Playoff Format Idea

[shovel_option]

I don't mind Missouri's playoff system...because everyone gets in. Win and keep playing. Can't get any more pure than that. What I don't like is unbalanced districts, semifinals that don't have the 4 best teams, and just generally a free pass for some to the quarters / semis.

I do like Illinois' playoff system. 32 teams, bracketed into two regions of 16 (except Class 8, which is one 32-team bracket). I took a blend of the two systems and came up with this...
1. I don't like in Illinois how no one knows what class they'll be in until the 256 playoff qualifiers are announced. No thanks. We will still do class assignments in the preseason (end of the first week of practice, not the day of the first game...too much to handle).
2. Still use the MSHSAA points system. We will take the top 32 teams in each class with the most points. Divide those 32 teams into two geographically based brackets of 16 teams.
3. Reseed with 8 teams left 1 - 8. Ensure the balance, ensure separation. Travel be damned.

In Class 3 this season it would like this:
East Side
1. Borgia 57.19
2. John Burroughs 49.31
3. Blair Oaks 48.18
4. Dexter 47.72
5. St. Clair 42.56
6. Boonville 39.90
7. Lift for Life 38.78
8. Mountain Grove 38.11
9. Southern Boone 36.18
10. St. Charles West 35.86
11. Park Hills Central 35.50
12. Ste. Genevieve 35.21
13. Lutheran South 33.40
14. Wright City 32.04
15. Moberly 31.39
16. Cuba 31. 28

West Side
1. Seneca 52.58
2. Strafford 44.83
3. Mount Vernon 39.78
4. Richmond 39.15
5. Maryville 38.67
6. Odessa 37.10
7. Knob Noster 36.53
8. St. Michaels 36.44
9. Forsyth 35.22
10. Oak Grove 34.97
11. Cassville 33.32
12. UAC 31.64
13. Summit Christian 31.34
14. Chillicothe 31.22
15. Cameron 31.14
16. Reeds Spring 30.64

1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, etc. Keep the traditional bracket until 8 teams remain...then we reseed that statewide 1 - 8 for quarterfinals.
As you can see, east side bracket overall tougher IMO, therefore I think a reseed would be beneficial.

So the East Side quadrant winners would be:
1,16,8,9: Borgia
2,15,7,10: Lift for Life
3,14,6,11: Blair Oaks
4,13,5,12: Dexter

West Side:
1,16,8,9: Seneca
2,15,7,10: Strafford
3,14,6,11: Mount Vernon
4,13,5,12: Maryville

Now we reseed 1 - 8 and play it out:
1. Borgia vs 8. Maryville
4. Dexter vs 5. Strafford
2. Seneca vs 7. Lift for Life
3. Blair Oaks vs 6. Mount Vernon

Pros: Gets rid of terrible district draws that eliminate 1 or 2 or 3 of the best teams in the state before week 11/12. Balances out geographical inequities (district 3 doesn't need anyone in the state quarterfinals). Rewards tough schedules.
Cons: May not get a true state championship game (I think most would say BO vs Seneca would be a rightful state title game) due to points determining seeding.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

I don't mind Missouri's playoff system...because everyone gets in. Win and keep playing. Can't get any more pure than that. What I don't like is unbalanced districts, semifinals that don't have the 4 best teams, and just generally a free pass for some to the quarters / semis.

I do like Illinois' playoff system. 32 teams, bracketed into two regions of 16 (except Class 8, which is one 32-team bracket). I took a blend of the two systems and came up with this...
1. I don't like in Illinois how no one knows what class they'll be in until the 256 playoff qualifiers are announced. No thanks. We will still do class assignments in the preseason (end of the first week of practice, not the day of the first game...too much to handle).
2. Still use the MSHSAA points system. We will take the top 32 teams in each class with the most points. Divide those 32 teams into two geographically based brackets of 16 teams.
3. Reseed with 8 teams left 1 - 8. Ensure the balance, ensure separation. Travel be damned.

In Class 3 this season it would like this:
East Side
1. Borgia 57.19
2. John Burroughs 49.31
3. Blair Oaks 48.18
4. Dexter 47.72
5. St. Clair 42.56
6. Boonville 39.90
7. Lift for Life 38.78
8. Mountain Grove 38.11
9. Southern Boone 36.18
10. St. Charles West 35.86
11. Park Hills Central 35.50
12. Ste. Genevieve 35.21
13. Lutheran South 33.40
14. Wright City 32.04
15. Moberly 31.39
16. Cuba 31. 28

West Side
1. Seneca 52.58
2. Strafford 44.83
3. Mount Vernon 39.78
4. Richmond 39.15
5. Maryville 38.67
6. Odessa 37.10
7. Knob Noster 36.53
8. St. Michaels 36.44
9. Forsyth 35.22
10. Oak Grove 34.97
11. Cassville 33.32
12. UAC 31.64
13. Summit Christian 31.34
14. Chillicothe 31.22
15. Cameron 31.14
16. Reeds Spring 30.64

1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, etc. Keep the traditional bracket until 8 teams remain...then we reseed that statewide 1 - 8 for quarterfinals.
As you can see, east side bracket overall tougher IMO, therefore I think a reseed would be beneficial.

