I see no benefits to the random draw, and the ole “it’s how it’s always been done” certainly doesn’t appeal to me.

If you are in a region that traditionally has success in the tourney, you wanted it seeded. If you are in a region that traditionally struggles, you want a blind draw.

 

I do think you should try to have your best teams playing in the finals. How about a hybrid method where the top 4 RPI teams each get placed in separate quadrants and blind draw the remaining 12 slots?

I absolutely hate the idea. We seem to be getting caught up in this "it's just not fair that the 7th and the 11th drew each other in the first round" kind of mantra we hear from time to time.

 

The reality is, that it is perfectly fair. Fair is when everyone has the same level playing field, and a blind draw is the epitome of fair. Is it a shame that the (allegedly) top 2 teams draw each other in the first round? Yes. But it does absolutely nothing to prevent the best team from winning the tournament.

The cream still rises to the top.

 

People will say I'm too sentimental about all this, but I'm getting really tired of changes "because the other states are doing it." I kind of like that Kentucky is unique. I like that Kentucky crowns one champion, instead of having four, five, or six "champions". To Kentuckians, basketball is serious stuff, and we know that it only takes 5-7 players who play well together to win a championship. It's been done before and it'll be done again. And I like the blind draw. It's part of the tradition, it's part of the mystique, and it's honestly part of the excitement the Sweet 16 generates.

 

I also am not real fond of the Riherds scoreboard practice of sorting the teams in each region by RPI....it's creating some really bizarre region standings....

 

High school is so different from college. I'm not opposed to the way the NCAA seeds its tournament. But I see high school a little differently...

 

CM

 

Totally agree with every word, if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

If you are in a region that traditionally has success in the tourney, you wanted it seeded. If you are in a region that traditionally struggles, you want a blind draw.

 

I do think you should try to have your best teams playing in the finals. How about a hybrid method where the top 4 RPI teams each get placed in separate quadrants and blind draw the remaining 12 slots?

 

Your first paragraph is spot on.

If you are in a region that traditionally has success in the tourney, you wanted it seeded. If you are in a region that traditionally struggles, you want a blind draw.

 

I do think you should try to have your best teams playing in the finals. How about a hybrid method where the top 4 RPI teams each get placed in separate quadrants and blind draw the remaining 12 slots?

 

I see your point, though I represent neither end of the spectrum....

I see no benefits to the random draw, and the ole “it’s how it’s always been done” certainly doesn’t appeal to me.

 

Fair enough opinion, but I can restate it the exact opposite way:

 

I see no benefits to seeding. If the "best" teams are truly the best, they'll still wind up playing on Sunday.

If you are in a region that traditionally has success in the tourney, you wanted it seeded. If you are in a region that traditionally struggles, you want a blind draw.

 

I do think you should try to have your best teams playing in the finals. How about a hybrid method where the top 4 RPI teams each get placed in separate quadrants and blind draw the remaining 12 slots?

 

I could EASILY go for a compromise suggestion like this if the KHSAA went the seeding route with RPI. As a fan, I'd love to see the best teams having the potential to clash in the finals which, theoretically, would help with attendance for the Sunday game.

Who was the last small public county school to win the state championship?

Who was the last small public county school to win the state championship?

 

Define small?

 

My guess is Shelby Valley is the last one to qualify. They were a 2A school in 2010 (as they are now) when they won it.

Define small?

 

No bigger than a 2A football school. They would have to qualify for the All A tourney.

Define small?

 

My guess is Shelby Valley is the last one to qualify. They were a 2A school in 2010 (as they are now) when they won it.

 

I looked and post 1970 I see Edmondson County in '76 and Paintsville in '96. It has been 24 years since a small school actually won. Kentucky doesn't need the rpi, we need classes to be fair. It takes 5-7 good players, but picking 5-7 boys out of a pool of 250 is not the same as picking 5-7 out of a pool of 1500-2000.

Who was the last small public county school to win the state championship?

 

How will seeding help the small school? I see it as possibility of sending them home earlier.

How will seeding help the small school? I see it as possibility of sending them home earlier.

 

You're probably right. I guess I just finally realized how no matter how you do it, the big or private schools are still at a heavy advantage. I just can't see why the smaller schools still support the "open class" system in basketball anymore. Surely they would have the votes to change it if they voted as a block.

You're probably right. I guess I just finally realized how no matter how you do it, the big or private schools are still at a heavy advantage. I just can't see why the smaller schools still support the "open class" system in basketball anymore. Surely they would have the votes to change it if they voted as a block.

 

I know it's been mentioned on this site before but I think if the All A Tournament hadn't arrived in 1990 that classes may have already been in place by now. I think the All A has kept the small schools happy and most are content with the KHSAA Sweet 16 concept in Kentucky. I believe there's only one other state that doesn't have classes in basketball, so our state is kind of unique in that aspect.

Fair enough opinion, but I can restate it the exact opposite way:

 

I see no benefits to seeding. If the "best" teams are truly the best, they'll still wind up playing on Sunday.

 

Unless they get matched up in the first round.