Tennessee girls teams banned from post season for tanking

[WDEvol]

It works like this: top 4 teams from each district tournament advance to the regional tournament. Top seed from District 1 plays #4 team from District 2, and so forth. Then, the champion and runner-up from each regional tournament play in a sub-state game. Champion of Region 1 hosts runner-up from Region 2; R1 champ hosts R2 runner-up. Winner goes to Murfreesboro for the state tournament.

In this scenario, the top team in the district (Blackman) was the top team in the state. The No. 4 seed from the same district would not have to face Blackman until the regional final, if they made it that far. Then, even if they lost, they would get to play a sub-state game and still have a chance to get to the state tournament.

A team could theoretically lose three times in the postseason - district semifinal, district consolation game, regional championship game - and still win the state title. Perhaps this incident will cause the TSSAA to revisit the way they structure the basketball postseason. Problem is, the state makes way too much money off all these extra tournament games to change much of anything.

[crosscountry55]

I've worked in seven states and not one has had a similar playoff and seeding system. C'est la vie; you abide by the rules you're given.

I will say this: If TSSAA has a bylaw that states outright a determination of a team intentionally trying to lose is grounds for a post-season ban, then I'm all for that. This may have been the case here. If so, I'm ok with the result.

If not, they (and all state associations, for that matter) need to encode such a bylaw ASAP. That will stop this kind of thing.

Also, not to excuse the teams, but shame on TSSAA for having an established playoff seeding system that rewards a loser. Fix that. Winning should provide better seeding. Period. If that didn't happen here, shame on TSSAA.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Also, not to excuse the teams, but shame on TSSAA for having an established playoff seeding system that rewards a loser. Fix that. Winning should provide better seeding. Period. If that didn't happen here, shame on TSSAA.

I think any league that thinks a team won't expose a long-term benefit through losing is being naïve.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I think any league that thinks a team won't expose a long-term benefit through losing is being naive.

Draft choices. Wait? I'm being told ... What? Not the Knicks? High school? Never mind.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I think any league that thinks a team won't expose a long-term benefit through losing is being naïve.

I'm guessing it happens far more often than they think. They just don't notice because it never involved both teams doing it at the same time.