District Tourney's - draw vs. seeding?

[oldrambler]

I realize this topic has been discussed on here before but I thought that I would just put up a seperate thread on it due to some discussion on other (game) threads about it. What does everyone think, should the district tournaments be "seeded" or should they be on a "blind draw" basis for the first round matchups? I vote "blind draw", I'll put a poll on it and post my opinions later.

[Eta Rho]

I think seeding is the only way to go. What if a district has the top two teams in your respective region? If their district is a blind draw, they could potentially meet up in the first round which will automatically eliminate one of the two top teams from making the regional tournament which is honestly punishing them despite their hard work and success throughout the regular season.

 

IMO the only way to get the 8 best teams in the region tournament is to seed all districts. The small schools can complain all they want, but that's why they have the All "A" region and state tournament.

 

In the 9th, year in and year out, Holmes and Covcath are generally the two best teams and also in the same district. It would be unfair to both teams to use a blind draw to decide how their post season was going to play out. Let the teams EARN their way through the post season.

[highschoolsportsfan]

I am a fan of seeding. I think its the best way to get the 8 best teams to a regional tournament. But I also feel it is unfair for some districts to seed and other not. I would prefer the KH$AA step in and rule that either all districts seed or all districts use the blind draw.

 

Just my humble opinion on the matter.

[Ms Liberty]

Best teams go to Region.

[Big Slick]

If the KHSAA would mandate seeding, then you have the problem of how to determine the seeding.

[Plato]

I vote for seeding but I could live with either as long as the entire state did the same thing.

If they went to a manditory draw I would do away with districts altogether and draw for the first round of a huge regional tournament. Everyone in the region in the same pot; No district losers advance that way - just play it out. The entire season is just practice for the tournament.

My first choice however is seeding the districts. It just makes sense to me.

[Plato]

If the KHSAA would mandate seeding, then you have the problem of how to determine the seeding.

 

Not really, it's based on head to head competition. Pretty simple.

[dawgs83]

Seeding rewards teams that play well in the regular season and is the only fair way. Everyone gets to participate in the post season should be the reward or fairness for weaker teams

[DragonFire]

A blind draw makes playing district games pointless.

[oldrambler]

I voted blind draw although I can certainly understand the seeding argument and why. I have seen years where it really helped my favorite team and when in hurts them. I have also seen years (like this one in one paticular district) where all teams are pretty much even and some years in the far distant past where my favorite team was so bad that it really didn't matter in that any in the district would beat them :sssh::lol:.

 

I feel that my main reason/way of thinkng on it is that the State Tournament (sweet sixteen) is a blind draw in that what region plays another is on a draw and not seeded as to the rankings of each regions champion.

 

Individual regions are what I call a "partial" draw in that a district winner will always play a runner up in the first round and two teams from the same district would not play each other unless it was in the final. Other than the first round, it is basically imo a draw in that there are no region rankings/head to head seeds that would put 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, etc..

 

So with the Sweet Sixteen on a draw (what if the two best teams in the state play in the opening round of the state tourney?) and regions on a "partial draw" scenerio theh imo a district should be on a draw.

These are jmo and I fully realize I will be in an extreme minority, that is fine and I respect that and other views. I just wanted to throw it out there.:thumb:

[Plato]

The difference in the blind draw at the regional and state tournament level is that you cannot base the seeding on head to head competition. With only 4 or 5 teams in a district it is logical that all those teams can play head to head and determine who has earned a seed.

If it's not a seed based on head to head competition I am not for it. No rankings please.

[Eta Rho]

The difference in the blind draw at the regional and state tournament level is that you cannot base the seeding on head to head competition. With only 4 or 5 teams in a district it is logical that all those teams can play head to head and determine who has earned a seed.

If it's not a seed based on head to head competition I am not for it. No rankings please.

 

I agree.

 

The only thing I don't understand about the way some districts seed, is why each team plays twice to determine the seed. Using that set up, you then have to use formulas and point differentials just to determine a team's seed. I say play each team in your district head to head once and seed using that game.

[CincySportsFan]

The only thing I don't understand about the way some districts seed, is why each team plays twice to determine the seed. Using that set up, you then have to use formulas and point differentials just to determine a team's seed. I say play each team in your district head to head once and seed using that game.

 

I would think the main reason for "counting" both games, is that it takes away any home court advantage some teams would have. For example, if you have a 4 team district...Team A may play Teams B and C at home, while facing Team D on the road. Team B may get Team C at home, but have to play Teams A and D on the road. By using both home and home games in the calculation, both teams have had the advantage of hosting the other. This works whether you're in a 4 team district, or a 5 team district.

 

At the end, it's a simple matter of won-loss records. Some districts may have elaborate tie-breaker procedures...but most I know end up doing head to head first...and if there's still a tie...a coin-flip at that time. Sure, it's not perfect...but at least they had the opportunity to settle it on the court.

 

As to the topic in general...if you're going to just do a blind draw at tournament time...doesn't that mean the whole, entire regular season doesn't mean a darn thing? To me, that's not right. Kids that have worked hard and built a winning record deserve more than just having their name drawn out of a hat.

 

Too many years we've seen Shelby County and Anderson County knock one or the other out in the first round of their district, when it was clear to everyone they were the class of the district. The only reason??? A blind draw. It made for a blowout in the district finals, and some people shaking their heads when a 7-19 team makes it to the regional tournament maybe having won only 1 district game all year. Does that fairly and accurately portray the "best" teams?

 

And if you ARE a smaller, class A school that's in a district with at least one bigger perennial powerhouse...don't you want the one or two years you may have a good (if not great) team, the real chance to go to the regional tourney? Sure, you may be the clear #2 choice in your district, but at least you know you won't have your dreams crashed in the opening round of the district just because you drew Goliath again.

 

I would say most coaches of smaller schools would say, "give me a better draw when I've got a good team" than "let me roll the dice and take my chances because I've got a poor team".

 

And finally...while it may be impossible to seed the regional tournament...at least there is some accounting for that. Presumably since you are a district champion...you are better than the district runner-up (at least in theory, and barring any major upsets)...so as the champion, you get an "easier" first round game, by playing another district's runner-up. It's not a perfect situation...but again, they've had somewhat of a chance to determine their own fate.

[bigmarc78]

I say seeded. It makes the regular season games mean a little more

[AirYardGo]

I can see why people say "blind draw," but I would say seeding.