For decades, the MIAA held its basketball state semifinals and championships at TD Garden in Boston, where high school players around the state had a unique opportunity to create incredible memories on the Celtics’ parquet. But in 2022, the MIAA announced it would move the finals away from the Garden, citing inequities and logistics to host both boys and girls in its new five-division format.
Since then, the championship games have been held at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, with semifinal games played at the higher seed’s home gym. But should the championships return to the Garden?
Answers were mixed in Part 3 of our MIAA boys basketball coaches’ survey, which dove into some big-picture topics across the landscape. Coaches were granted anonymity so they could express their opinions more freely, and many gave very thoughtful answers.
Let’s dive into Part 3 of the survey, which also touches on the potential of a Super 8 tournament in MIAA basketball, and what rule and structural changes coaches want to see in MIAA.
Do you want to see the MIAA championships return to TD Garden, even if only some divisions can play there?
It should be noted that a majority of the answers came from coaches in Division 1, 2 and 3. But the majority of the coaches said that they hope the championships will return to the Garden parquet, noting that the marquee location and unique environment of playing in an NBA arena is unlike anything they could experience in New England.
“No-brainer,” one coach said.
“YES!” another coach said. “This is long overdue, the kids deserve to have this opportunity and would enhance the MIAA experience and hopefully retain more kids.”
“100%,” another said. “I had the opportunity to play there twice as a player and it was one of the best basketball experiences of my life.”
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Coaches acknowledged the logistics challenges. With five divisions for both boys and girls, there would be 20 semifinal games and 10 championship games to account for. Multiple coaches believe in all or nothing, that they’d only want a return if every division for both boys and girls could participate.
Some coaches pointed out that other MIAA sports have the opportunity to play their championships in a professional environment. The MIAA hockey championships are still held at TD Garden, and the MIAA football championships are played every year at Gillette Stadium.
“Equality,” one coach said. “Hockey there, totally unfair for hoops not to be. Play both or neither there. Unfair to so many male and female basketball players.”
“Just like football plays at Gillette, basketball players should aspire to play in the Garden for the state finals,” one coach said. “Even if it is the boys/girls D3, 2, and 1 finals only. I get that 5 divisions/10 games doesn't work but that shouldn't shortchange other teams from playing there.”
A handful of coaches, though they were in the minority, preferred the Tsongas Center in Lowell for the state championships.
“Lowell provides a great atmosphere,” one coach said. “Garden an empty feeling.”
Should MIAA boys basketball have a Super 8 tournament? Why or why not?
The Super 8 is an elite postseason tournament that hockey used to have to determine the top team in the state, regardless of division. Would basketball coaches welcome the introduction of that? The answers were mixed.
Supporters of a Super 8 basketball tournament said it would increase excitement for MIAA basketball, provide more exposure for players looking for more recruitment and allow the best teams to play the best for an undisputed championship.
“There is an obvious misalignment in the fact that public schools in a single town can succeed all year, only to compete in the state tournament against prep/private schools (Bishop Feehan, BC High, Catholic Memorial, etc.) who can pull from multiple municipalities,” one coach said. “It would be good to see these schools compete in their own high-level subgroup.”
“It would be great for the game of basketball, for those involved and not involved,” another coach said. “It is a win for everyone. More exposure for our top kids, and an opportunity to showcase the best public schools and kids in the state. It also creates equity across the other divisions rather than having one dominant team allowing more kids and schools the opportunity to play deep into the tournament.”
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One supporting coach suggested a tournament format that included the four teams that lose in the quarterfinals would return to their divisional state tournaments, with the four remaining possibly playing in a round robin or double elimination format.
“Anything we can do to highlight the top teams/talent in the MIAA, we should consider,” the coach said. “The Super 8 for hockey was terrific. There are certain things that the MIAA has to offer that NEPSAC does not and never will. Playing for your hometown and having a town come to support the team. We want to create more of those environments for our kids.”
Several coaches opposed the idea of a Super 8 tournament, saying the new statewide tournament format has worked well, and that a Super 8 tournament would water down or lessen the Division 1 tournament.
“Keep the tournament pure and open to everyone,” one coach said.
What is one rule change or structural change you would make to MIAA boys basketball?
Answers to this question ranged from gameplay rules to big-picture structural changes.
Multiple coaches want to see changes to the power rankings system, which determines seeding for the state tournament. Two coaches want to remove the margin of victory component. Other coaches said the power rankings should value winning games more.
“The power seedings are better than before but should also be tweaked a little bit,” one coach said. “There needs to be more value in winning games. We should not see teams 5-15 regardless of league in a tournament.”
Several coaches want to play more regular-season games, with some of them saying they’d like to see up to 25.
“This would help put the MIAA schools on a more level playing field with the prep schools and other state high school associations,” one coach said.
Two coaches said they want to see longer seasons and earlier start times to the season. One would like to see practices start in mid-November, with games starting after Thanksgiving. The other coach wants to see a Nov. 1 start date for non-fall athletes.
Several coaches brought up gameplay rule change ideas, like longer games and shot clocks. Two coaches want a 30-second shot clock, and multiple coaches want to see 36-minute games with nine-minute quarters instead of 32-minute games with eight-minute quarters.
“If we are going to retain kids, then our game has to mimic the college game,” one coach said. “High school games should be 36 minutes (not 32) and have the same shot clock as college.”
“Football plays 48 minutes, hockey 45, soccer 80. Why does hoop ONLY play 32??” one coach added. “Time to expand each period at the varsity level to 9 minutes so games would last at least 36 minutes. Would love a 20-minute half for 40 but wishful thinking. Time to extend the game and this would give in most cases more of a chance to play more kids.”
Four coaches said they want to see 1-and-1 free-throw shooting situations return.
“Make the kids make pressure free throws,” one coach said.
“1-and-1 created great drama in end-of-game situations,” another added.
Multiple coaches said they want to see the state tournament go to neutral sites starting with the quarterfinals. Several more coaches said they want to see changes made to out-of-season coaching restrictions, with one coach saying it’s the No. 1 structural change that needs to happen in MIAA basketball (more on that in Part 4 of the survey).
