No thanks, Tennessee and Indiana may have done it...IMO long live the Sweet 16!

AMEN! Look what classes did to Indiana - it destroyed their playoffs. Districts and Regions would lose the excitement of all the fans when the teams have to travel greater distances to play teams in their "class". This would especially impact the larger rural schools...

 

And KY has had smaller champions in the not-so-distant past...Paintsville in 1996...Marion County in 1993...

I say leave it just like it is. Yeah what LBBC said makes sense mathmatically, but as Colonel Mike said it would destroy the uniquness of Kentucky HS basketball.

 

 

IF you split to 6 classes, you can't really use Football as a guideline. Thre are too many "A" schools that do not play football to group them in with schools that do. Give me some time to hammer out the details.

Edited October 24, 200817 yr by polarbear1994

The way I see schools splitting up would put 48 schools in each class. that would make for 8 districts of 6 teams. For example:

 

In 4A there would be a district of: Mason, Bourbon, Fleming, Lewis, Russell, and West Carter.

 

In 2A we would have a mess. Bracken Co. is far pretty far away from enough schools to make a district ( much like thier football). There are 6 schools in NKY that would be 2A.

 

Travel would be a disaster in postseason play especially.

When Harlan won the Class A twice in the mid 90's it was as strong as the Sweet 16. You had Harlan, Lex. Cath and UHA all top 5 teams in the state.

 

Plus Covington Holy Cross. (One year I think 2005) the final 4 of the All A had 4 teams in the top 5. I think though in 2005 either one or none of those 4 made the state tourney.

State Champs...Ask any team or fan of that team & they will say state champs.

 

Regional All "A" titles are treated the same way.

"Any time you can get more parity in size of schools, it's a good idea,"

 

With that logic, let's have a class for every school that has a unique enrollment size. That way just about everybody can be a state champion.

 

We have almost done that with football. We really need are about 6 more classes in football so that each team's odds go from 1 in 30 to 1 in 15. Just think what we are doing to the self-esteem of the 1 or 2 teams in each class that currently don't make the playoffs. Better hope Dr Phil is on call!

Kentucky will never go to a class system in basketball, and that's just fine with me. I love it just the way it is, and I'm a fan of one of the smallest schools in the state...240 enrollment (and the only high school in the county). Our chance of ever winning the state title is slim to none. However, we were runner-up in the state All A Classic in 1990. That was a great experience. I think the All A is enough to satisfy the small schools. But the true champion is the winner at Rupp in March. The small schools have a chance to do a double, though. Hazard's girls pulled the trick in the late '90s.

 

The Sweet 16 is unique and a great experience. I wouldn't want to change to a watered down state championship system. I mean, if Tennessee has six state champions, who really is the true state champion?

 

Six is way too many(as we see now in football) but even 2 would be nice. There are small schools all over the place that have never even won their Region (and never will) much less win the state. Give them some hope anyway of getting to a state tournament.

Nooooooo!!!!

I've coached in both situations. I didn't really understand the magnitude of the difference until I was in the small school situation. If it was all about the kids it would be a no brainer to go to classes. However, as usual in most school decisions, it's not about the kids. That's the same reason we have county schools and not small schools. Bigger is not always better, unless you're talking about a school becoming dominate in competition. The number of kids that miss out on the experience of participating is a travesty. I've only touched on the tip of the sinking iceberg called public education.

Six is way too many(as we see now in football) but even 2 would be nice. There are small schools all over the place that have never even won their Region (and never will) much less win the state. Give them some hope anyway of getting to a state tournament.

 

You have two with the All "A" Classic.

The All A is not a KHSAA sanctioned event. IMO, it's like winning a holiday tournament, especially since it's in the middle of the season and there's no real 'win or go home' pressure.

 

I don't think there should be 3 or 4 classes. I think 2 would be enough, especially in the beginning. Again, the fact that Silver Grove is competing with Ryle to win the same state championship is a joke...

 

You've obviously not been involved in one of these if you think "it's like winning a holiday tournament"?? I've been to lots of both, and there is no comparison to any of the holiday tourneys I've seen and the All "A" State; in terms of intensity, fan support, enthusiam, etc.

 

Who cares if the organization that's given us more bafflingly inconsistant rulings than a politician's campaign promises, as well as a watered down six football champions out of a couple hundred participants; chooses to sanction the tourney.

 

I'm a big fan of the Sweet Sixteen, and also agree that the winner is the true state champion for the year; but let's not belittle the All "A" and the role it plays for the smaller schools, just because it wasn't created and sanctioned by some bureaucrats!!

If Kentucky goes to six classes, interest will go way down in post season play. The sweet 16 is indeed "The Greatest show on earth in hoops." It crowns one true state champion and that's how it should be. The All "A" is enough for the small schools. Many times two or three of those schools will make it to the sweet 16 anyways (4 last year: UHA, Bardstown, Hazard, Paintsville) so why water down the post season system by using classes? Having the 16 best teams from each region of the state is what makes the sweet 16 so special.

 

The KHSAA isn't too bright in some aspects, but they realize the revenue and interest that the Sweet 16 draws which is why you won't see KY go to a classification system for state championships in basketball.

If Kentucky goes to six classes, interest will go way down in post season play. The sweet 16 is indeed "The Greatest show on earth in hoops." It crowns one true state champion and that's how it should be. The All "A" is enough for the small schools. Many times two or three of those schools will make it to the sweet 16 anyways (4 last year: UHA, Bardstown, Hazard, Paintsville) so why water down the post season system by using classes? Having the 16 best teams from each region of the state is what makes the sweet 16 so special.

 

The KHSAA isn't too bright in some aspects, but they realize the revenue and interest that the Sweet 16 draws which is why you won't see KY go to a classification system for state championships in basketball.

 

I totally agree. :thumb:

 

All this talk about Kentucky possibly going to classification is just that....all talk.

 

The KHSAA will never go to classification in basketball.

I think it would be ok if they went to four divisons and had a champ of champions tournament afterward