)

Player B wins season award but not the biggest event (Player of the year, Winston Cup Champ, Angler of the year)

 

Which is more impressive, Player A or Player B?

Smith County and Jones City basketball teams, or could be volley ball teams, or softball teams, etc. have played 3 times previously during the year, once in a regular season scheduled game and twice in 2 separate tournaments. Smith County is 3-0 in those contests and lets say for arguments sake none of the wins were "blowouts" , but none of the victories were ever really in doubt either. Both have good records and are considered good teams.

 

So, flash forward to state tournament time. Smith County wins their region, and Jones City wins their region. Low and behold, they meet in the state tournament, and Jones City beats Smith County.

 

 

Whose considered the best team in this scenario and why?

 

Are we holding everything else constant?

 

Did Jones City have an easy draw and Smith County a brutal one?

 

The law of averages in your hypo kind of leans toward Smith County, but that's assuming that Jones City wasn't holding back some, playing to get better each game as the season progressed, etc.

 

Lots of variables.

 

The situation as is kind of has me leaning toward, "Jones City was better that day" if all else is equal because 3>1, but there's something to be said for winning the one that matters.

What if the games were early in the season while Jones City was still trying to figure out who they were...then they figure it out and on the biggest stage they beat Smith County.

 

If Jones goes on to win the title, 40 years from now they'll have a ring and Smith will be saying "So what, we beat you". offers to Jones then let them look at his ring. :lol2:

 

 

Scenario never stated they won it all...just that they beat them in the state tournament. Could have been in the finals...could have been in the first round.

You have to win when it really counts, nod goes to the final victor regardless if they won the whole tourney or not.

Ambiguous definition of "best" here.

 

Do you mean who finished the season as the better team? Which team was more consistent?

Scenario never stated they won it all...just that they beat them in the state tournament. Could have been in the finals...could have been in the first round.

 

You can argue this 100 different ways, Smith's are always going to say they were the best and Jones will always say they are.

You can argue this 100 different ways, Smith's are always going to say they were the best and Jones will always say they are.

 

Right. And the question is who do YOU say was best between the two given the facts above? You seemed to allude to Jones City being best since they won in the state tournament. I guess that's an argument one could make.

Right. And the question is who do YOU say was best between the two given the facts above? You seemed to allude to Jones City being best since they won in the state tournament. I guess that's an argument one could make.

 

Jones won when it counted. But that still doesn't mean they are the best team, just the best at that moment.

 

UK several years ago beat LSU 3 times (by 2, 11 and 3 points) and then had to play them in the NCAA Tourney where LSU finally beat them by 2 points. Kentucky was the best team but LSU advanced in the NCAA that season.

Jones won when it counted. But that still doesn't mean they are the best team, just the best at that moment.

 

UK several years ago beat LSU 3 times (by 2, 11 and 3 points) and then had to play them in the NCAA Tourney where LSU finally beat them by 2 points. Kentucky was the best team but LSU advanced in the NCAA that season.

 

Perfect "real world" example. And I bet there is nary a one UK fan here who would say LSU was the better team. But, how many of those same fans would say Jones City was the better team cause they won in the state tournament game in the example above?

 

Now, let's say Jones City beats Smith County in the finals and are crowned state champs. Does that change anything?

Jones City, cause everybody is always trying to keep up with the Jones's.

Why are two teams not even in the same region — let alone same district — playing three times during the regular season? I just can't get past that.