Should the SEC Do Away with Divisions in All Sports Except Football?

by T Kyle King on May 23, 2011 1:30 PM EDT in SEC Baseball

While oversigning is apt to be the hot button issue at the SEC meetings in Destin, we should not overlook the fact that Mike Slive has proposed ending the use of the divisional format in SEC basketball. This makes a great deal of good sense, as the divisional format really only works for football, and the use of such a structure can result in some truly bizarre seeding when one division clearly is stronger than the other (as was the case last year).

While we’re at it, though, why not do the same thing for baseball?

The Diamond Dogs finished the regular season with a 16-14 conference record, which would have been good enough to win the SEC West but sufficed only for fourth in a division that included Florida, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt (all 22-8 in league play). Because Arkansas finished first in the West with a .500 record in conference contests---that’s right; the Hogs were the only team in the division that did not end up with a losing record in league play---the Razorbacks get the second seed in Hoover by virtue of a record that would have placed them fifth in the East.

The defending national champion Gamecocks deservedly received the No. 1 tourney seed they earned, but, because of the divisional format, the Gators, Commodores, and Bulldogs all received lower seeds than those which were warranted by their performance on the field. Due to that, fifth-seeded Georgia will open against fourth-seeded Vanderbilt, which just finished stomping the Red and Black in Athens like a narc at a biker rally.

Had the teams been seeded strictly by conference record---which would make sense, since this is, after all, the conference tournament---the first-round matchup would feature the fourth-seeded Bulldogs facing the fifth-seeded Razorbacks.

I believe Mike Slive is right to propose doing away with the divisional format in basketball, but the same rationale that justifies such a move on the hardwood applies equally as well to the diamond. The divisional structure works well in football, but not elsewhere. The SEC commissioner is right to recognize that, but his proposal does not go far enough. What’s good for basketball ought to be good for baseball, too.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Poll

What should be done about the SEC divisional structure?

The divisions should apply across all sports.

54 votes

The divisions should apply to football, but not basketball.

11 votes

The divisions should apply to football, but not basketball or baseball.

18 votes

The divisions should apply only to football.

99 votes

We should do away with the divisions in all sports.

18 votes

None of the above. (I have explained my answer in the comments.)

4 votes

204 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I would only do away with divisions in baseball if...

the conference season is expanded by 1 weekend to allow all of the teams to play each other in a weekend series. There is already plenty of fluff in baseball schedules, why not make the opening weekend the 1st SEC weekend and then break for non-conf play. It would certainly bring some much needed attention to the front end of the season.

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by PodKATT on May 23, 2011 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

How would a conference schedule work in hoops?

How do you split 16 games between 11 teams without the automatic 5 doubled up?

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by Mr. Sanchez on May 23, 2011 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

Mike Slive's proposal includes increasing the conference slate to 18 games.

I’m not good at teh maths, so I don’t know how that fixes the problem, but I’ve been told that it does.

by vineyarddawg on May 23, 2011 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

It doesn't

You’ll still end up with unbalanced schedules,the only difference being that instead of just having west schedules vs. east schedules, everyone’s will be different (though slightly less different with 18 conference games instead of 16).

Divisional play never really worked for Big East hoops, but we never tried it with less than 14 basketball teams, so you couldn’t have consistent schedules even within a division then. Right now, we play 18 conference games with 16 teams, so you play every once and three home and homes which aren’t exactly random but there’s no formula for what they are (at ‘Cuse, it’s pretty much a sure thing that Georgetown, one of ’Nova or UConn, and then one of the weaker teams in the conference will be the home and homes thanks to our friends at ESPN and the goal of having something vaguely resembling a balanced schedule).

by drothgery on May 24, 2011 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

As I said at TSK, I want to see the divisions, but with simple 1-8 or 1-12 seeding

I do not want to give up a H and H with any of the East teams for an extra game with Mississippi State. If you want to add two games to the SEC schedule, I’m fine with rotating through the West every three years in basketball as long as we still play all the East teams twice and play for an East title.

With each team only missing one other in baseball, I have no idea why the second division champ gets an automatic #2 seed in Hoover. Florida got an easier path to the championship game by virtue of finishing second in the East. That’s ridiculous. It doesn’t usually matter for SEC teams in baseball, but that 4-5 opponent could be the difference between the NCAA or the NIT in basketball.

For Georgia, that is the difference between facing Vandy and Sonny Gray in Game 1, or Arkansas and their ace (can’t remember his name, but he’s one of the top in the conference). Given your need to win three, that actually could matter.

Quick baseball question. If Georgia does not get the necessary three wins in Hoover to make the field, is Perno in trouble?

"They've just discovered a new use for sheep over there at Clemson... wool." - Lewis Grizzard

by GwinnettGamecock on May 23, 2011 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

I agree with this.

Let’s keep the East and West, for I simply prefer playing UT, Florida, etc. Then, at the end of the season, rank each team as you indicate above.

Rec’d.

"Insert witty and/or funny quote here" ~ The Person Who Spoketh Said Quote.

by Jman781 on May 23, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Perno's job is secure either way.

Georgia had the #1 strength-of-schedule in the country, including a 3-game series against a “cupcake” that just happened to be a top-25 team this year (Stetson). And on top of that, they lost one of their best players to a freak career-ending injury for the second year in a row.

In spite of that, they made significant progress over last year’s team, and in addition to having very few players graduating/ likely leaving, they have a great recruiting class coming in this summer, as well.

Bottom line, Perno definitely has bought himself at least one more season, but Georgia should be one of the favorites in the conference next year, and had better easily make the NCAA tourney.

by vineyarddawg on May 23, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed.

David Perno bought himself time with this season, due to improved play and extenuating circumstances, but there’s no excuse for not making at least an NCAA Regional next year.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on May 23, 2011 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Good, cause I'm scared of y'all taking Holbrook

I have faith that Mike Hamilton will find a way to screw it up.

"They've just discovered a new use for sheep over there at Clemson... wool." - Lewis Grizzard

by GwinnettGamecock on May 24, 2011 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions

One doesn't need faith to think that Hamilton will screw it up.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Hamilton screwing things up definitely doesn’t fall into that category.

by vineyarddawg on May 24, 2011 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I really hope there is some good commentary on this

I need to read and think. This is a new idea to me. I would say some adjustments need to be made. I am not sure what all the possibilities are.

"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker

by tankertoad on May 23, 2011 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

Let's do away with divisions and conferences in all sports.

Then each team plays each other team once, and a champion is crowned at the end of a decade.

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"Insert witty and/or funny quote here" ~ The Person Who Spoketh Said Quote.

by Jman781 on May 23, 2011 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

Arkansas fan here...

and I have to agree that the Hogs winning the West with a 15-15 record is not much to brag about. Here’s my solution: don’t do away with divisions in baseball and basketball, but do away with the significance of conference postseason. In these sports, winning the conference tournament doesn’t mean much except for minimal effects on seeding and perhaps (every few years) a bubble team needing one more win. Instead of a “tournament,” just have a weekend of round-robin games in which every team is guaranteed two games against random teams (one low seed, one high seed). Then “winning the division” has less significance on the overall resume of a team.

by Fayettechill14 on May 23, 2011 9:56 PM EDT reply actions