A lot of great tournaments coming up, which one do you think is the best? Marshell County Hoopfest, King of the Bluegrass, Ashland Invitational etc.

Hoop fest is not a tournament but a festival of basketball. It is a shootout.

Some of these tournaments such as The King of the Bluegrass some years has better teams than the state tournament because several teams are real good and from the same regions especially the Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky where only one can make the state tournament.

I haven't attended any in a while but the Lloyd Invitational.. It certainly appears, though, that the KOB has the best teams.

 

 

A good competitive tournament is good , as long as the teams as stated, are similar in talent and ability. I enjoy good games regardless of the talent levels.

 

The State Tournament is the one and done thing and you go home , the season is over. It also carries a certain mystique and aura with it. Plus the fact that it is representative of the state as a whole. That puts it in the different category as your intro alludes.

As you mentioned the state tournament is the ultimate goal for any team in Ky. Most years the KOB is the toughest to win.

Best tournament "besides" the Sweet 16? I'd say the Sweet 16 is at LEAST a distant 2nd to the KOB, and maybe behind some others as well. Sure, a state tournament championship is the ultimate goal for any team and you can't get that in the KOB, LIT, Lex Cath tourney, etc. But as far as matchups and quality of games, there are a LOT of snoozers in the state tournament most every year, lets face it. It's just how it is.

The Regional Tournament in the 7th Region is often as good if not better than many State Tournaments as it pits teams that know each other well and normally has the best basketball in the state competing.