But you don't mess with history. It's the way it's always been done and it's what makes the Sweet 16 so great.

 

I'll keep going back to 1980 to remind everyone what this format can do to deprive people of the best possible matchups and a true state champion. In 1980 the Dicky Beal led Holmes team drew the last game on Thursday night which meant if they won they would play the last game on Friday night and the 2nd game on Saturday morning and then Saturday night, (4 games in approximately 48 hours). Holmes won the opening round game and was scheduled to play Friday night against Ashland Paul Blazer due to start around 8:00pm. Because of cheerleading awards and such that occurred between games the game didn't get started until around 9:00pm. The game went to 3 OTs and wasn't over until around 11:30. Per Reynolds Flynn the Holmes team didn't get on the bus until well after midnight and then unfortunately sat in traffic due to a traffic accident until around 2:30am. He said that by the time he got the team fed and into bed it was almost 4:00am. They had to be up at 8:00am to get the kids ready to face Owensboro the #1 rated team in the state at 11:30am. This was the game that everyone in the state said would produce the state champion and everyone thought it would be a tremendous game to watch. The arena that morning was electric but the Holmes kids were no match for Owensboro who was better rested and more able to produce the kind of play that would lead them to the championship later that night.

 

Now I know that there were some unfortunate circumstances that led to this happening and there have been some changes made to the awards ceremonies and such to try to keep games on schedule but it still makes it awful tough for teams to play this schedule. I love the way the Ky. state tournament is played and hope they never change it to a class system but I would love to see some changes made so that the kids only play 1 game per day and are always able to give their best showings. I have seen many, many championship games that were played under a slow pace due only to the fact that the kids were not able to play the up and down tempo game that so many of us love to watch.

I'll keep going back to 1980 to remind everyone what this format can do to deprive people of the best possible matchups and a true state champion. In 1980 the Dicky Beal led Holmes team drew the last game on Thursday night which meant if they won they would play the last game on Friday night and the 2nd game on Saturday morning and then Saturday night, (4 games in approximately 48 hours). Holmes won the opening round game and was scheduled to play Friday night against Ashland Paul Blazer due to start around 8:00pm. Because of cheerleading awards and such that occurred between games the game didn't get started until around 9:00pm. The game went to 3 OTs and wasn't over until around 11:30. Per Reynolds Flynn the Holmes team didn't get on the bus until well after midnight and then unfortunately sat in traffic due to a traffic accident until around 2:30am. He said that by the time he got the team fed and into bed it was almost 4:00am. They had to be up at 8:00am to get the kids ready to face Owensboro the #1 rated team in the state at 11:30am. This was the game that everyone in the state said would produce the state champion and everyone thought it would be a tremendous game to watch. The arena that morning was electric but the Holmes kids were no match for Owensboro who was better rested and more able to produce the kind of play that would lead them to the championship later that night.

 

Now I know that there were some unfortunate circumstances that led to this happening and there have been some changes made to the awards ceremonies and such to try to keep games on schedule but it still makes it awful tough for teams to play this schedule. I love the way the Ky. state tournament is played and hope they never change it to a class system but I would love to see some changes made so that the kids only play 1 game per day and are always able to give their best showings. I have seen many, many championship games that were played under a slow pace due only to the fact that the kids were not able to play the up and down tempo game that so many of us love to watch.

 

Same here, would love to see the game Sunday afternoon, or start a day earlier if possible and end on Saturday.

Same here, would love to see the game Sunday afternoon, or start a day earlier if possible and end on Saturday.

 

 

At the Sweet 16, they believe that Tradition Never Graduates:popcorn:

I'll keep going back to 1980 to remind everyone what this format can do to deprive people of the best possible matchups and a true state champion. In 1980 the Dicky Beal led Holmes team drew the last game on Thursday night which meant if they won they would play the last game on Friday night and the 2nd game on Saturday morning and then Saturday night, (4 games in approximately 48 hours). Holmes won the opening round game and was scheduled to play Friday night against Ashland Paul Blazer due to start around 8:00pm. Because of cheerleading awards and such that occurred between games the game didn't get started until around 9:00pm. The game went to 3 OTs and wasn't over until around 11:30. Per Reynolds Flynn the Holmes team didn't get on the bus until well after midnight and then unfortunately sat in traffic due to a traffic accident until around 2:30am. He said that by the time he got the team fed and into bed it was almost 4:00am. They had to be up at 8:00am to get the kids ready to face Owensboro the #1 rated team in the state at 11:30am. This was the game that everyone in the state said would produce the state champion and everyone thought it would be a tremendous game to watch. The arena that morning was electric but the Holmes kids were no match for Owensboro who was better rested and more able to produce the kind of play that would lead them to the championship later that night.

