As the high school basketball season dribbles to a conclusion, a few opinions:
- I’m a traditionalist, but after watching Scott County and Ballard hit the wall in Saturday night’s finals, I’m convinced it’s
time for the KHSAA to revamp the Sweet Sixteen schedule. Reduce the fatigue factor. Play the semifinals Saturday afternoon, and the finals Sunday afternoon. The All “A” Classic has played its title games on Sunday afternoon for years (often on Super Bowl Sunday), and nobody’s freaked out about it. The change in format would also spotlight the semifinal games, which are now completely overshadowed. The showdown between Scott County and Ballard for the championship would’ve only been better if the teams had had some time to rest and prepare for each other. - After No. 1 Scott County beat No. 2 Ballard 88-67 on Dec. 1, about 5,000 boys’ high school games were played in Kentucky over the next 113 days before No. 1 Scott County and No. 2 Ballard met again in the state finals. A lot of hoops for nothing, eh?
- The 11th Region should be the strongest in the state against next season. Scott County graduates star guard Matt Walls and defensive ace Jimmie Warren, but it returns Sweet Sixteen MVP Bud Mackey (shown above snipping the championship net), Jordan Lee, Cam Hundley and Tyler Portwood. That might be enough to make the Cards No. 1 in the pre-season polls. Bryan Station, Henry Clay, Lexington Catholic, Madison Central, Paul Dunbar and Tates Creek all might make the top 20.
- For individual star power, no region will match the 11th next season. How’s this for an all-star starting five: Shelvin Mack of Bryan Station and Bud Mackey of Scott County in the backcourt, with Aaron Morris of Madison Central, Victor Moses of Henry Clay and Nathan Novosel up front. Line ‘em up against the Indiana All-Stars in the summer of ‘08.
- Herald-Leader sports writer Jen Smith says girls’ state champ Lexington Christian Academy, which will return four starters, figures to be No. 1 next pre-season, and that district rival Lexington Catholic could be No. 2.
- Just about everybody agreed that the state finals (No. 1 Scott County vs. No. 2 Ballard) was a rare championship matchup of the two best boys’ teams in Kentucky. That’s happened two other times in the last 20 years that I can remember. Ballard vs. Clay County in 1988, and Fairdale vs. Tates Creek in 1991.
- This is nothing more than a guess: Steffphon Pettigrew of Elizabethtown will win Mr. Basketball; Rebecca Gray of Scott County will win Miss Basketball.
- If Southern Cal Coach Tim Floyd watched the McDonald’s All-American all-star game in Freedom Hall two nights ago, he’s surely wondering if he’s blessed or cursed that O.J. Mayo is headed his way. And do you think Patrick Patterson whispered to any of his all-star teammates: “See what I had to put up with for the last four months?” If Mayo turns out to be a headache, Floyd has an out: USC didn’t recruit O.J.; O.J. recruited USC.
March 31, 2007 at 4:43 am |
I absolutely agree with your idea of playing the Sweet Sixteen championship game on Sunday. I’ve always thought playing the semifinals on the same day was a bad format, especially with the semis being so early in the day. The semis often are great games, but they get lost in the shuffle. Plus, playing two games in one day gives an extra advantage to the team with more size and depth.
(A question: Any updates on what colleges are recruiting E-town’s Pettigrew.
March 31, 2007 at 6:04 pm |
Mike, Like you I’m a traditionalist also and have seen the last 27 Sweet Sixteens. And up until this year, I’ve supported the finals being on Saturday night. But I’ve changed my mind. We need the teams to be at their best and they are a little fatigued for the finals and the great semi’s that morning. I hope the powers that be can make a move to ensure that we get the “best” basketball for the finals.
April 9, 2007 at 6:54 pm |
I agree with playing the semifinals one day then the championship the next. I think if it would’ve been that way in past sweet 16’s, you could very well have had different outcomes in the championship games. Maybe start the opening first round day on Tuesday,then Wednesday, quarterfinals Thursday,semifinals Friday evening, and then the championship Saturday evening. Its such a great event that tweaking the schedule only makes it more fair for that lower bracket team.
July 21, 2007 at 8:10 pm |
if one of the Saturday morning games goes into overtime this would push the time closer to the final Saturday night game. If it happens to be the second game the fatique factor would not be very good for the team that has to play that night. Sunday would be an excellent way to draw maybe a larger crowd