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Does the all-conference system really work?
Posted Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 9:10 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
First of all I would just like to congratulate all the local players that have been named to post-season all-conference teams. In the story to follow, I just want to clarify that in no way, shape or form am I trying to take away from any members that were named to these teams, just merely voicing my opinion on the new format.
To my understanding the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference teams were picked based on team standings. For example, the conference champion, along with second place (all four teams) each received three players on the boys side of things. Just to further clarify the way the teams were picked, each coach selected players from their own team to make the team. Basketball is a team sport, and it takes great efforts from many individuals for the make-up of a successful team. Many members of the media, fans and coaches often get caught up in players scoring numbers. I do not feel like just because someone can score upwards of 20 points on a given night that automatically qualifies them for a selection to an all-everything team. If you don't have someone rebounding the ball, someone that can handle the press and bring the ball up the court, someone setting screens and someone who can read defenses and distribute the ball to open players, then there will not be a whole lot of scoring going on. Defensive players also often get overlooked on these teams as well. Show me a player that can lock down the other teams top scorer and I will take him over a 20-point scorer anytime. I will also take the scrappy player that does all the "dirty work" and rarely gets any glory for his or her efforts. Players that expend their energy diving for loose balls and crashing the offensive and defensive glass with sheer guts and determination will normally provide a spark to the rest of the team. Sifting through the all-conference teams, both boys and girls, just about every player is someone that can light up the scoreboards. Lets face it, offense is what most fans like to see, but maybe there should also be an all-conference defensive team awarded as well. Just a thought. Now back to the selection of the SWIAC team. I am not a fan of coaches being able to pick their own players and they automatically be on the team. The more I think about it, the more that I do like the idea of giving teams a certain amount of nominations based on conference standings. I feel like each coach can nominate their own players, then all the coaches narrow the all-conference team down to five or six players each for a first and second team. Speaking of which, the SWIAC team lists all their players on one team, they do not break the players down into a first team, second team or honorable mention. Eighteen players on the boys team and 16 for the girls team is just too many players in my eyes for one team. To me the way the route the SWIAC took takes all the politics out of who should be on and what not, but just like professional all-star games -- there are always going to be snubs. But then again maybe that's why I am here writing my stories and columns instead of speaking in front of a committee on my ideas just mentioned. Note: The Greene County Daily World released the boys all-area basketball team Tuesday and the girls all-area team will be announced in Thursday's edition. Travis David is a sports writer for the Greene County Daily World and can be reached at (812) 847-4487 ext. 20 or tdavid@gcdailyworld.com Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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I commented before - that the "new" process is way off. Clearly kids were snubbed. It appears to me the All-Conference team is basically a reward of how your team finishes in conference. It actually has very little to do with individual play. I agree that it should not be selected primarily on stats, however, these coaches should have enough knowledge to know who should make the team. Conference champs is a team award - don't make All-Conference a team award as well.
Nominate as many kids as you want from your team - you are the Head Coach. I think there judgement will be on display in front of the other head coaches. Have an open vote in front of all coaches. That way there is accountability. With 7 teams, 10-12 players is plenty. I watched several games this season, there are lots of good players, but not all are deserving of all-conference. Also, doesn't it make sense if your teams wins very few games, you won't have 3 players on the team anyways? However, on the same point, don't punish a kid who has a sub par team and keep him off the All-Conference team. (hint: Union/Howard) Another point, look at Bloomfield, placed 3 players on the Daily World team and only one of the All-Conference team. They won a sectional and play the toughest schedule in the area. There style is slower, therefore, you don't see multiple scoring kings. However, Tally, Schulte and even Thompson were deserving of some recognition. But a flawed system kept deserving seniors off the team.
Was there a problem with the old system? Always making changes.....
Nice article Travis - to me the answer is simple...change it back to the old system..this one does not work!
I agree with ICU on most of his/her points
except Eastern plays a tougher schedule
than Bloomfield.
Off topic, but Bloomfield played and went
Edgewood, Owen Valley (twice)and West Vigo in the WVC, @ Bedford, Orleans, TH South, Barr-Reeve, Brownstown Central.
Eastern played:
Owen Valley, Martinsville (who was 8-13), Mitchell, South Knox (twice), Rivet, @ Bedford and @ Edgewood.
Tougher Schedule? I think not, but the new system is not effective, and the old one is better.
As a coach, I feel this system works the best.. It got to the point where the coaches were against coaches and the players would get the raw deal of it. If a coach didn't like another coach, you could tell by their voting.. Is this right, NO. but that's how it was.. You can't trust people to do the right thing, they hold grudges and make the wrong people suffer.
So this new way of voting guarantees each team to have atleast one player on All-conference. In the past I've seen players deserved to be on the team, but because of coaching issues they didn't get the votes they deserved..
Eastern has a tougher schedule?? Your credibility is zero. Not even close.
Hoppie 1 is totally all over it. But you left out Loogootee and Sullivan. Bloomfield's schedule is superior. Which is why they were able to win the sectional @ Eastern. And nearly a Regional.
As for coaches against coaches - that is unacceptable. To punish a kid because you don't like the coach? There needs to be a better system - rather than based on team success.
Bloomfield played a top ten team from all four classes. Can Eastern say the same thing for their schedule?
Sagarin has Bloomfield's schedule ranked as the 192nd toughest in the state. He has Eastern's schedule ranked as the 251st toughest schedule in the state. As others have said Bloomfield does play the tougher schedule and I think that Sagarin's rankings prove that.
http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/hsb...
I would say Bloomfield nearly winning a regional is a little much. They came close to winning their first game, but I have a hard time believing that they would have been able to beat Forest Park in the evening game.
Mister Egg - why do you feel Bloomfield would have a hard time beating Forest Park in the finals? It is a game that will never be played...but I would think highly competitive...Brownstown handled them. I would think Forest Park would be compatible to South Knox or BNL, both teams Bloomfield beat. Also, I beleive that Bloomfield and Forest Park play each other in the scrimmage game in preseason - so there would be knowledge of personal. I would give McBride a fair chance against anyone in a big game.
I just think Bloomfield would have had a hard time handling the two big guys from Forest Park. I'll admit that I was utterly surprised when I learned that Brownstown Central beat Forest Park. I'm sure Bloomfield would have given them a good game, but I think the short bench and fatigue would have gotten the best of the Cards had they made it to the evening game.
I don't count McBride out in many games, but the last few years his bench has been very short or non-existent and I think that hurts the Cardinals in a few games that they might have a chance of winning had they been able to give their key players a little more rest.
Good game to kick around. Would of been fun to watch. Big guys are always tough to handle for Bloomfield, but big guys also can not defend on the perimeter...which allows Bloomfield to control the game. Bloomfield 31 Forest Park 30..hahahaha
I think we should just let the parents do the voting that way all the D-1 talent at some schools would also make the team.