How many times have you stepped back and actually questioned something in sports, work, or life? How many times have you asked “Why do we do it that way,” and the response is “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it.” While I am one who has always appreciated history and tradition, I am also the guy always asking why, or is there a better way? If there is a better option to do something present-day why should we penalize ourselves simply because the current practice is “how it’s always been done?” There have been many instances in sports where leagues have evolved with the times, and other situations where they have not (should we start the BCS/Playoff debate). Free agency in professional sports allowed players the opportunity shop their services for the best price, the wild card round in MLB added new excitement to the MLB Playoffs, and the addition of a 65th team to the NCAA Hoops tourney has changed my life dramatically (attempt at humor).

With all of this in mind, a recent topic on the Sporting Times Radio Show was the question of, “Should we change the current format of the District Tournament in the state of Kentucky?” I for one am not a huge fan of the current arrangement given it places more emphasis on the first round than actually winning the district tournament, however I realize I am probably in the minority on this, and deservedly so. So to get an understanding of why I was in the wrong I reached out to a high school coach in the area and asked him, “Why is the District Tournament still set up this way?” His response “Because that’s the way it’s always been done.”

One of the things I love most about high school basketball in the Commonwealth is the excitement of the single class format and the drive for the Sweet 16. The chance to be known as a true State Champ and not one of four or five. The opportunity for the little guys to square off with the big boys, the very premise of the movie Hoosiers, which most high school hoops fans have come to love, and small school teams dream to be. High School basketball playoffs in the state of Kentucky are sacred, the fans passionate, and the players become heros! The culmination of the Kentucky State Basketball Tournament is everything right about prep sports, so this is in no a criticism of the overall body of work, but rather a critique of one area.

The issue is simple, and the solution not overly complex. Any tournament that only includes a handful of teams, and puts more emphasis on the first round than the Championship game makes ZERO sense. In the current format for Region 4, the winner of the first round in the District Tournament is guaranteed a spot in the Region Tournament, thus relegating the District Championship to nothing more than a chance to win the “small trophy.” And these are not just my opinions but rather the opinions of some of the top coaches in Region 4. (See the 2/27 edition of PST radio in the podcenter). Additionally the system rewards teams that have accomplished little all year, but get hot enough to win one game, with a trip to the Region Tournament, and penalizes teams in districts that go more than two deep in talent. Case in point Greenwood in District 14.

The Gators who currently hold the 3rd best record in the region and have defeated district champion’s Russell County, ACS (twice), and Russellville, will not play in the Region Tournament because they are in a district that includes arguably two of the best teams in the sate, Bowling Green and Warren Central. Obviously Greeenwood could have taken matters into their own hands with a victory over Bowling Green last Thursday, but even if they had defeated Bowling Green I would make the same case for the Purples. First round upsets happen all the time, it’s the fabric of tournament hoops, but it shouldn’t happen between two of the best teams in the bracket. In this scenario the system failed, not Greenwood.

While I am self-admittedly the guy always asking why, I am also the one who says don’t complain if you don’t have a solution. In this case the solution is simple. Two, eight-team districts, two District Tournaments (not four), with the winner of each facing off for the Region Championship. No more losing the District Championship but winning the Region Championship. No more winning five games all year and making it to the Region Tournament. And lastly no more first-round district match-ups between the 1st and 3rd winningest teams in the region. Recognizing the sensitivity and need to have some of these games played in a bigger venu (as reward for the players, coaches, and fans), play the 2 District Championship Games and the Region Championship game at Diddle Arena (similar to the NCAA Final 4 format), three games very deserving of such an opportunity.