Photo Credit: Tom Carr Photography
Tournament basketball is a little over a week away, and the excitement is building across the region. This is the time of year fans look forward to all season – packed gyms, electric student sections, and championship dreams hanging in the balance.
But along with the excitement comes the annual hot-button conversations: tournament locations, live streaming availability, ticket access, and more. This year, however, one topic has quickly risen to the top the idea of a Super Regional.
It’s a concept that has been discussed in various forms over the years, but now it appears to be gaining legitimate traction.
According to sources, the idea of forming a Super Regional was recently brought up during a meeting involving area athletic directors and principals. While there are still plenty of moving parts and different versions of what it could look like, the fact that it’s being formally discussed signals that momentum may be building.
I recently caught up with McLean County boys’ basketball head coach Darren Lynam, who actually submitted one of the proposals that was reviewed by administrators. His involvement shows that this isn’t just casual chatter; real ideas are being presented and considered at the administrative level.
Like many major changes in high school athletics, a Super Regional sounds exciting on paper. The potential for bigger matchups, increased exposure for student-athletes, larger crowds, and heightened competition has fans intrigued. However, several important factors would need to be worked out, including travel logistics, venue selection, revenue distribution, competitive balance, and alignment with KHSAA regulations.
At this time, discussions are centered specifically around basketball. However, if the concept were to move forward and prove successful, one would assume other sports could soon follow in exploring similar formats.
While nothing has been finalized (and significant details would still need to be ironed out before anything becomes official) the direction of the conversation suggests this idea may be closer to reality than ever before.
And now we want to hear from you.
What are your thoughts on a Super Regional? Do you like the idea? What concerns would you have? What format would make the most sense? We would love to hear your opinions and any ideas you might have as this discussion continues to unfold.
As tournament week approaches, one thing is certain change could be on the horizon for regional basketball, and possibly high school athletics as a whole.
Listen below to my full interview with Coach Darren Lynam to hear his thoughts on the idea of a Super Regional and details about the proposal he submitted for consideration.
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