BCAM: We prefer more flexibility fromMHSAA
The vibe around the local boys basketball coaching fraternity is one of restlessness.
With the start of practice already being delayed twice due to the continuing issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, some in the Oakland County coaching world feel their sport is being marginalized.
“The MHSAA is making us second-class citizens, we lost our state tournament last year, this year they’re giving us six weeks to complete an entire regular season schedule,” North Farmington head coach Todd Negoshian said. “They bend over backwards for football and we keep getting the short end of the stick.”
As of right now, practice can begin on Jan. 16. Games can tipoff on January 22, giving coaches less than a week to make cuts and set their rotations before live competition. Should things begin on Jan. 16, the district tournament for boys basketball would begin on March 9, with the state finals being played on March 27.
That schedule is reliant on the epidemic order issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, along with Gov. GretchenWhitmer, not being extended past its Jan. 15 expiration date. The order has already been extended on two occasions since issued on Nov. 15.
“I think the unknown kills you the most, it can drive you insane if you let it, it’s really hard,” West Bloomfield head coach Jeremy Denha said. “Everyone is obvi
ously frustrated.
“The whole thing makes me nervous, stuffing everything into such a small timetable.
“There’s still a lot of questions to be answered. I just hope theMHSAA is flexible going forward.”
The MHSAA’s flexibility factor has come into question by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. BCAM recently sent a letter to the MHSAA suggesting proposals for better navigating the 2021 campaign, but felt those suggestions were being ignored.
The BCAMhad four proposals:
• 1. A 20 game-regular season. If a school is eliminated from the state tournament, they are allowed to schedule games until the postseason has concluded to reach a maximum of 20 games.
• 2. Allow teams the option of playing up to four games in a week, including two on one day if it is a nonschool day.
• 3. Allow for four player workouts and/or practices before the Jan. 16 start date.
• 4. If nothing can be done prior to Jan. 16, push the start of the state tournament back two or three weeks to allow some wiggle room for any games missed during the season due to COVID or weather. That would push the postseason into mid-April.
“The hiccups in a situation like this are inevitable, you want to limit them though and not shoot yourself in the foot,” Clarkston head coach Tim Wasilk said.
“Players, coaches, we’re all just eager to compete.”
Wasilk, Denha and Negoshian’s teams will be slugging it out for bragging rights in the OAA Red this winter.
Clarkston is the OAA Red’s 14-time defending champion.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s was the No. 1 team in the state when the 2020 state tournament was suspended and later cancelled after district semifinals and is arguably the state’s top club again for the upcoming season.
Mr. Basketball candidate Julian Roper (Northwestern) triggers the Eaglets’ attack.
“We all know the MHSAA is doing the best they can with the situation, my only complaint has been about communication,” St. Mary’s head coach Todd Covert said.