[Hoot Gibson]

Let's just skip the regular season and go straight to the playoffs then since everyone should qualify. Regular season is pointless if everyone makes it. I'm sure the 0-10 teams couldn't wait to play their undefeated #1 seeds in the first round of the playoffs.

I know that you are being sarcastic, but I am going to give you a serious response. The purpose of the regular season games is to gain experience, sharpen fundamental skills through competition, and to prepare for the playoffs. Without the need to "qualify" for playoffs, then schools are rewarded for playing strong, challenging schedules that prepare them for the playoffs. The system works great in Indiana.

In contrast, you have Ohio' playoff system, which encourages teams to schedule weak teams that they think they will defeat, but teams that will win games against weaker competition and earn them "Harbin points," which qualify them for the playoffs. That is why so many strong Ohio teams schedule northern Kentucky teams that rack up wins against weak regular season competition.

If the purpose of the playoffs is to determine the best teams in each class, then how does allowing all teams into the playoffs undermine that objective? Don't bother answering, that is what is known as a rhetorical question, the answer to which is obvious to all but the most obtuse.

As I said, the purpose of the regular season is to prepare for the playoffs by teaching fundamentals and teamwork and developing depth at every position. When you make the playoffs an elitist event, then you discourage coaches from taking chances by substituting a little bit too early to allow promising players to perform in pressure situations.

A team's focus during the season should not be on making the playoffs, it should be advancing to the second round and beyond.