Subjective Satisfaction Meter

[mrydel]

I am judging totally with hindsight. No doubt I would pick NCAA over NIT at the outset. But I cannot deny that the NIT run that we have been on has been a very positive experience. I do believe we are getting as much or more attention than me MIGHT have with NCAA if we had an early exit. Obviously, a couple of NCAA wins or more would certainly be a better thing.

The major question in Arkansas was NCAA first round loss or NIT Championship. It was overwhelmingly 1st round NCAA loss. I would have said the same in the beginning but now question which is the best. In reality I think I still want the NCAA but again, the ride we are on now sure is nice. It is a nice consolation prize to help heal the wounds of non selection.

[2ndandlong]

From a pure revenue/budget perspective, I've found a few articles about how a deep NIT run is financially better than a one and done bounce from NCAA. I had posted on this before and missed 1 major detail. Hosting a game guarantees host team keeps all costs to cover expenses PLUS (here's what I missed) 15% of all host revenue in excess of cost. The rest goes into sharing pool that is divided between all NIT teams based on units earned for games played - similar to NCAA unit sharing.

Historically, the break even point has been around NIT semi-finals; whereby, you would walk away with more money than a single game in NCAA.

Major benefits of NIT that make it more profitable, that 15% is not shared within the conference, so 3 home games will really boost the SMU revenue further with high attendance and two sellouts.

Go to New York, and we are most likely making more money than a one game appearance.

[PK]

In the long run, the NIT experience and not getting to the NCAA will be a great benefit to this young team. However, for the program, the you get more press and attention for making the Tourney than you do If you win the entire NIT

I think that in our case, because there was so much media attention to the fact we got snubbed, if we win the NIT the media exposure will once again be good. That probably isn't the case in most years, but this year is really different.

GO MUSTANGS

[The PonyGrad]

The other thing about our situation is that we lost the last three games of the season so getting bounced in the first round would have been a four game losing streak bummer. Being able to come back and string some wins together helps.

[ponydawg]

Goal is always NCAA Dance. But in OUR situation, I think the TEAM is benefitting more from this tournament experience. I think this tourney has us finally playing ball like we were before the Russ Show came to town and deflated our team.

[ojaipony]

As I've said, I will only feel satisfied with an NIT Championship. We will get good publicity and most likely start next year ranked. That's the standard now for this program.

[mustangxc]

The sting of being left out has worn off, but if you think winning the NIT is better than making the NCAA tournament I don't know what to tell you. BTW I say this as a general statement, not particularly to you mrydel.

I appreciate the difference in prestige of the tournaments, but a significant disparity of results matters. IF SMU wins the NIT, will Iowa and Xavier really think they had a better postseason?

As an example, ask St. John's if they are happy with their NIT appearance or if they would have preferred to be in the NCAA tournament.

As they lost to an #8 seed at home they likely would have been blown out as a low seed in NCAA game. Either way, they failed this postseason.

Not a better post-season, but a better overall season. There is no way to predict how St. John's would have performed in the NCAA tournament. They clearly wanted no part of the NIT and it showed. Had they been in the NCAA tournament they might have had an inspired performance and won a couple of games. Lavin has a history of barely getting in and subsequently winning a couple. They may have also proven that they really didn't belong. Post-season performance is not a valid argument to validate a team belonging. Invitations are based purely on regular season performance, not expected post-season performance.

[mustangxc]

I appreciate the difference in prestige of the tournaments, but a significant disparity of results matters. IF SMU wins the NIT, will Iowa and Xavier really think they had a better postseason?

Risk versus reward.

I've loved this NIT ride so far, but it really comes down to the fact that the NCAA tournament is every quality team's goal at the beginning of the year. The NIT is the next best option, but it is just that. Nobody rejects a NCAA bid for a NIT bid.

True, but you have to incorporate the results in your final evaluation. Do you really think the teams that went to the NCAA tournament and lost in first/second round games really view their season as a success? Even those with blowout/embarrassing losses?

Unless you win the NCAA tournament or make the Final Four it really doesn't matter. At the end of the day people will simply remember whether or not you made the tournament or whether or not you made the NIT. St John's has 30 NIT appearances. Is that really something to be proud of? To me that shows that they have been a solid program that simply can't get it done. Years down the road I would rather be able to say we have 10 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances than say we have 7 NCAA tournament appearances and 3 NIT appearances and won it once and made it to NY another time.

[ponyinNC]

for a young team, this NIT run to me is much like our first few bowl games - I like the players getting the extra games and experience in postseason play.

was it what we all wanted? no. but there are good things to come out of this tourney.

[mustangxc]

I am judging totally with hindsight. No doubt I would pick NCAA over NIT at the outset. But I cannot deny that the NIT run that we have been on has been a very positive experience. I do believe we are getting as much or more attention than me MIGHT have with NCAA if we had an early exit. Obviously, a couple of NCAA wins or more would certainly be a better thing.

The major question in Arkansas was NCAA first round loss or NIT Championship. It was overwhelmingly 1st round NCAA loss. I would have said the same in the beginning but now question which is the best. In reality I think I still want the NCAA but again, the ride we are on now sure is nice. It is a nice consolation prize to help heal the wounds of non selection.

For a legitimate program that has arrived it is a no doubter. I guess we are not there yet.

[skurtn]

Personally, I'm enjoying this NIT run so far. We've gotten so much exposure on ESPN, it's crazy. Hell, we're even being mentioned in the same breath of big time schools like Florida State and Clemson. Please know, I'm not saying these schools are basketball power houses, but it's nice to be able to be mentioned along side those folks.

[mrydel]

I will not be satisfied with the NIT again in the foreseeable future.

[SMU Section F]

I will not be satisfied with the NIT again in the foreseeable future.

This.

[PonySnob]

We shouldn't be satisfied with 6-6 regular seasons in football so we can have "bowl eligibility" anymore either..............

[PSCA]

The NCAA is the big leagues, and everyone wants a shot at the big’s. I was only disappointed because of what I felt then and still do, that SMU got hosed by the selection committee. But, as far as value proposition for the program … where the program is right now, I was good with the NIT. For this year, I think we are getting better coverage and pub then we would have in the NCAA. Now, that is making a huge assumption on my part … that is, we would not be a Cinderella story in the sweet 16. Aside from that, I think this is much better than a 12-14 seed one and down. Why?

1) An opp to sell the Brand even more locally and with the student body, because the games are at the “NEW” Moody.
2) We are about to be on National TV in Tournament play for the 3rd time. The talking heads are talking about SMU’s B-Ball turnaround, LB & staff, the people we have committed and those who are looking, the new facilities, the energy and buzz surrounding the program/community, the fact that we got hosed by the NCAA and why, we are the overall #1 seed etc. Very little of this happens if we are a one and down in the NCAA.
3) Current and future recruits get to see us again (TV, or in person), the energy at Moody, and to hear National analyst say “This one of loudest/most energized atmosphere I’ve seen for a game”. I think this really sells the brand to these kids even more.
4) Get to see Caleb’s in the crowd … we are a “hot” ticket.

I could ramble and rattle out more thoughts. But, I truly believe (again separate of a sweet 16/Cinderella story), this is/was the best for us this year IMO.