Win the NIT or NCAA First Round Loss?

[SMU Section F]

NIT would be a satisfactory consolation prize, but the NCAA tournament is the goal. No question.

[Tx_Mustang10]

I've never seen an NIT game and had never heard of it until Godfather-mania began on this board. But NCAA gets your name on every bracket in the nation.

[Rebel10]

NIT would be a satisfactory consolation prize, but the NCAA tournament is the goal. No question.

I agree for this year.

It's kind of like the football team going to their first bowl game in over 20 years after having a 6 or 7 win seasons and it it a mid to low level bowl. The first time you do it the feeling generally is that is nice just to get to any post season play but after 3 or 4 years of going to that mid to low level bowl you would think the team would do better. Same with the NIT or CBI. If we do not go to the NCAA this year then the NIT would be good but 2 or 3 years from now if we are still going to the NIT then it is not so good at that point.

[CoxMustangFan]

Who the hell are the 9 that voted for NIT?

[skyscraper]

NCAA no question.

[Grant Carter]

I've never seen an NIT game and had never heard of it until Godfather-mania began on this board. But NCAA gets your name on every bracket in the nation.

I agree with your last sentence, but if you had not heard of the NIT before the last two years you really have not been following college basketball closely for very long.

[Tx_Mustang10]

Nah, you're right; I hadn't. I'd attend a few games in Austin growing up and watch March Madness (and the NBA Finals), but that was it. I only ever cared about football until LB came to SMU.

[SMU89]

What's winner of NIT?

Best team that didn't make NCAA?

[OhioBrownFan]

What's winner of NIT?

Best team that didn't make NCAA?

Nothing. You get a pat on the back. It's worthless other than a way to keep playing. In theory, yes, it's the best team that didn't make the NCAA or probably deserved a bid. But yippee, nobody cares.

[smusportspage]

Beat Houston!

[DiamondM]

I voted for NCAA, because the NIT is a consolation prize. NCAA is where you want to be, even if it means losing in the first round.

But in fairness, the winner of the NIT is not the 65th or 69th best team in the country -- more like the 40-45th best, better than many of the auto qualifiers from lower conferences, and often better than mediocre teams from big conferences that made it in as at large teams based on name and reputation.

[couch 'em]

NCAA obvious choice for publicity.

Plus with all the attentiin we are getting in the media not making the tourney would be seen as underperforming.

[MustangStealth]

NCAA obvious choice for publicity.

Plus with all the attentiin we are getting in the media not making the tourney would be seen as underperforming.

The question says "First Round" which means you're losing in those Tuesday/Wednesday night games in Dayton. There really isn't that much publicity for those teams, and what there is is mainly negative. You become the team that should have been left out in favor of the biggest "snub". I don't think that's the kind of publicity we want.

If we aren't even going to play in a "real" tournament round, I'd rather win the NIT.

[OhioBrownFan]

NCAA obvious choice for publicity.

Plus with all the attentiin we are getting in the media not making the tourney would be seen as underperforming.

The question says "First Round" which means you're losing in those Tuesday/Wednesday night games in Dayton. There really isn't that much publicity for those teams, and what there is is mainly negative. You become the team that should have been left out in favor of the biggest "snub". I don't think that's the kind of publicity we want.

If we aren't even going to play in a "real" tournament round, I'd rather win the NIT.

They aren't going to be one of the last 4 in. Trust me, they're either gonna be in solid or they won't be. No room for wins that put them on the true bubble. They gotta win 2 of the big games and take care of the games that they will be favored in or they won't be in. If they do that, they're sitting on a 10 line or better. Not to sound like a know it all, but I really follow this stuff very closely every year as it directly relates to my job. I can pretty much tell you for a fact they won't be in the group of the last 4 unless they simply win all the games they should and don't get another big win and somehow sneak in.

[MustangStealth]

They aren't going to be one of the last 4 in. Trust me, they're either gonna be in solid or they won't be. No room for wins that put them on the true bubble. They gotta win 2 of the big games and take care of the games that they will be favored in or they won't be in. If they do that, they're sitting on a 10 line or better. Not to sound like a know it all, but I really follow this stuff very closely every year as it directly relates to my job. I can pretty much tell you for a fact they won't be in the group of the last 4 unless they simply win all the games they should and don't get another big win and somehow sneak in.

It doesn't matter. It's a purely hypothetical poll, and the question says clearly "First Round Loss". I would rather win the NIT than lose in one of those midweek games that most people ignore.