Is the Kentucky Sweet Sixteen the best high school tournament in the country, as John Erardi thinks?

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/COL19/803130370/1156/COL19

 

And is it the best because it is a single tournament, in a single venue, that crowns a single champion, a true "state championship".

With out a doubt. I mean where else will you get 20,000 people together to watch a high school basketball game. Especially if only about 5,000 or 6,000 are actual fans of the participating schools. Indiana used to get 30,000 plus in the late 80s and early 90s. I would be curious if they get that now.

Unless someone on here has seen all 50, I don't know how anyone could know for sure.

I think Kentucky is one of the only states who doesn't have "Class or Division" state champions and crowns one single champion, so I'd have to say it definetly ranks up toward the top.

I think Kentucky is one of the only states who doesn't have "Class or Division" state champions and crowns one single champion, so I'd have to say it definetly ranks up toward the top.

And I hope it stays that way.

And I hope it stays that way.

 

Same here. That would make being KY State Champs less elusive and special as it is today.

 

I also think the attendance for the state tournament games would go down as well.

Erardi's column in the Enquirer says Kentucky and Delaware are the only "non-classified" states. Anyone ever seen the Delaware state tournament? Are there any other states that have all of the games played at a single site?

Hawaii

The Sweet Sixteen is definetely the best HS tourney, can't match it's atmosphere anywhere else.

It's a little bittersweet to me to be moving to NKU. I'm very excited, after all these years, to take the tournament to a bigger stage. It feels like the 9th Region fan is being rewarded for all the years of working hard at getting a good seat by showing up early and being patient with the clearing of the gym at the Semi's. I also think it'll be a big help to the teams to play in that atmosphere to prepare them for Rupp Arena. I have many great memories of exciting packed 9th Region Finals at Holmes, Conner or Ryle that will be hard to replace and hope that this new era brings on just as many great memories in the future, however different. Who knows? Some folks who might've forgotten how awesome 9th Region Basketball can be just might be sparked into catching the fever again and help fill up the new arena at tournament time. Let's hope so. If the numbers don't add up, I guess we can always go back to the way it's always been, which wouldn't be so bad. One thing's for certain is there will always be great 9th Region B-Ball action in the future no matter where they hold it. :thumb:

The Sweet Sixteen is definetely the best HS tourney, can't match it's atmosphere anywhere else.

How does Kentucky compare to Texas and California?

It's the greatest show on Earth!

I agree with The Scribe- I don't think that any of us is anyone near being qualified to answer this question. And I doubt that John Erardi is either.

I just finished watching the Ohio state tournament in Columbus and they play 4 different divisions. It was exciting as there are alot more schools in Ohio than Kentucky. Having said that, I think the way KY does it is the only way to have a true state champion. I meam for example Chillicothe won the Division 2 championship and they think they are better than the division 1 champion Newerk. We will never know. Keep your way of crowning a true champion! I cannot imagine any other being as exciting!

Do the other states have their games in the middle of the day allowing school administrators/coaches to get several days away from school at the expense of the school? I would guess there is alot more networking and catching up with old buddies than actual game watching. Otherwise, why would you go to the games through the week and then not attend the weekend games? I'm sure this is not always the case, but alot of the time it is.