IHSAA to retake full control of boys’ basketball postseason bracketing

Coaches previously determined official pairings via seeding meetings

Jun. 14, 2022 1:01 pm, Updated: Jun. 14, 2022 1:37 pm

Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks guard Will Cavanagh (5) reaches out to block Monticello Panthers guard Tate Petersen (12) as he shoots the ball in the first half of the game during the Class 2A boys quarterfinals state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS — No more pods, no more coaches seeding meetings.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Tuesday it will again take over full responsibilities for postseason district, substate and state tournament pairings in boys’ basketball.

The IHSAA Board of Control approved the change, which was recommended by its basketball advisory committee.

“We appreciate the advisory committee and leadership from the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association being proactive with this adjustment,” said IHSAA assistant director Todd Tharp. “Pushing back the release dates will allow us to gather as much information as possible from regular-season games, and complete improved postseason assignments.”

In recent seasons, the IHSAA released postseason pods or groupings in each class in January. Postseason brackets were released in late January, determined by vote of coaches in the district or substate, who seeded each team.

The same process was used in determining state tournament brackets.

The IHSAA retaking full control moves back the release of postseason brackets to early and mid-February, according to class. That theoretically allows more time to figure out the top teams in an area, with brackets constructed accordingly, all in hopes of getting the best teams to the state tournament.

As always, however, geography will play a huge part in the brackets.

“I love that they did this,” said Belle Plaine Coach Justin Northrop. “The meetings were always contentious. We would always go north for the most part (for districts) and be on an island with no one there to help us.”