Could a change in the MHSAA State Basketball Tournament be coming soon?
Maybe so.
Talked to several coaches today who met today at the MHSAA office to listen to a proposal for possible changes in the State Tournament basketball format. The changes wouldn’t apply to the upcoming season, but could go into effect as early as the 2012-’13 season if approved.
Here are some of the main changes. I’ll explain some of the details below (at least as much as I can based on the proposal that I received via email).
— Separating the girls and boys state tournaments.
— Allowing four teams from the North and four from the South to advance to the State Tournament (Currently, two teams from the North and South advance)
— Playing the 8-team State Tournament over three days — quarterfinals,semifinals, championships. (Much like college conference tournaments)
— Playing part of the State Tournament (Class 1A and 2A) in Tupelo at BanCorp South Arena
Called a few coaches tonight to get their thoughts. Here’s what some of them had to say. I’ll add more as I contact more.
Hattiesburg’s boys coach Ernie Watson:
“I like everything about it,” said Watson. “I think it will be a great asset to the state of Mississippi. You are going to have your best teams getting there. It gets a lot of the politics out of it with who is hosting tournaments. Now winning the division tournaments means something. The format makes it a real tournament. You want to be hot and playing well. You don’t want to stop playing. The system we have been playing with was a dinosaur. If you want to make changes, you have to be willing to make sacrifices.
Wayne County boys coach Ron Norman:
I like the new wrinkles. You take care of your business and you play at home. It takes away that bidding for North and South half. Everything is decided on the floor. I think it’s really going to take off. The traditionalist who like to go to the Jackson won’t care where they are if they win that gold ball.
Scott Central girls coach Chad Harrison
“Honestly, I wish that it would go back to taking three teams from the North and South. What the MHSAA wants is more participation in the tournament. The way to have more participation is to have two venues, so I’m open minded to it. It’s a good chance it’ll be run better in Tupelo than the one in Jackson. There are still a lot of question marks, but we are all willing to wade our way through it.”
Here’s a brief synopsis of how teams would advance to state, according to the proposal.
When and Where
The Class 1A and 2A (Girls and Boys) would play their State Tournament in Tupelo at BanCorp South Arena.
While that tournament is being played in Tupelo, Class 3A,4A, 5A and 6A (GIRLS ONLY) would play their State Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum.
The following week, the Class 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A State Tournament (BOYS ONLY) would be played at the Mississippi Coliseum over three days.
How to get to State
There would be no more North and South State sites and every game after division tournament would be an elimination game.
In 1A,2A,3A, and 4A schools
Top four teams from division tournament advance to next round. (same as it is now, with 16 teams from North and 16 from the South)
First round (Total of 16 teams from North and 16 teams from the South)
#1 seed from a region would host a #4 seed from another region in an elimination game
#2 seed from a region would host a #3 seed from another region in an elimination game
Second round (Total of 8 teams left from North and 8 teams left from South)
Higher seed hosts in an elimination game
Winners advance to State Tournament (4 from North, 4 from South)
Class 5A and 6A
Top three teams from division tournament advance. (Currently, just two teams advance).
The No. 1 seed would get a bye
First Round (12 from North, 12 from South remaining)
#2 seed hosts #3 seed from another region in an elimination game
Second round (8 from North, 8 from South remaining)
No. 1 seed, which earned a bye, will host winners from first round game in an elimination game.
Winners advance to State Tournament
Thoughts?