WIAA's Updated Divisional Lines Forces Teams To Move Up In Tournament
Monday, January 18th, 2021 -- 10:44 AM
The WIAA has updated the divisional lines for the 2020-21 boys and girls tournament series to create equal divisions.
For the boys, the reduced number of schools willing to host games, and 39 teams across the state opting out of the playoffs, the WIAA decided to split its five divisions equally with 89 schools in Division 1, 90 schools in Division 2, 90 schools in Division 3, 89 schools in Division 4 and 89 schools in Division 5. This means that 134 boys' basketball teams move up an entire division.
According to WisSports.net, the old format, which included the 39 schools that have since opted out, had 68 schools in Division 1, 89 in Division 2, 101 in Division 3, 101 in Division 4 and 128 in Division 5.
Among the top 10 teams at the Division 5 level in the current WisSports.net Coaches Poll, eight have been moved up to Division 4.
Eleven other ranked teams -- two in Division 4, five in Division 3 and four in Division 2 -- also move up one division.
In an effort to reduce travel and thus cut down on the potential spread of COVID-19, all regionals will be split into five- or six-team pods with the higher seeded teams in each regional hosting games on Feb. 16, 19 and 20.
Following regional play, the four remaining teams in each division will be re-seeded with the higher seeded squad again hosting at the sectional level on February 25 and 27.
The state tournament, which likely will be held at multiple sites due to COVID-19, is set for March 4-5-6.
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For the girls, the divisions are broken down into four sectional groupings, and each sectional is broken down into four regional groupings. Just like for boys basketball, following regional play, the four remaining teams in each division will be re-seeded with the higher seeded squad again hosting at the sectional level.
WisSports.net reports that the WIAA also announced a change in the state tournament structure. They have indicated that each division will be played at a separate location, with state semi-final and final games to be played on the same day, similar to the volleyball plan from the fall.
The WIAA also announced that the Three-Point Challenge would be canceled for this season.
Division 4 ranked teams moving up to D3 in our area include: Neillsville (No. 7), and Osseo-Fairchild (No. 9)
Revised divisional assignments and placements:
Girls Basketball
Boys Basketball
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