Graceland Tar Heel wrote:Has an SMU team ever gotten to Madison Square Garden in the NIT? Even in the 1990s that was something worth achieving.
Go win the NIT. Use that as a stepping stone.
We beat Clemson in MSG and then lost to Minnesota in the finals back in 2014. Haven't been there since that time (when Larry Brown was our coach)
That's how little I've been paying attention to the NIT this century and a bit before.
I am old enough to remember that last time a team turned down the NCAA to take the NIT: 1970 Marquette. Al McGuire said that his team deserved to go out champ of something and he felt that UCLA was a shoo in to win another NCAA. So the Warriors then won the NIT. It pissed off the NCAA so much I think the NCAA demanded that any team it invited must go or else it would forfeit ever again getting an invite. So the NCAA was sued. That settlement was the reason the NCAA first began considering expanding its tournament - just to harm the NIT.
Graceland Tar Heel wrote:Has an SMU team ever gotten to Madison Square Garden in the NIT? Even in the 1990s that was something worth achieving.
Go win the NIT. Use that as a stepping stone.
We beat Clemson in MSG and then lost to Minnesota in the finals back in 2014. Haven't been there since that time (when Larry Brown was our coach)
That's how little I've been paying attention to the NIT this century and a bit before.
I am old enough to remember that last time a team turned down the NCAA to take the NIT: 1970 Marquette. Al McGuire said that his team deserved to go out champ of something and he felt that UCLA was a shoo in to win another NCAA. So the Warriors then won the NIT. It pissed off the NCAA so much I think the NCAA demanded that any team it invited must go or else it would forfeit ever again getting an invite. So the NCAA was sued. That settlement was the reason the NCAA first began considering expanding its tournament - just to harm the NIT.
Well if that don't beat all. The NCAA out to screw someone or some institution.
highlander wrote:Wake's stated reason for opting out -- to focus on next year -- is obviously BS. Coaching staffs can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Spot-on, highlander. Football coaches across the country managed to prepare for bowl games (OR IN OUR CASE, THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF) and navigate the December signing date just fine. This seems pretty whiny and self-pitying by Wake. If I was a senior on that WF team with no viable pro options ahead, I'd be furious.
Graceland Tar Heel wrote:Has an SMU team ever gotten to Madison Square Garden in the NIT? Even in the 1990s that was something worth achieving.
Go win the NIT. Use that as a stepping stone.
We beat Clemson in MSG and then lost to Minnesota in the finals back in 2014. Haven't been there since that time (when Larry Brown was our coach)
That season was one for the ages.
It was the first time I've ever experienced solid college basketball on the Hilltop. That double digit win over LSU at Moody with a good number of Tiger fans (though no where near the number that Duke did this year), and the buzzer beater to beat Cal at home leading up to that big win over Clemson at MSG...just a magical season despite it still being in the NIT.
South Carolina and LSU both declined invitations to the NIT. I guess extra practice and playing time doesn't matter that much to some programs.
One wonders in the one and done seasons college BB faces if extra p[laying time is a benefit for teams. Why coach up a kid headed for the transfer portal or pro basketball? Especially if the financials are not beneficial.
Ga Tech got smoked on their home court by Jacksonville State of CUSA but Stanford beat Cal-Northridge to advance in their NIT game. Okie State beat Wichita State and will play the winner of our game tonight.
UNC dispatched SDSU easily to advance to the 6 vs 11 game in the NCAA
tristatecoog wrote:A game vs OK State would be a fun litmus test.
I got lots of ΓÇ£welcome to the ACCΓÇ¥ comments in Charlotte by various ACC fans.
I think we proved in year one that "we belong". Now we have to reinforce that belief by continuing to compete at the top of the conference standings in a many sports as possible, but especially in football and basketball
GHammond wrote:Mentally or psychically, Highlander?
Unlike some programs that might feel as if they were slighted by the committee, I think our team knows they did not deserve the NCAA bid. The simple fact is that we could not beat teams from strong conferences with winning records in those conferences, despite several opportunities in Moody (MSU, Duke, Louisville, Clemson & Wake). Our "best win" this year was arguably against Stanford in Moody. I doubt this team is disappointed with getting a # 1 seed in the NIT and getting to play as many as 3 more games in Moody and having an opportunity to play for another tournament title.
GHammond wrote:Mentally or psychically, Highlander?
I was wondering if any of our players had "opted out" of the tournament.
We have 3 guys finishing up their collegiate careers (Cross, Harris & Ambrose-Hylton) and I expect they are going to be highly motivated to go out as winners. Would be special for Harris to make it to the Final Four and be able to finish his career where it began. His return to Hinkle earlier this season was a huge disappointment losing to his former Butler team that finished 14-19 this year including 7-15 against Big East teams
