The State Boys’ Basketball Tournament is stale.
The tournament is mired in mediocrity and greeted with a certain amount of apathy each year by the public — even by those who love amateur hoops. Four classes and 32 teams ensure plenty of trophies but the commitment to mass participation doesn’t stir much excitement for some of us.
Why not combine Class 1A and 2A? Do the same with Class 3A and 4A. Two tournaments with eight teams each could be played in three days instead of the four-day format that begins today. Fewer teams, less games and more focus means a revitalized overall tournament and image with two state champions instead of four.
A slimmed down tournament offers potential for more intriguing matchups. I want to see Anders Broman — who averages 41.7 points per game on 58.1 percent shooting for his Class 1A Lakeview Christian Academy team — play against rivals from Class 2A.
How about a game between powerhouses Apple Valley and DeLaSalle? That won’t happen this year because the two schools are in separate classes, 4A and 3A.
There is something else that could be considered after creating two classes and reducing the field to 16 teams. Determine an overall state champion on the Tuesday following the two championship games on Saturday. Defenders of the status quo will scream the smaller schools can’t compete against the bigger schools but let’s find out. Coaches and players — regardless of where they are from — are competitors and want to test themselves. Schools should welcome the challenge.
If the game results are too lopsided after a three year trial run, try something different. For example, have a tournament with 16 total teams from schools with all sizes of enrollment. Then seed those teams in two different but equal groups, and start play on a Thursday. By Saturday night two teams from each group are playing in a Minnesota prep version of the Final Four, with winners advancing to the state championship game on Tuesday night.
I know others have ideas about tournament changes but the point is the boys’ state tournament needs a shakeup. The crowds are small and there is nowhere near the anticipation about the tournament as was true years ago when it had only eight teams and was the highlight on the sports calendar for many Minnesotans.
The tournament today is mostly for inside followers like parents, students and teachers. It should be that but the tourney also belongs to the greater public including passionate fans who want to see some flexibility and creativity in the format. And the byproduct could be more young kids interested in playing basketball.
A matchup like Apple Valley, 28-1, against DeLaSalle, 27-1, is the kind of attraction we’re missing out on. Although the Islanders are in Class 3A, they just might be the best team in the state but we won’t find out. A matchup between the teams would include two of the most talked about junior players in the state, Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones and DeLaSalle forward Reid Travis.
Another outcome that won’t happen is seeing Grand Rapids from Class 3A play against a Class 4A team. The Thunderhawks are led by sophomore forward Alex Illikainen who averages 27 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. It would be fun to see Illikainen — a player who has been compared to Kevin McHale — be on the floor against Edina senior center Reggie Lynch who holds the school record for blocked shots averaging six per game.
And what about those start times for the No. 1 seeds? No. 1 Apple Valley plays Brainerd today at 10 a.m. at Target Center. No. 1 DeLaSalle opens against Sartell-St. Stephen at the same time. Why not play those games closer to the noon hour or end of the day to afford more fans the opportunity to leave the office and catch some hoops. Better yet start the tournament with the most attractive teams playing at night.
Worth Noting
The only player in the tournament who has a Big Ten scholarship for next fall is Edina senior guard Graham Woodward. The school’s all-time leading scorer averaged 26.3 points per game this season and is headed to Penn State.
Woodward wasn’t recruited by the Gophers who probably will have only one scholarship Minnesotan on the roster next season, junior Joe Coleman. The Gophers’ two recruits for next fall are both from Chicago.
In six seasons at Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has yet to sign a player from outstate Minnesota to a scholarship. The big miss was former St. Cloud Tech guard Nate Wolters, now the Summit League Player of the Year who has helped South Dakota State to two NCAA Tournaments including a tourney game tomorrow against Michigan. Wolters’ outside shooting is just what the erratic shooting Gophers could have used this season to win more games.
Smith has expressed disappointment with his team’s inside defense that could have been helped by either of two former Minnesota high school players who are on NCAA Tournament teams. Ex-Roseville center Mike Muscala is the Patriot League Player of the Year for Bucknell after leading the conference in blocked shots, rebounding and scoring. Wisconsin center Jared Berggren, the Princeton High alum, led the Big Ten in blocked shots.
CBS basketball authorities Greg Anthony, Seth Davis and Doug Gottlieb have No. 1 tournament seed Louisville advancing to the Final Four. Anthony’s picks: Louisville, Georgetown, Gonzaga and Miami. Davis: Louisville, Kansas, Miami and New Mexico. Gottlieb: Louisville, Florida, Indiana and New Mexico.
Strangest pick: ESPN’s Dick Vitale predicting the Gophers are a sleeper team for the Final Four.
Anders Broman, Lakeview Christian Academy, Riley Dearring, Minnetonka, Quinton Hooker, Park Center, Aaron Lien, Moorhead, and Graham Woodward, Edina, are the five finalists for the Mr. Basketball award with the winner to be announced after the state tournament. Broman, Hooker and Woodward are playing in the tourney.
At the request of Sports Headliners, Mr. Basketball president Ken Lien provided his rankings of the best prep boys’ teams in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. His top eight in big school 4A are Apple Valley, Park Center, Edina, Osseo, Lakeville North, Hopkins, Eden Prairie and Brainerd.
DeLaSalle is No. 1 in 3A followed by Austin, St. Paul Johnson, Marshall, Blake, Delano, Waconia and Grand Rapids.
The top eight in 2A are Minnehaha Academy, Litchfield, Perham, Redwood Valley, Byron, Annandale, Hayfield and Esko.
Upsala is No. 1 in 1A followed by Maranatha Christian Academy, Southwest Christian, Rushford-Peterson, Lakeview Christian Academy, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, Mountain Lake and Battle Lake.
Former Vikings’ quarterback Donovan McNabb will be part of the talent on the new NBC Sports Radio network that begins on April 1. McNabb will team with another former NFL quarterback, Mark Malone, to host a Monday-Friday four hour program from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Minnesota time.
Greg Jennings, the former Packer wide receiver signed by the Vikings last week, made a big impression with team insiders with his positive demeanor.