SB1976

Those Cheatham teams (with Saunders, Darden, etc.) were really good. They had some bad luck in the post season. I did some research and the districts have been playing each other under the current format since the 2009-2010 season. There have been changes here and there (Cheatham entering 9AA, CPA leaving 10AA, etc.), but the core group of each district has remained more or less constant. It turns out that the only year 10AA didn't win a majority of games in the region was 2013-2014 when the districts split their 4 games in region.

When is the last time 9AA won a majority of games over 10AA?

It's more than the football program - Lipscomb needs a new athletic administration. It has been going downhill for a number of years. The choices of coaches recently have been abysmal. Unfortunately, leadership doesn't seem to care all that much.

For what it's worth unapproved website ranks the top 10 as: 1. East 2. BA 3. HH 4. Oak Ridge 5. McCallie 6. Southwind 7. Ensworth 8. Blackman 9. Christian Brothers 10. Summit Seems like there is a consensus on the top 4 in the state. After that, probably a lot of room for debate.

Well, at least 9AA won a game this year. Some years they get swept. There are no good teams in the district other than WHH and they won't go any further. 10AA is the strongest AA district in the state this year (at the top).

Not sure about that move. TCU is horrible. Worst team in the conference year after year. Maybe the new coach can get them out of the cellar.

Man, tough crowd in here today. To be clear, I am not associated with Lipscomb at all. I do not have a "dog in this hunt" whatsoever. Any references to "we" should be directed to someone else. I just happen to be quite familiar with the program (as I am with a few other programs in the area, such as Goodpasture) due to community relationships, and relationships with a few of the coaches. It is correct to say that the situation at Lipscomb did not occur overnight. That is a large part of the problem. Over the last 5-6 years, there have been more than a handful of players - really good athletes - guys who excelled on the football field, on the AAU circuit, etc. - who would have really helped Lipscomb, or could have helped them in the future. For whatever reason - maybe they didn't fit the strict Lipscomb "system" - they are no longer in the program. So, to say that they don't have the talent is telling only half the story. Regardless, a good coach can turn around a program even with talent limitations. When Sonn arrived at Goodpasture, they were a losing team. He took the same roster, with one additional transfer, and won immediately (in year 1 in AA and then in year 2 took them to State in A). Carlton Battle took a Whites Creek team that didn't win a single game the previous year and changed their culture, made them competitive in year 1 and took them to State in year 2. Other than Ruot, they are young and aren't that overly talented. There are countless other examples. As I said in a previous post, all it takes is the right leadership. Everything else, including talent, will fall into place.

I have to disagree about the Lipscomb job not being that good of a job any more. All it takes is the right leadership. If Adam Sonn can be successful at a peer school like Goodpasture (and GP has owned Lipscomb since he has been at Goodpasture), there's no reason that Lipscomb should not be a better program than GP. Lipscomb has fallen way behind CPA in most sports even though they do not have dissimilar student profiles. Nashville Christian has done very well the last 2 years with a former Lipscomb Academy coach. Obviously going D2 changes the dynamics of the situation, but who's to say that it won't change for the better. The Sanderson suggestion was based on the fact that he would have had the opportunity to coach one of his sons for a few years.

You would think that with the basketball success that the head of the school and the athletic director have enjoyed that they could identify and land a really good basketball coach - certainly better than what they've had the last few years. I think they should have tried to bring in Scott Sanderson after he left Lipscomb University after the 2013 season. He would have been a definite upgrade.

Tubby Smith is such a huge upgrade over Pastner from a coaching standpoint that he can probably afford to take a short term recruiting setback.

Why would he transfer and sit out a year?

AAA - Blackman - They've been to State something like 5 straight years. No reason to think that they won't be back. AA - Whites Creek

I think you can make a good case that the top 2 teams in each class are meeting in the finals (Cordova v. East, Brainerd v. Fulton and Mitchell v. BTW). That usually isn't the case. Should be a great day of basketball tomorrow.

I'll go with CAK, Fulton, Brainerd, Chatt Central, Maplewood, CPA, Westview and Fayette Ware. The field looks absolutely wide open this year.

WH better get a whole lot better if they expect to win 9AA, much less 3 straight times. Obviously, they aren't competitive with 10AA. Actually, none of the 9AA teams are other than Cheatham.

Creekwood never seemed to play this year at last year's level.

East Nashville (3 seed) is a possibility. This is not one of their best teams but there are no dominant teams in the section this year. There are any number of teams who could win the section. I wouldn't pick them to win the section, but it wouldn't shock me.

Cordova is definitely legit. Look for them to make it to State along with East/Germantown winner. Those teams are still the favorites but OR and Blackman are capable of winning it. Should be a good AAA tournament. A tournament looks good as well. AA tournament not as good as the last few years.

Oak Ridge or Blackman

I'm not sure who the best coach would be for Lipscomb, but it is past time for a replacement. Not sure why it took so much time to make a change. Current coach only had one decent team (2011-2012 team that advanced to sectionals) and 3 losing seasons out of 6 seasons. My Lipscomb friends say that the players who left the basketball program or sat on the bench or never came out for basketball due to the coach would have produced better squads than the teams Lipscomb produced over that period. They should not limit their search to coaches with a Church of Christ background and instead go out and simply find the best coach. It would be great to elevate the program again to compete with CPA especially if CPA decides to continue to not recruit their AAU all star players (apparently the case this year), or if both schools go to Division II. The Lipscomb/CPA rivalry was the best high school basketball atmosphere in the area and it would be great for both programs to resume it if both programs are conducted on a level playing field.

Somebody should tell Maddux that Blackwell is going to Oak Hill. He's still pumping up his recruiting.

As I said in an earlier post, Blackwell was the best AA player in the State this year, but McNeal had the best year of any AA player. Varnado is a beast (in the words of Blackwell) and hopefully gets some better offers coming off a great tournament performance. Blackwell showed great class in recognizing the excellent play of Varnado. Obviously, some real respect there. Blackwell's coach could learn a thing or two from his player and give a few props to Haywood the victor.

In AA I think Blackwell is the best player, but McNeal had the best season.

AA is not consistently stronger than AAA. Not even remotely close. This is the first year I can recall where there are several teams in AA who could make serious noise, or even win, AAA. Having said that, of the top 20 teams in the State this year, the vast majority are AAA and the best team in the State is Hamilton (a AAA team).

I'll go with CPA/Haywood winner v. Creekwood. I think CPA is probably the best "team", but Haywood is the most individually talented. Creekwood took it on the chin last week from CPA, but I have a feeling they would bounce back strong if they met in a rematch. Not that familiar with Carter and Fulton, but it looks like they can play as well. As the original poster said, it is a pretty deep field - probably better than the last few years. I don't recall Blackwell and Varnado going at each other before. I think they actually played part of one season together for the Nashville Celtics, but don't think Team Thad (Varnado) played Atlanta Celtics (Blackwell). Won't be able to see their matchup if it occurs - would be a good one.