There is a lot to do in the Madison area this weekend, including the Badger State Summer Games, Rhythm & Booms and the Cross Plains World's Fair.

But if you are a prep basketball fan, Middleton High School will host the First Cardinal Classic boys' basketball tournament Saturday and Sunday. The field will include 36 teams from around the state representing all four divisions.

That includes Big Eight Conference schools Beloit Memorial, Madison East, Madison La Follette, Sun Prairie, Verona -- which moves into the Big Eight from the Badger South this fall -- and host Middleton.

"Many high school coaches will be using their contact days to coach their teams, so it will be very competitive," Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. "Most teams expect their best players to attend since it is before the AAU period. Racine Horlick coach Jason Treutlaar has confirmed that NCAA Division 1 recruit Jamil Wilson will compete."

Four games are guaranteed for each team, including three in pool play on Saturday and at least one on Sunday when all teams advance to a single elimination tournament based on their pool play finish.

Bavery said the tournament will implement a new free throw format on a trial basis. When the clock is running, all shooting free throws (bonus and two-shot fouls) will result in an automatic one point plus one free throw.

"The free throw concept is similar to one I picked up while at a Bobby Knight Team Camp several years ago," Bavery said. "Only there you got an automatic two points -- no free throws were shot.

"With coach Knight, it was a total defensive emphasis in that camp and you were penalized for all the senseless fouls. We decided that so much excessive time is run off the clock in the summer in most leagues and tournaments during free throws that we would try something new. It might not go as well as I'm hoping for, but it will be the same for all teams."

Bavery said the Cardinal Classic, which he is planning to be an annual event, brings back memories of his days coaching at Oregon High School when former Madison Memorial coach Bruce Dahmen started the MADBALL tournament.

"It was 40 teams and I absolutely loved that tournament because everyone brought their best teams," Bavery said. "Two weeks later it was the La Follette Tournament, so we could always count on MADBALL in mid-July and La Follette at the end of July.

"But those tournaments faded so I wanted to bring back something similar. I think it's a missing element in high school basketball with so many players traveling all over the country for a variety of reasons. But there's nothing that takes the place of being and competing with your teammates."

Following is the list of teams -- including their regular season conference affiliation -- and the respective pools they will compete in during the opening round. See the entire Cardinal Classic schedule.

Pool A -- Appleton East (Fox Valley), Marshall (Capitol South), Madison Edgewood (Badger South), Milwaukee South (Milwaukee City)

Pool B -- Schofield DC Everest (Wisconsin Valley), Middleton (Big Eight), Neenah (Fox River Classic), Racine Horlick (Southeast)

Pool C -- Beloit Memorial (Big Eight), Benton (Six Rivers West), La Crosse Aquinas (Mississippi Valley), Stoughton (Badger South)

Pool D "“ Madison East (Big Eight), Monroe (Badger South), Waupun (Eastern Wisconsin), Wisconsin Rapids (Wisconsin Valley)

Pool E "“ Brookfield Central (Greater Metro), La Crosse Logan (Mississippi Valley), Kettle Moraine (Classic Eight), Sun Prairie (Big Eight)

Pool F "“ Lakeside Lutheran (Capitol North), Madison LaFollette (Big Eight), Wausau West (Wisconsin Valley), Whitefish Bay Dominican (Midwest Classic)

Pool G "“ La Crosse Central (Mississippi Valley), Manitowoc Roncalli (Olympian), Port Washington (North Shore), Verona (Big Eight)

Pool H "“ Cuba City (SWAL), Reedsburg (Badger North), Stevens Point (Wisconsin Valley), Wauwatosa West (Woodland North)

Pool I "“ Ashwaubenon (Fox River Classic), Elkhorn (Southern Lakeshore), Monona Grove (Badger South), Wausau East (Wisconsin Valley)
dsemrau@madison.com