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Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Take 10: Worst playoff draws 2007
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The playoffs are upon us, and cries of “Why us?” are echoing throughout the state. It’s inevitable that, no matter how many games some teams win during the regular season, they just won’t be able to catch a break when the playoff brackets rear their ugly head.
Of all the teams that feel like they got the shaft this year, these are the 10 toughest-luck draws for any top-10 team across the board. These are the good teams that will have really earned it if you see them at the Dome next month.
And if they lose? Well, just blame it on the bracket.
10: Dodge County (No. 10 in AA)
The Indians’ only region loss came to region champ Dublin, and it’ll cost them. Pierce County is also 8-2, and the Bears come into the playoffs having won five of six. Getting by them means the Indians would get a likely second-round matchup with No. 8 Swainsboro (9-1), with No. 5 Calhoun (9-1) the probable prize for the winner.
9: Shaw (No. 4 in AAA)
Being in the same region as Carver-Columbus didn’t help the Raiders. Not only did Carver hand Shaw its only loss and relegate the Raiders to No. 2 in the region, but while the Tigers sit in a relatively benign quadrant, Shaw must start with Peach County (8-2), likely followed by No. 5 Cairo (9-1) and, perhaps, undefeated No. 8 Carver-Atlanta.
8: Mays (No. 8 in AAAA)
The Raiders from Mays are in much the same position as the Raiders from Shaw. They’re the No. 2 seed from a region whose No. 1 is undefeated and sits in a relatively easy bracket. Whereas Mays has to stare down Cedar Shoals (9-1), likely followed by undefeated teams at No. 7 East Paulding and No. 2 Thomas County Central.
7: Camden County (No. 10 in AAAAA)
This is apparently what going undefeated since Sept. 7 (a 17-16 loss to Chattahoochee) and winning your region gets you. After what should be a fairly leisurely opener against Tift County, the Wildcats will face either undefeated East Coweta or previously No. 1 Stephenson, then No. 4 Norcross (9-1), Grayson or get a rematch with Chattahoochee.
6: Flowery Branch (No. 10 in AAA)
The Falcons beat all their opponents by double figures — all, that is, except for undefeated North Hall. That made them No. 2 in the region, and they ended up here. Flowery Branch starts out with Chamblee, which was No. 4 in the state less than a month ago. If the Falcons get by the Bulldogs, they’d most likely face undefeated No. 3 Stephens County, and undefeated No. 9 Thomson could await the winner of that in the quarters.
5: Fayette County (No. 6 in AAAA)
The Tigers haven’t lost a game all year, and this is the thanks they get. Because of some screwy subregion rules in Region 4, Baldwin is No. 4 in the state and its region, and Fayette County is the beneficiary. If the Tigers manage to get by Baldwin in the first round, they’ll get a slight breather with Bainbridge or Statesboro in the second round before probably seeing undefeated No. 3 Tucker in the quarters.
4: Walton (No. 6 in AAAAA)
The last time the Raiders were 9-1, in 2004, they made a run to the Dome. If they do it again this time, it won’t be a fluke. Say what you will about this Parkview team, it’s still Parkview, and the Panthers are never an easy out. If the Raiders clear that hurdle, there’s a good chance they’ll see a No. 9 Harrison (8-2) team that has been playing well, perhaps followed by undefeated No. 2 M.L. King.
3: Charlton County (No. 2 in AA)
Another undefeated team, and another merciless draw. Perhaps East Laurens doesn’t look too daunting at 5-5, although the Falcons have won three of their past four. After that, Charlton should see No. 4 Fitzgerald (9-1), with undefeated No. 1 Buford awaiting the winner. The Indians certainly won’t be sleep-walking to a fourth straight title.
2: North Cobb (No. 1 in AAAAA)
North Cobb notches its first 10-0 regular season since 1979, and they kick off the playoffs with defending state champion Peachtree Ridge, followed by a likely matchup with — stop me if you’ve heard this before — defending state champion No. 7 Roswell (8-2). If, by chance, the Warriors get through that gauntlet, they probably get the pleasure of playing No. 5 Lowndes (9-1).
1: Pacelli (No. 8 in A) / Dooly County (No. 6 in A)
After much deliberation, I just had to lump these two together. Call it the Hard Luck Bowl. First, they have to play each other, which seems like a cruel first-round matchup for top-10 teams. Whoever survives that war should be rewarded nicely with undefeated No. 1 ECI. And even if ECI is somehow upset in the first round, the winner would see an underrated Seminole County team that dropped because of a forfeit. If either team could get through that, they would likely see No. 5 Warren County (8-2) in the quarters. Pacelli and Dooly should write their congressman or something.
Go on. Take Ten. Are these teams’ draws not as tough as we think? Who did we miss? Have any suggestions? Or would you just like to bellyache about your team’s tough luck? Take Ten is here to listen. Consider this group therapy.
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Extra Point: Does seeding sow parity?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Looking at the playoff brackets these past few days, it has been easy to pick out some of the early-round inequities. Some portions of the bracket are much easier than others.
So the thought came to mind: What if Georgia had an NCAA basketball tournament-style seeding system? The regions would determine who to send to the playoffs, but the GHSA would form committees to seed the teams and place them in the brackets.
Starting the season one week earlier and giving teams a bye week heading into the playoffs would provide plenty of time to formulate the brackets. It would allow for the opportunity to place the top four seeds in opposite quadrants and perhaps even attempt to cut down on travel by grouping geographically close teams together when possible.
GHSA director of media relations Steve Figueroa pointed out that Arkansas does something similar, even drawing impressive ratings numbers to its televised selection show that unveils the brackets.
But he was skeptical that this system could work in Georgia, where tradition often dies hard.
“I don’t think it would ever fly here,” Figueroa said. “People in South Georgia would say they don’t get enough publicity. People in North Georgia would say people are just favoring the big programs in South Georgia.”
Not only does Figueroa say it would be tough to not draw the ire of much of the state, but he says the result of it might not be any better than what we have now.
“Part of me would like to see that, but you see what happens to these 10-0 teams in the first round sometimes,” Figueroa said. “Like most playoff situations, it’s a case of who hits the playoffs hot. One thing that’s certain is the four teams that get to the semifinals are pretty good.”
Other issues would include who to place on the selection committees, which could be difficult to assemble with enough knowledge and lack of bias toward particular schools. GHSA and varying media representatives would probably have to be included to give it a chance at working.
You make the call: What do you think? Could a system like this work in Georgia? If so, how would you set it up? If not, do you have a different solution for some of the inequities we see each year in the brackets? Or are you content to keep things how they are? Give us your thoughts.
Pile on! Got a high school sports issue for Jeff to tackle? E-mail him here.
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Those blasted bracket busters!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every November it happens. There’s at least ONE team that busts your HS playoff brackets SO bad, you can’t recover. Not that we’re insinuating you might be — ahem — keeping a bracket for any big reason, like, say, to win anything of the monetary sort in an office-type pool.
But whatever the reason you fill out brackets after researching each team’s stats with the fervor of an Elias Sports Bureau job candidate trying to show off during the interview, we’d like to know which of the usual playoff suspects traditionally bust your brackets and — ahem — break your bank. Not that we’re insinuating anything.
Bracket busters lurk here: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A
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