There has been a lot of discussion about the boys state tournament attendance being down and how to fix that. What if they played both the boys and girls state tournaments the week following the region tournaments. Would that draw more interest and avoid the week and a half lay off for the boys after the region? I see that the baseball and softball tournaments are both going on this week. Thoughts?

Maybe if at same location like the All A

Maybe if at same location like the All A

 

Too long of a day

Too long of a day

 

You'd have to play 8 first round games in one day. Have to start at 8 am and probably last game would be at 10 at night. Don't know how popular that would be.

Could start a day earlier? Think it would be a great idea!

Could start a day earlier? Think it would be a great idea!

 

Don't see how 1 extra day would work if you're doing both boys and girls the same week. Right now girls would be M - W - F and boys T - TH - S. You'd still have the problem of 8 games on one day if you add just 1 day.

What if....

 

Split the state in half. 8 regions in each half.

 

4 opening round games in Western KY and 4 opening round games in Eastern/NKY. Sites like WKU and NKU for opening games. Teams would play against teams from their area in opening games. IMO larger crowds with less travel. It doesn't have to be perfect east/west. You could split up the Louisville Regions if you wanted.

 

Play Girls on Monday (4 at each site) and Boys on Tuesday (4 at each site). Then play the Semi and Finals at Rupp (Girls W - F and Boys TH - Sat).

 

Everything gets done in a week and opening rounds have some "regional" significance.

It could work out just like the Class A does.

It could work out just like the Class A does.

 

Not going to happen

The only state that I know of that does its state tournament the same week for boys and girls is Missouri. However, they also have classes for basketball just like football. It would have to change from a Sweet Sixteen setup to a Final Four setup, whether it is played in Lexington or Louisville and whether it goes to classes or not. The idea of splitting the state into two separate sections for the opening round of the state tournament or playing four sectional tournament involving the four regional winners in each section. For example, regions 1-4 could have their tournament at site like WKU, Murray, Hopkinsville, etc. The sectional semifinals for both boys and girls can be on Friday and the sectional finals can be on Saturday. The state final four for both boys and girls will be on the following Friday in Lexington or Louisville with a state final doubleheader on Saturday night. This will save on travel expenses, as well as reduce days of school to be missed.

What if....

 

Split the state in half. 8 regions in each half.

 

4 opening round games in Western KY and 4 opening round games in Eastern/NKY. Sites like WKU and NKU for opening games. Teams would play against teams from their area in opening games. IMO larger crowds with less travel. It doesn't have to be perfect east/west. You could split up the Louisville Regions if you wanted.

 

Play Girls on Monday (4 at each site) and Boys on Tuesday (4 at each site). Then play the Semi and Finals at Rupp (Girls W - F and Boys TH - Sat).

 

Everything gets done in a week and opening rounds have some "regional" significance.

 

The KHSAA thinks it's important to keep the title "Sweet Sixteen" so I like the 8 boys and 8 girls.

 

And like the games at NKU, WKU.