So the East Side quadrant winners would be:
1,16,8,9: Borgia
2,15,7,10: Lift for Life
3,14,6,11: Blair Oaks
4,13,5,12: Dexter

West Side:
1,16,8,9: Seneca
2,15,7,10: Strafford
3,14,6,11: Mount Vernon
4,13,5,12: Maryville

Now we reseed 1 - 8 and play it out:
1. Borgia vs 8. Maryville
4. Dexter vs 5. Strafford
2. Seneca vs 7. Lift for Life
3. Blair Oaks vs 6. Mount Vernon

Pros: Gets rid of terrible district draws that eliminate 1 or 2 or 3 of the best teams in the state before week 11/12. Balances out geographical inequities (district 3 doesn't need anyone in the state quarterfinals). Rewards tough schedules.
Cons: May not get a true state championship game (I think most would say BO vs Seneca would be a rightful state title game) due to points determining seeding.

Everything good except using MSHSAA's current point system. Get rid of the 'play up' modifier due to people exploiting it.

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

Everything good except using MSHSAA's current point system. Get rid of the 'play up' modifier due to people exploiting it.

I agree to a point. They need to reduce the points from 10 down to 5 and cap at 2 classes.

 

[HBL Pirates fan_1990]

Everything good except using MSHSAA's current point system. Get rid of the 'play up' modifier due to people exploiting it.

Or bring in Conference Points modifier

10 Points for Conference Win
5 Points to play up 1 Class for Non-Conference only

10 Points to play up 2+ Classes for Non Conference Only

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Or bring in Conference Points modifier

10 Points for Conference Win
5 Points to play up 1 Class for Non-Conference only

10 Points to play up 2+ Classes for Non Conference Only

No thank you. Just let the wins and losses make the numbers

 

[r14veer]

No thank you. Just let the wins and losses make the numbers

I really want to disagree, because I think there is at least some merit to rewarding a team for playing up, but for many it really just becomes incentive to play up against bad teams.

 

[kaching]

you should only get a set amount if you play up. No more getting extra points for playing up two or three classes. Example, a class 1 school wants to schedule Springfield Central - they get the same amount of extra points as they would if they’d scheduled a class 2 team.

 

[Mister_Wizard]

Idea: you only get play-up points if the larger team you played finishes .500 or better in the regular season.

 

[HBL Pirates fan_1990]

My main and biggest issue with Play-Up Points is most of the Play-Up points comes from some of the Conference Matchups.
Lamar is a great example. Class 2 School who has 5 Class 3 Schools and 3 Class 4 Schools in there conference.

Wright City is the only C3 school in the EMO but the rest is C1 and C2. But St Charles West who is #1 seed in their district that is 3-6 and has 4 C4 Schools in there respective conference.

4 Conferences I pointed out that the Play-up Factor really take the toll. They’re are others conferences like this but not as bad as these 4.

Big 8
1- C2 5-C3 3-C4 Schools

EMO
2-C1 4-C2 1-C3 Schools

Four Rivers
1-C2 3-C3 3-C4 Schools

Quad County
1-C1 2-C2 2-C3 2-C4 Schools

 

[shovel_option]

I do agree the playup bonus is too much. It changes teams' point totals drastically. The Class 1 teams that played Springfield Central are getting 40 points for that, which is 4.44 added to their point total after 9 games. That is the SAME point difference between a 9-0 team record (20) and a 5-4 team record (15.56).

The opponents schedules almost make a negligible difference as well. Check out these opponents' records: 9 opponents, who have eached played 8 OTHER games besides your own for a 72 game total:
52-20 (which is insane, and no one gets near this): 17.22
42-30: 15.83
36-36: 15
30-42: 14.17
24-48 (no one gets near this either usually): 13.33
So from playing the best schedule I've ever seen to the worst is a difference of 4 measly points.

I think either reducing the bonus to 5 or capping it at a two class difference would be a great idea. Also a slight separation by record as well. Maybe 25 for a win, 10 for a loss. Or 20 for a win and 5 for a loss.

 

[HBL Pirates fan_1990]

I don't mind Missouri's playoff system...because everyone gets in. Win and keep playing. Can't get any more pure than that. What I don't like is unbalanced districts, semifinals that don't have the 4 best teams, and just generally a free pass for some to the quarters / semis.

I do like Illinois' playoff system. 32 teams, bracketed into two regions of 16 (except Class 8, which is one 32-team bracket). I took a blend of the two systems and came up with this...
1. I don't like in Illinois how no one knows what class they'll be in until the 256 playoff qualifiers are announced. No thanks. We will still do class assignments in the preseason (end of the first week of practice, not the day of the first game...too much to handle).
2. Still use the MSHSAA points system. We will take the top 32 teams in each class with the most points. Divide those 32 teams into two geographically based brackets of 16 teams.
3. Reseed with 8 teams left 1 - 8. Ensure the balance, ensure separation. Travel be damned.

