League depth

[MustangStealth]

Nobody from C-USA was selected for the NIT field, meaning only 1 team will be in the post season. Hopefully next year some of the new coaches from this year can get their guys in and we can get back to a league that sends 4-5 teams to the NCAA/NIT.

[Charleston Pony]

this was as weak a year in CUSA as we are ever likely to see. Did anyone in CUSA (besides Memphis) beat any of the teams headed for either the NCAA or NIT?

[CA Mustang]

Did anyone in CUSA (besides Memphis) beat any of the teams headed for either the NCAA or NIT?

Of the serious NIT contenders (Tulsa, UCF, UH and USM), the only win I found over a tournament-bound team was Tulsa beating ORU.

Both UCF and USM played incredibly easy schedules with a huge number of home games. UH played a tougher schedule, but lost to the teams that qualified for the postseason. Tulsa fared slightly better (beating ORU), but they also lost to NTSU.

Could probably find a few more wins in the rest of the league, but obviously those teams weren't NCAA or NIT contenders.

[ponyboy]

Interesting that mid majors only received six at large bids to the dance this year. Down from 8 last year, 9 the year before and 12 the year before that.

[MustangIcon]

Interesting that mid majors only received six at large bids to the dance this year. Down from 8 last year, 9 the year before and 12 the year before that.

Found that interesting too especially with all the attention mid majors received last season and coming into this season. Drexel sure did get the shaft in my opinion. Of course, like any year, a bunch of teams could say the same thing.

[MustangStealth]

I'm pretty sure those numbers from 2 and 3 years ago count C-USA as a mid-major, which it definitely was not until last year. C-USA with Memphis, Louisville, Cincy, DePaul, Marquette, etc. was a high major. So take out the C-USA numbers from those 2 years and I'll bet it's pretty even.

[Charleston Pony]

bottom line is that CUSA stunk this year. If/when Memphis bows out early, Calipari will complain that it's because of the soft schedule not preparing them for tough games. Let's face it...when SMU scared you late in the season and the only thing that they were playing for was to go unbeaten in CUSA play...that doesn't bode well for how they might respond to the pressure of being a #2 seed.

Let's just hope Memphis can live up to that seed and at least make the Elite Eight

[MustangStealth]

On the women's side, only 1 team made the NCAA but 3 teams were picked for the NIT (Tulane, Rice, UAB).

[Sam I Am]

Granted that the CUSA was weak, but was TCU any better off in BB with the MWC? And we thought that the BCS monoply was only in FB bowl games. Anyone we ever argues that SMU should drop FB and concentrate on BB should reflect upon what happens if you are a mid-major in anything.

[EastStang]

Obviously, losing Louisville, Marquette, UNCC, Cincinnati was a huge blow to CUSA basketball. But we still have Memphis, Tulsa, UAB, Houston, and UTEP all of which have some very large NCAA tournament skins on the wall. Every time someone mentions Houston they mention (Elvin Hayes and Phi Slamma Jamma). UTEP was Texas Western. UAB, Tulsa and Memphis have all made significant runs in the tournament. We now have some good coaches in CUSA. Penders, Calipiri, Doherty, Eustachy, Wolijik (sp?), Stokes. Marshall fired their coach. I think we'll be fine in a couple of years and back to a three bid conference if these guys stay.