It would be a tight squeeze but what if they played the entire 1st round on Wednesday to allow for a Saturday championship game? Something like this...

Session 1: 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 1:30

Session 2: 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00

 

Yes it's an early start and a late finish but you get all 8 1st round games played in 1 day and the KHSAA still gets their precious break between sessions to charge everybody again. Yes they lose 2 sessions but they also avoid paying for Rupp Arena another day. It would also create a golden opportunity to bring back the 3rd place game.

 

Your idea might sound good on paper but...

 

The entire Sweet 16 tourney is magical, and there's something so exciting about taking in every first round game knowing that it's for most of these kids the very first time ever playing at Rupp, as well as for the fan getting the chance to become familiar with the entire field and all of the outstanding players.

 

Aside from the points Mustang has made, from a fan standpoint cramming all 1st round games in one day is overkill and makes for a long tiring burn out city kinda day.

 

No matter how much of a basketball junkie I am, 8 games in one day would dilute the excitement, and also have the magic of 1st round games come and go in one day, which with two it gave the tournament and the fan time to breath.

 

Typically after I've watched 4 first round games my mind likes to reflect on the excitement of day with the thrill of getting to do it all over again the next.

 

8 games in one day is too much clutter for the mind to properly enjoy the experience, and before you know it the day in done. Too much, too soon, too fast. Done.

 

Deep down inside, the Sweet 16 for me is Basketball Heaven that I never want to end, but I know the true special joy and excitement is that in only happens once a year. Since it is only once a year I don't want the 1st round games over and done with in only one day. 2 days give the fan time to enjoy and savor the experience.

I don't like the idea of cramming all the first round games into one day. My brother and I attended the All A State tourney in Frankfort this year and after watching 8 games in one day I was worn out to a frazzle by the time we left. I told him I wasn't doing that again.

I don't know how Lawnboy physically sits through that entire tournament, both girls and boys, without taking 3 days afterwards to recuperate.

Everyone is ok with missing 4 days of school?

Let me give you this scenario, I thought was a tough spot to be in if you are this superintendent

Murray Girls All A Wednesday thru Saturday All A champs (2 days of school)

Murray Boys All A Wednesday thru Saturday All A Final (2 days of school)

Murray Girls State Tourney Wednesday and Friday (2 days of school)

Murray Boys State Tourney Wednesday and Friday (2 days of school)

 

Both of them had tremendous seasons, kids would get (8) days off, what do you do if you are that guy? I tell them load the buses with as many as we can!! WOOHOO!!!!

So if it's new it's right?

 

If that is what you take from my post then sure everything new is right and everything old is wrong. :lol2:

Three classes for basketball would help drive up attendance but we all know that ain't happening

 

A couple people I know with Indiana roots said classification is the worst thing Indiana has ever done for high school basketball

I think the point made about the Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday night turn around for teams is a very good one. For that reason I like the Sunday final form it best

A couple people I know with Indiana roots said classification is the worst thing Indiana has ever done for high school basketball

 

I'm just curious... Why do they feel classification the worst thing Indiana has ever done for HS basketball? To me (and I could be wrong), it's more about nostalgia than practicality.

I would love to see this tournament at a time when it doesn't conflict with the NCAA or the SEC tournaments. But I don't know how that can happen. The KHSAA Sweet 16 is my favorite holiday, but I have always hated missing out on the first week of the NCAA. It's never kept me from attending, but I know plenty of people who say they do not attend for this reason. Although if I were not attending the Sweet 16, I would be working, and probably miss all of the early NCAA games anyway!!! But again - I hate missing the prime time games!! This year I missed the second half of the UK game to watch NCC - not good. But based on the outcome of UK and an entertaining NCC game, a good decision.

 

I would personally rather see the Sweet 16 moved a week earlier and conflict with the SEC tournament, but I am sure I am in the minority on this.

 

The Sweet 16 is just an awesome week for me. Attend HS games Wed-Sun. Watch NCAA games during the break in between sessions and after sessions at the Tin Roof, BW3, or various other venues. Wall-to-wall basketball, creamy-whips, and buffalo wings. Heaven on Earth!!!

Sunday has to go away if they want it to be better in my opinion. Just too much travel and food for people, and people an extra night in hotels. Put that with the NCAA going on, internet, radio and you have a lot of people at home. Attendance also vary's on the teams that make it to the State tournament, and whether or not school districts go all in for their teams/kids.

For me I wished our state would embrace the fact that post season is the same for everyone. Everyone seeds, regions are split correctly/realigned about every 3 years based on school built/closing etc.

Also would like to see District runner ups eliminated when they lose. If you get beat in post season your season should be over period. That makes your regional a final 4 deal with all winners.

Would like to see all award that are given away KABC, etc during the Mr. Basketball Banquet instead of at tourney, makes Friday miserable

Attendance on a sharp decline for the fourth straight year.

 

Attendance in 2012 (last year for a Saturday final) = 105,766

 

Attendance in 2013 (first year for Sunday final) = 123,363

 

2014 = 101,683

 

2015 = 94,464

 

2016 = 88,170

 

The two lowest attended championship games in the past decade have been the last two years

 

That has more to do with Redbook not allowing schools to pay for coaches and staff to attend with basketball funds.

Also would like to see District runner ups eliminated when they lose. If you get beat in post season your season should be over period. That makes your regional a final 4 deal with all winners.

Terrible idea. Being from the 9th District (Owensboro, Owensboro Catholic, Apollo and Daviess County, for those that don't know where the 9th is), if you eliminate the district runner up guess what, last year Owensboro doesn't win the State Championship. I also believe the year Cov Cath won they were the district runner up as well.

If attendance is the issue, I don't think moving the games to Saturday night will make much of a difference. Purple said it earlier, it's more of the who is playing than what time the game is. I would prefer having the Saturday night game so I could have a more viable (still not good) excuse for my wife to spend the whole day in Lexington.

 

I do think the KHSAA should make the semifinal games earlier in the day if they stick with the Sunday championship

You reward a team for losing their district, I understand that losers of a district have won a state tournament. Trust me when I say that a district runner up may get an awesome draw at the regional tourney and that is a major reason why they even get to the state tourney. When you lose in post season you should be done, it is why it is called post season play. If you can not win your district are you really the best team in your region?

That has more to do with Redbook not allowing schools to pay for coaches and staff to attend with basketball funds.

 

There's a 35,000 difference in attendance from the highest year to the lowest year. No way coaches and staff account for that much of a difference. Not even close.