Changes Likely for Playoff System : High school basketball: Southern Section to consider two alternatives to status quo.

The Southern Section Council on Thursday probably will modify the basketball playoff system, under which all teams are eligible for postseason play, regardless of their regular-season records.

The council, composed of representatives from each of the section’s 70 leagues, is expected to select one of three plans, said Dean Crowley, the section administrator in charge of boys’ and girls’ basketball.

The council, by a majority vote, either will choose to maintain the status quo, take the top three teams from each league or adopt a weighted scale under which large leagues would be allowed additional playoff entries.

Under the last option, teams that did not automatically qualify would be allowed to petition the section for inclusion, and a panel of section administrators would decide which teams to add.

Crowley said the section conducted a survey of school superintendents, principals, athletic directors and coaches and received approximately 1,100 responses. The overwhelming sentiment was for a revision of some sort, he said.

Section champions are crowned in 10 divisions. Crowley said that if the all-comers format is junked, tournament brackets could be scaled back and that first-round byes might be granted to seeded teams in some divisions.

Under the current format, adopted in 1989-90, postseason play is open to all teams, even those with dismal regular-season records. The format has been roundly criticized because lesser teams are often overwhelmed in the first round.

Even though lesser teams are not forced to participate, some coaches have felt pressured to participate by their respective schools, parents and players, Crowley said.

He said that many respondents indicated a desire to eliminate costs incurred by weak teams playing first-round road games against seeded opponents.

“There were too many instances where a last-place team was just thrown to the wolves,” Crowley said. “There are too many teams that shouldn’t be there. It’s taking the quality right out of (the playoffs).”

Taking a first-round beating might undermine the spirit of athletic participation, some coaches said.

“Economics drew the question to the forefront for some,” Crowley said. “But the bottom line is that there are too many (bad) teams participating. This isn’t Indiana.”

In most Southern Section sports, the top three teams from each league advance to the playoffs. Under the weighted proposal, leagues with four teams would be allowed two playoff entries; five- and six-team leagues would be allowed three entries; and leagues with seven, eight or nine teams would be allowed four entries.

“If leagues with four teams get 50% into the playoffs, why should teams in an eight-team league be penalized?” Crowley said.

Crowley estimated that if the three-teams-per-league plan or weighted scale is adopted, the playoff field might shrink by 20% or more.

Crowley said that of the 1,100 respondents, 67% were in favor of some revision. More than 70% of the superintendents, principals and athletic directors who replied were in favor of change.