[EKUAlum05]

Would love to see the teams seeded in the playoffs so you get the two best teams in the championship game. I know that is not possible with the regional titles but it would be nice.

Obviously geography prohibits seeding the entire state, but could you seed the Semi-States?

I am thinking a 24 team bracket

The field is composed of the top 2 finishing teams in each district, as well as each Semi-State having the top 4 remaining teams who finished either 3rd or 4th as determined by the same rating system used to determine the seeds. Each District Champ is seeded 1-4 in their Semi-State and awarded a First Round Bye. The remaining teams are seeded with no precedence according to if you finished 2nd or 4th. This would allow the District Champs to be rewarded, cut down the number of "non-deserving teams" and also be a failsafe for those 3 seeds who would be on the outside looking in due to a tiebreaker (ex: Cooper) if it were a 16 team playoff.

Just to play around with the idea let's take Class 3A and we will use the Cantrall ratings (even though I am not a fan of them) that were compiled before the First Round of the Playoffs:


1. Central
BYE

8. @Larue Co
9. South Warren

5. @ Paducah Tilghman
12. Adair Co

BYE
4. Monroe County




2. Bell County
BYE

7. @ Corbin
10. Trigg Co


6. @ Wayne Co
11. Edmonson Co

BYE
3. Ft. Campbell





EAST
1. Belfry
BYE

8. @ Russell
9. Lawrence Co


5. @ Garrard Co
12. Bath Co

BYE
4. Mason Co



2. Breathitt Co.
BYE

7. @ Sheldon Clark
10. Morgan Co


6. @ Pike Central
11. Fleming Co

BYE
3. Bourbon Co



This looks very good to me. The only blowouts I see are the Tilghman/Adair and Wayne/Edmonson games... whereas every East 1st Round game would be pretty even. Ultimately it probably would have been in the Final 8 being Monroe @ Central, Wayne Co. @ Bell, Mason Co @ Belfry, Bourbon Co @ Breathitt. 3/4 games would be very close.

You then make the Semi-Finals a neutral site on each side.

Bell vs. Central @ Warren Central HS
Breathitt vs. Belfry @ Morehead State.

I'll do one more to see if it looks as good. Give me a little and I will return with 5A.