That gentle whoosh you hear in the background? The garden hose watering down the state high school boys’ basketball tournament. Water, water everywhere.

And it’s not like state tournaments in Connecticut were ever bastions of contentiousness anyway, what with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s edict that winning 40 percent of one’s games merited an invitation in most sports. Imagine: an 8-12 record used to be good enough for the postseason.

Note the words “used to be.” This season, five schools will be participating with records even poorer: Darien (7-13), Staples (7-13), Rocky Hill (7-13), Killingly (7-13) and West Haven (6-14). Just so we are clear: a 6-14 record computes to a winning percentage of .300. It’s like a Major League Baseball team making the playoffs with a record of 49-113. (The ’62 Mets would have come within an eyelash.)

The question: why? Seems the state basketball committee likes the concept of symmetry over achievement. Per the suits, 32 teams, by golly, will qualify in the state’s four divisions. If there aren’t 32 schools with .400 winning percentages, six- and seven-win schools fill in the remaining slots. This year, Class LL and Class M were short of 32.

Common sense suggests that byes are a much more prudent call in divisions where 32 teams don’t win eight games. Byes assure higher seeds more rest and the ability to scout their future opponents the night the tournament begins if they choose.

But then assuring that 32 teams make each division also assures the CIAC collects its $150 tournament entry fee from 32 schools in each division. Had the five aforementioned schools failed to qualify with their sterling 7-13/6-14 records, the CIAC would be out $750.

OK. I get it. Money’s money and we’re not all Mother Teresa. It’s just that a precedent has been set. Other sports should be considered for playoff expansion. And so the next time we hear moral outrage or specious soliloquies about expanding the state football playoffs, let’s make sure we respond with “Darien, Staples, West Haven, Rocky Hill and Killingly.”

Seriously. Every time the football committee proposes another division or an expansion in the current divisions, the keepers of the gate start shouting damnation. Abominations against humanity. The water-down-ization of high school sports. Sure wasn’t like that back in the old days when you had to walk three days with no shoes to play your opponent 10 times your size on a rock-infested field surrounded by mountain lions.

But it’s OK to add 7-13/6-14 teams for basketball?

And it’s not like the football guys pine for the 3-7 schools. Maybe an occasional 7-3 or 6-4. You know. Teams that actually win.

Now I’m not suggesting that if football doesn’t expand, the apocalypse is imminent. But how about this: We add a technical school/cooperative division, thereby removing them from the other divisions, adding more integrity to the brackets and creating more room for teams whose leagues and strengths of schedule are more worthy of the postseason.

Translation: We send all those 9-1 tech schools and co-ops who play nobody to a separate playoff division, while SCC and FCIAC schools who get their brains beat in every week have a better chance.

Is that asking too much?

Remember, CIAC: You started this with basketball. You went to the window and collected your $750. So if another sport wants equal consideration, aren’t you obligated to acquiesce?

I’m not suggesting the five schools in question are going to be lunchmeat in the basketball tournament. Wouldn’t shock me if Rocky Hill, for example, scared the bejesus out of Waterford in the first round of Class M. The point is: Does a 7-13 team belong? Should winning percentages of .350 and .300 be rewarded?

Next time you see a baseball team finish 49-113, just remember: It’s good enough for Connecticut.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro. Twitter: @BCgenius