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 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.