 

Now I know that there were some unfortunate circumstances that led to this happening and there have been some changes made to the awards ceremonies and such to try to keep games on schedule but it still makes it awful tough for teams to play this schedule. I love the way the Ky. state tournament is played and hope they never change it to a class system but I would love to see some changes made so that the kids only play 1 game per day and are always able to give their best showings. I have seen many, many championship games that were played under a slow pace due only to the fact that the kids were not able to play the up and down tempo game that so many of us love to watch.

My post was using the sarcastic font.

 

Everyone goes on and on about how the Sweet 16 is the greatest thing since Naismith hoisted a leather ball into a peach basket for the first time. Tradition. History. Uniqueness. Etc.

 

Yet, every year when the Sweet 16 region matchups are announced, there are people who don't like the setup, the potential matchups, or the schedule.

 

The warts come with the frog. You either like the current format that has been used for over 60 years or you feel it's time to change some things. But if you are in the latter, don't drape yourself in the cloth of history and tradition when it comes time to strike down classed basketball.

 

Either keep the format the way it is, or go to classed basketball. But don't preach about how great the current system is because of its history and tradition while at the same time drafting up ways to change the current format. It would be like bricking the Washington Monument.

But you don't mess with history. It's the way it's always been done and it's what makes the Sweet 16 so great.

 

Can't disagree. The only negative is that the setup makes it VERY likely that the top teams in the state don't win as often as they should because of the blind draws and the tougher road it causes and the possibility of too many games in too short a time span!

 

I cite last year as an example as IMO, a rested Ballard wins the championship game 8-9/10 times against Shelby Valley.

 

As stated above, that's what makes it the event that it is!

My post was using the sarcastic font.

 

Everyone goes on and on about how the Sweet 16 is the greatest thing since Naismith hoisted a leather ball into a peach basket for the first time. Tradition. History. Uniqueness. Etc.

 

Yet, every year when the Sweet 16 region matchups are announced, there are people who don't like the setup, the potential matchups, or the schedule.

 

The warts come with the frog. You either like the current format that has been used for over 60 years or you feel it's time to change some things. But if you are in the latter, don't drape yourself in the cloth of history and tradition when it comes time to strike down classed basketball.

 

Either keep the format the way it is, or go to classed basketball. But don't preach about how great the current system is because of its history and tradition while at the same time drafting up ways to change the current format. It would be like bricking the Washington Monument.

 

I think it is time to look at the format and maybe tweak it but I for one would lose interest in a 6 class tournament for basketball. Imo if the KHSAA thought they could increase revenue significantly they would have done it years ago and make it like football. I would like to see them recognize the all "A" as the small teams in most years have little chance of beating the Louisville and Lexington teams the way it is laid out today.

Anyone care to guess the last time a school with under 500 enrollment in grades 9-12 made the Sweet 16 Finals? Won the Sweet 16?

Anyone care to guess the last time a school with under 500 enrollment in grades 9-12 made the Sweet 16 Finals? Won the Sweet 16?

Paintsville, 1996 ... and then was beaten in the finals in 1998. University Heights won in 1992.

 

Shelby Valley was in the 500s last year, I believe.

Anyone care to guess the last time a school with under 500 enrollment in grades 9-12 made the Sweet 16 Finals? Won the Sweet 16?

 

Do you want everyone to get a trophy? If you make classes, whenever that DOES happen, it'll take the special moment part out of it.

Do you want everyone to get a trophy? If you make classes, whenever that DOES happen, it'll take the special moment part out of it.

Says the person with 1,662 students in their high school.

 

It's not about giving everyone a trophy. It's about making the playing field a little more equitable.

Do you want everyone to get a trophy? If you make classes, whenever that DOES happen, it'll take the special moment part out of it.

Have you ever attended an All-A Classic state title game?

Have you ever attended an All-A Classic state title game?

 

I watched Shelby Valley play Elliot Co a few years back, but I don't believe that was the title game.

I watched Shelby Valley play Elliot Co a few years back, but I don't believe that was the title game.

I would like for you to attend the state title game this year and wait until the game is over. When the team and coaches are getting their picture made with the trophy, walk up to them and ask them if they consider it a REAL state championship trophy. Ask them in March if they feel like their season has been cheapened because they won the All-A state title but not the Sweet 16 title.

I would like for you to attend the state title game this year and wait until the game is over. When the team and coaches are getting their picture made with the trophy, walk up to them and ask them if they consider it a REAL state championship trophy. Ask them in March if they feel like their season has been cheapened because they won the All-A state title but not the Sweet 16 title.

 

 

I don't see your point? Although you did bring up a good point, with the All-A classic. They do have this in place for the so called "small schools" where they have a chance to win a title. Why have classes for something that already has a solution in the All-A and the Sweet 16 is working just fine the way it is?

I watched Shelby Valley play Elliot Co a few years back, but I don't believe that was the title game.

It was a semifinal game. They later met in the quarterfinals of the Sweet 16.