flygirlsdad
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- Joined
- Jun 19, 2014
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This phenomenon occurs every year in the sectional draws for the HS state tournament. Very good teams select a spot in the bracket to guarantee themselves a first round game rather than having a bye. These games are always against the weakest teams in the sectional. What is their reasoning? How does beating one more subpar team help to improve your team and your chances of moving on later instead of getting an extra day of practice or rest for players nursing injuries? I would think the risk of an injury in that extra game would be a turn off although we should never play assuming that an injury will happen. Would the top teams in the NCAA tournament choose to add the play in game to play one more time against a 16 seed that has no chance? I don't think so. Besides not taking a bye, these teams are taking an opportunity away from one of those lower tier teams that may just have gotten a win in the first round, found something to build on for the next year, or let some young lady find enjoyment in one of her last games. I can only reason that these top teams are looking to pad stats for the season and get one more win for the coach. Maybe someone can give a more valid reason.