bigbird

So, Regions 7 and 8 are west TN teams, 5 and 6 are middle TN teams? Which leaves four regions that make up the east?

I am not really sure how you figure that Temple would only be a .500 team in other districts? Tennessee Temple and Grace Baptist are the only two teams in the state tournament who are from the same district (not to mention the obvious that they are the only two teams even from the same region). If other districts were so tough, then why aren't there more teams from the same district at the tourney? Just curious. Region 7 and 8 are tough regions to play out of, I am sure, but not any tougher than ours. As far as I can tell you only have a few teams from those regions emerging to play at the tourney on a consistent basis.

/roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

That is good because I really believe that Manassas will win against Humboldt. The last time they met Manassas won by close to twenty and of course I realize that was last year. When you look at their schedules, Manassas played a distinctly more difficult schedule than Humboldt and only has two losses. When you compare how they did during the regular season just against district foes, they were neck and neck on average points scored and points allowed against opponents. Grace's numbers are a little deceiving because you guys have played good ball all season long but have just recently started playing exceptional ball. Tell the truth, would you not like to see a Grace/Temple finals?

Assuming you guys win tomorrow, who would you rather play in the semis, Humboldt or Manassas?

The thing that is interesting the way this draw came out is that you have two west teams and two east teams on each side of the bracket. 7 plays 8, 2 plays 3, 3 plays 1, and 5 plays 6. Unless I am mistaken, the first round pits all west teams against each other and the same with the east. You are still going to end up with west vs. east in the second round games.

Let's see... after the dust settles tomorrow, regardless of who wins, there will still be two west teams and two east teams heading to the semis. Is that right?

Temple played Knoxville Grace at the Crusader Classic and they are a good team. I would say that if Grace Baptist shows up and plays Wednesday morning they way they have been playing lately and Knoxville Grace has not improved (not likely), then GBA will probalby win by ten or more.

I am pretty sure that the thread would read something like "Grace vs. Temple: Who wins this one?" Most of the posters would have been congratulating the other for making it this far and talking about how great it is that they were the only two teams in the state who made it from the same district. (I am certain they would have discussed how they hate to have to play each other the first round). There certainly would have been some good natured poking going on. There would have been zero threads about how unfair it was and about how they need to change the way they do things.

Six teams worthy of hardware will go home empty handed.

Your solution does not solve the problem that everyone is talking about nor does it ensure that the best teams make it to the tournament or the finals. Two years ago Temple and CSAS, both region 3 teams, played for the title. Last year, Manassas and Union City played in the finals and they are adjoining regions. Do you really want to limit only one west team the opportunity to make it the finals?

You are right. Humboldt has the highest average points scored per game and lowest number of points given up. But Humboldt has also played a bunch of district and non district games against teams with losing records. I would say it is pretty easy to have those numbers when you are playing mostly muffins. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

Actually, the two best teams are Temple and Grace. Of all the teams at the tournament this year in class A, I am pretty sure that Temple is the only one with a state title, in fact they have three state titles and one runner up. Grace has two runner-ups. Temple last year was the only team in any class to return from the previous year's tournament, after winning the title. I may be wrong, but I think that Temple and Manassas are the only two teams this year returning in class A. Humboldt did not even make it to the tourney last year, and was put out the previous two years in the semis by Grace and Temple. I doubt seriously that Humboldt will make it past Manassas this year. Being undefeated is always very impressive but it is clear to anyone who takes the time to look that Humboldt had an easier path to the better record than Manassas did. The way it looks to me is that the state championship game will indeed be played on Saturday by which ever teams win their first two games.

Actually, a very good idea. I cannot say that I honestly have ever seen a double elimination tournament in basketball before, but it would make for some very exciting games, and would generate even more coveted revenue for the TSSAA. They could start the games earlier than ten in the morning and play later into the evening if they needed.

A good example of that is Grace Baptist. They have been loaded with talent the last three years and have struggled all season to play as a team. After their unbelievable loss to Silverdale Academy in double overtime (a loss that left everyone scratching their heads), they arose from the ashes and are a very different team. Temple went from beating them by about 15 or so in the first match up to losing the next three games. Grace is by far the most dangerous team at state. You Humboldt and Manassas folks really out to be spending more time worrying about beating Grace. While you are still high fiving each other, Grace is going to slip past you to the finals.

Walker Valley is the real deal! If Temple had not scored a season high 16 threes in that HOF game, we would have been blown away instead of only losing 96-92.

Having watched the 2006 team play and now the 2009 team play, I would agree.

I think that Temple and Grace Baptist are the only two teams from the same region, actually, they are even from the same district.

So why all the fluff?

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last two times these teams met, Humboldt got a beat down by Manassass. Let me go out on a limb here and predict that this game will be fun to watch but not nearly as exciting as some would lead us to believe.

It is poetic justice, actually.

Manassas Grace Baptist Temple Clarksville Grace Baptist Temple Temple

Those were the strength/success rankings. I was only looking at the strength of schedule rankings. It does not really mean much to me to have great success over mostly muffin teams.

I see. Of course, most people in our region realize that matters not. In 2006, Grace lost the district championship and went on to finish runner up at the state. In 2007, CSAS lost the region championship and went on to finish runner up. In 2008, Temple won the district and the region championship and was put out in the first round of the tournament. I do not know what it looks like for other districts and regions.

There is no good way to order the teams where everyone will be happy. Because most of these teams do not play each other during the season and do not play similar teams, the blind draw is the most fair way to do it. The only other thing that I think they could do is make sure that teams from adjoining regions do not play each other in the first round, like Manassas and Humboldt. To do it any other way allows way too much speculation and personal interest to become involved. There are no bad teams in the bracket. As far as standings go Temple certainly did land in the easier side of the bracket but every team still has to bounce the ball down the court and put it in the basket and try to keep the other team from doing the same. I may be mistaken, but I believe one year, Temple went to the state with an undefeated record or one loss, was ranked #1 or #2 in the state and was put out in the first round. One year, Temple was the underdog, the weaker team in the tournament, and beat a very good Ezell team for the title. It is anyone's game.