In Class 3 this season it would like this:
East Side
1. Borgia 57.19
2. John Burroughs 49.31
3. Blair Oaks 48.18
4. Dexter 47.72
5. St. Clair 42.56
6. Boonville 39.90
7. Lift for Life 38.78
8. Mountain Grove 38.11
9. Southern Boone 36.18
10. St. Charles West 35.86
11. Park Hills Central 35.50
12. Ste. Genevieve 35.21
13. Lutheran South 33.40
14. Wright City 32.04
15. Moberly 31.39
16. Cuba 31. 28

West Side
1. Seneca 52.58
2. Strafford 44.83
3. Mount Vernon 39.78
4. Richmond 39.15
5. Maryville 38.67
6. Odessa 37.10
7. Knob Noster 36.53
8. St. Michaels 36.44
9. Forsyth 35.22
10. Oak Grove 34.97
11. Cassville 33.32
12. UAC 31.64
13. Summit Christian 31.34
14. Chillicothe 31.22
15. Cameron 31.14
16. Reeds Spring 30.64

1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, etc. Keep the traditional bracket until 8 teams remain...then we reseed that statewide 1 - 8 for quarterfinals.
As you can see, east side bracket overall tougher IMO, therefore I think a reseed would be beneficial.

So the East Side quadrant winners would be:
1,16,8,9: Borgia
2,15,7,10: Lift for Life
3,14,6,11: Blair Oaks
4,13,5,12: Dexter

West Side:
1,16,8,9: Seneca
2,15,7,10: Strafford
3,14,6,11: Mount Vernon
4,13,5,12: Maryville

Now we reseed 1 - 8 and play it out:
1. Borgia vs 8. Maryville
4. Dexter vs 5. Strafford
2. Seneca vs 7. Lift for Life
3. Blair Oaks vs 6. Mount Vernon

Pros: Gets rid of terrible district draws that eliminate 1 or 2 or 3 of the best teams in the state before week 11/12. Balances out geographical inequities (district 3 doesn't need anyone in the state quarterfinals). Rewards tough schedules.
Cons: May not get a true state championship game (I think most would say BO vs Seneca would be a rightful state title game) due to points determining seeding.

I don't mind Missouri's playoff system...because everyone gets in. Win and keep playing. Can't get any more pure than that. What I don't like is unbalanced districts, semifinals that don't have the 4 best teams, and just generally a free pass for some to the quarters / semis.

I do like Illinois' playoff system. 32 teams, bracketed into two regions of 16 (except Class 8, which is one 32-team bracket). I took a blend of the two systems and came up with this...
1. I don't like in Illinois how no one knows what class they'll be in until the 256 playoff qualifiers are announced. No thanks. We will still do class assignments in the preseason (end of the first week of practice, not the day of the first game...too much to handle).
2. Still use the MSHSAA points system. We will take the top 32 teams in each class with the most points. Divide those 32 teams into two geographically based brackets of 16 teams.
3. Reseed with 8 teams left 1 - 8. Ensure the balance, ensure separation. Travel be damned.

I thought of another Playoff idea. this could work better mostly for the smaller classes, and the top teams are not in the same bracket . Also I move Kirksville and Osage on the west.

Top 32 teams in 4 Regions, 2 East Side and 2 West Side, still keep the Point System.
Travel will be damned!

East Region 1
1. Parkway North 52.82
2. Festus 49.47
3. Gateway 46.49
4. Hannibal 41.94
5 North County 38.83
6. Ft Zumwalt South 36.58
7. Sullivan 34.89
8. Desoto 31.96

East Region 2
1. Warrenton 49.69
2. Lutheran North 49.41
3. Perryville 42.69
4. Orchard Farm 39.57
5. Hillsboro 38.26
6. Westminster 36.61
7. Clayton 31.68
8. Sikeston 31.57

West Region 1
1. Kearney 56.75
2. Kirksville 49.69
3. Osage 40.97
4. West Plains40.72
5. Carl Junction 37.83
6. Van Horn 37.21
7. Grandview 27.50
8. Raytown South 33.53


West Region 2
1. Smithville 46.74
2. Warrensburg 44.67
3. Savannah 40.78
4. Pleasant Hill 40.13
5. Nevada 37.31
6. Harrisonville 34.53
7. Marshfield 31.67
8. Excelsior Springs 26.92

Quartfinals

East Region 1
#2 Festus vs #4 Hannibal

East Region 2
#2 Lutheran North vs # 5 Hillsboro

West Region 1
# 1 Kearney vs #3 Osage

West Region 2
#1 Smithville vs # 3 Savannah

Semifinal’s
East Region 1 vs East Region 2
Festus/ Hannibal vs Lutheran North

West Region 1 vs West Region 2
Kearney vs Smithville/Savannah

 

[CaptainMullet]

Idea: you only get play-up points if the larger team you played finishes .500 or better in the regular season.

That's not a terrible idea.