Change the system?

[tcs]

We may have had some ideas on this before, but I think it's time TSSAA changes its playoff system. The current system has many problems, chief among these:

 

1. A team can lose three games and make it to the state tournament. This rarely happens, but it's possible. The postseason would be more exciting if it had a "win-or-die" element to it.

2. Many teams are seeded directly into the region tournament since their districts have fewer than eight teams (some even have four teams, and all four are guaranteed a spot in the region tournament.) So these teams are playing two games that are essentially meaningless.

 

My idea is to seed teams directly into the region tournament and cut out the district tournament altogether. This would make the regular season a little more meaningful as well (those who don't finish in the top four in their district wouldn't play in the postseason.) Keep the sectional/sub-state game, though--this would allow two teams from the same region to go to state if both were deserving.

 

Comments and other ideas are welcome.

[gomab2]

Kentucky has a great system with no Classes........

 

Top 2 in each District advance to Region.......

 

Only the winner of the 16 Regions advance to the State, at Rupp Arena....... You have big schools and small schools all playing together with an amazing atmosphere...... Great excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PantherGam]

I agree wholeheartedly! The regular season now means nothing!

[bhsbaseball]

Indiana also once had this no class situation, thats the basis of the movie Hoosiers. I saw a special on ESPN about them changing to the class system and how so many people were upset about it. The main point was that it diluted the whole state championship experience. A state championship is something everyone should get to enjoy but you have to draw the line somewhere, you cant have 60% of athletes participating in a sport with a state champ(i know thats not the case). But the origional idea in this post sounds very good. I know we play Hardin Co. in the 1st game of region bc district13AAA has only 4 teams, and im not sure that team could have beaten most of the girls teams there!

[ac08]

the tssaa would never do that! they get money out of the tournament

[marcvols]

I've posted on this before and my opinion is that the TSSAA system stinks. Tournaments are supposed to be single elimination in basketball. The argument of $$ always comes up, but my point is that there is little growth in TN high school basketball now. Maybe changing the system would increase interest and therefore increase $$. Just a thought.

[Edited by marcvols on 3-9-03 8:04A]

[marcvols]

If the Tennessee system was the best way to run a tournament, don't you think that you would see this system implemented in a lot of states. I know that Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, West Virginia, and Alabama do things differently. I also know that these states are also interested in making MONEY.

[marcvols]

In the last several years, I believe that Bearden has made the state tourney with 3 losses; better yet, White Co. won a state championship over Columbia Central even though they had already lost 3 or 4 times to them. I'm sure there are other examples.

[uppercumberlandbb]

I would like to see (after the split) the A tournament, AA tournament, AAA tournament and private school tournament. Each would have a state champion. Then, have a Super State Tournament with the 4 state champions playing...A vs private, and AA vs AAA. The winners then play the super-final for the All Classifcation state championship (or just draw to see who plays who in the first round). This way there is one super state champion, but each of the 4 classifications still has a state champion. And there would be more money for TSSAA.

[fastpitch]

In 1957 Summertown Boys beat Perry County four times on their way to the State Tourn. Summertown lost their semi because of sickness and Perry County won theirs on the way to winning the State Tourn. By the way, both are only single A schools now but played against all competition then!

[Catalyst]

I think the main problem with the state tourney is (correct me if I am wrong) there is no distinguised way of pairing the first round matchups. Sometimes the two best teams play each other opening day and then it is a breeze for the winner. I know it would be tough to pair them differently, but surely there is a way.

[tcs]

That's a problem, but it's not the main problem. The postseason should be single elimination, no second chances.

 

I don't favor going back to a classless system, but maybe having two classes (plus private schools) instead of three.