If Virginia went one classification in basketball?

[BlueDevil4Life2008 35]

On the eve of the NCAA Tournament starting up... I began to think.  What would our state look like with a free for all in basketball?  

If Virginia went one classification for a 3 year cycle in basketball like Kentucky what would it look like?  It will never happen but why not dream a little bit. 

I decided to try my hand and see what Southwest Virginia might look like with one classification basketball.  The state divided up into 16 regions from 64 districts.  

If anything it gives Southwest Virginia at least two entries into the pot for a state championship.   It would also put all the big city teams  Richmond, Ronaoke, Norfolk, etc into a pot of their own to duke it out also.  

It will never happen but fun to think about what it might look like. I put together at least 2 of the 16 regions as to what I think it might look like if Virginia were one classification basketball.  

All region winners go to John Paul Jones Arena for a Sweet Sixteen in Charlottesville.  Winning a region championship has a lot more importance in this format than what we have now.  

Teams play up to a 30 game regular season max. 

Teams play each district team twice.  All other teams in their region once...and rotate home and away each year for a total of 18 games. 

Allows for up to 12 other games with six other opponents or up to 4 other opponents and a tournament with max 4 games to play or  two other opponents and two tournaments with a max of 4 games each tournament. 

Region Championship played at choice of each district each year.  District 1 chooses region tournament location one year then D2 the next year, D3 and so on.       Region Champion advances to Sweet Sixteen at John Paul Jones Arena

 

 

Here is what I came up with.   

 

Postseason Format Each Year:

Districts rotate each year playing each other  

D1 Rup vs. D2Champ,  D3 Rup vs. D4 Champ  

D2 Rup vs. D1 Champ, D4 Rup vs. D3 Champ  

Winners meet in Semis,  Winners of Semis meet for Region Championship game

 

Next year

D1 Rup vs. D3 Champ, D2 Rup vs. D4 Champ

D1 Champ vs. D3 Rup, D2 Champ vs. D4 Rup

Winners meet in Semis.  Winners of Semis meet for Region Championship game.  

 

Next year

D1 Rup vs. D4 Champ, D2 Rup vs. D3 Champ

D1 Champ vs. D4 Rup, D2 Champ vs. D3 Rup

Winners meet in Semis. Winners of Semis meet for Region Championship game

 

 

Region 1 – District 1

Thomas Walker

Lee High

Rye Cove

Twin Springs

 

Region 1 – District 2

Union

JI Burton

Central Wise

Eastside

 

Region 1 – District 3

Gate City

Virginia High

John Battle

Abingdon

 

Region 1 – District 4

Ridgeview

Castlewood

Lebanon

Honaker

 

2024 Postseason

R1 D1 – Twin Springs, Rye Cove

R1 D2 – Union, Eastside

R1 D3 – Gate City, Virginia High

R1 D4 – Honaker, Ridgeview  

 

D1 Champ Twin Springs vs. D2 R Up  Eastside  

D1 R Up Rye Cove vs. D2 Champ Union  

D3 Champ Virginia High  vs. D4 R Up Ridgeview 

D3 R up Gate City vs. D4 Champ Honaker 

Semis - Eastside vs. Union,  Virginia High vs. Gate City

Championship - Union vs. Virginia High 

Region 1 Representative - Virginia High 

Region 1 Championship played at choice of each district by year.  District 1 chooses region tournament location one year then D2, D3 and so on.       Region Champion advances to Sweet Sixteen at John Paul Jones Arena

 

 

Region 2 – District 1

Buchanan County  (once consolidated)

Richlands

Tazewell

Graham

 

Region 2 – District 2

Patrick Henry

Holston

Northwood

Chilhowie

Marion

 

Region 2 – District 3

Bland County

Rural Retreat

George Wythe

Fort Chiswell

 

Region 2 – District 4

Grayson County

Galax

Carroll County

Pulaski County

 

2024 Postseason

R2 D1 -  Graham, Richlands

R2 D2 – Patrick Henry, Chilhowie

R2 D3 -  George Wythe, Fort Chiswell

R2 D4 -  Carroll County, Pulaski County      

 

D1 Champ Graham vs. D2 R Up Patrick Henry

D2 Champ Chilhowie vs. D1 R Up  Richlands

D3 Champ George Wythe vs. D4 R Up Pulaski County

D4 Champ Carroll County vs. D3 R Up Fort Chiswell

Semis - Graham vs. Chilhowie,  George Wythe vs. Carroll County

Finals - Graham vs. George Wythe

Region 2 Representative - George Wythe   

Region 2 Championship played at choice of each district by year.  District 1 chooses region tournament location one year then D2, D3 and so on.       Region Champion advances to Sweet Sixteen at John Paul Jones Arena

 

 

[swva_havok_fan 1,261]

I like it!  As you said, it won't happen in Virginia or Tennessee, but it would be nice.

This system is what makes postseason basketball in Kentucky so compelling.  I have went to region semifinals in Kentucky the past three years and the intensity is crazy.

I also like how Kentucky does the midseason state tournament for the small schools as well which is something Virginia could also adopt if they went with this system.

[appyvol 23]

John Marshall would still win boys. 

[swva_havok_fan 1,261]

Saw Lyon County win the state title in Kentucky last weekend.  

Lyon County is a 1A school and defeated 5A Harlan County in the championship game.  Was kinda conflicted on who to pull for on whether to see the small school win or see the local team to our region win.

What's remarkable is that Lyon County didn't even win the mid-season 1A state tournament or even get to the finals for that matter.  Yet, they won the overall.  Pretty cool story.