ST Johns declines NIT bid

[JungleLobo]

As if the snubbed teams kids don’t show up in the 1st game anyways.

There’s a reason why North Texas is the defending champ, and it’s not because they’re the best.

 

[gsmooth]

As if the snubbed teams kids don’t show up in the 1st game anyways.

There’s a reason why North Texas is the defending champ, and it’s not because they’re the best.

exactly. read my post #43 above

 

[That Guy]

Love this from Tom Crean. 100% agree.

 

[JungleLobo]

Love this from Tom Crean. 100% agree.

Said the washed up coach that’s been on TV for years.

Don’t forget to thank your producer for what to rant on.

 

[nomar]

You leave it up to your team. My guess is that the St. John's players didn't want to play in the NIT. What makes this tough is that Butler's Hinckle Fieldhouse is the host of the semis and finals so it's kind of a black eye to the Big East. If the NIT semis and finals were at MSG, I would think St. John's would be willing to play.

All that said, the portal opens tomorrow and there will be a lot of action for St. John's. It's kind of dumb for the portal to open tomorrow given we are in March Madness. The players are going to finish their semesters so why doesn't the portal open after the championship?

My guess is that Pitino didn't want to do that and told his players why they didn't want to do it.

You think these kids wouldn't want an opportunity to finish the 2024 season by winning at MSG? What senior wants his career to end?

I think this is portal-related. Pitino's got bigger fish to fry.

And, yeah, the fact that the portal opens now is downright ridiculous. What morons thought that was a good idea?

 

[kobe]

Love this from Tom Crean. 100% agree.

 

[JungleLobo]

That’s the most amped up Canadian alive

 

[nomar]

Sadly yes. The NIT died when the NCAA went from 32 to 64.

Was it dead when UConn won the '88 NIT or when Rip and K-Free and Rickey and Jake went to the NIT Final 4 in 1997? Seemed pretty damn alive to me.

I appreciate things are different now, with the portal, but I find it incredible that schools want to end their seasons. As Crean said, in football, there are tons of guys sitting out. You don't want to play, then don't play. But you're going to tell me the guys who are out of eligibility want to end their season on a conference tournament loss? I haven't played competitive sports for a long time, but I just can't imagine ever wanting that.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

As opposed to what not playing? You have a chance to make a name for yourself at the start of an era with Pitino, you think Hurley turns down an NIT bid in 2020 and screws over Christian Vitale.

The portal opens tomorrow
It’s insane that the portal is opening while games are still going on but you could conceivably go into the NIT with 1/2 your team.
Thats not a tournament it’s a joke .
If last years bowl season was a preview a tournament like the NIT could be a disaster
it’s not 1988 or even 2020 we’re in a brave new unknown world
The NCAA brought this on themselves It’s their responsibility to fix it.

 

[CL82]

man up and play in the tournament coward

Well really, the NIT isn't what it once was. I could see why teams with some self-respect would choose not to play in what is an essence a participation trophy.

Oh wait, uh not Cinci Kobe.. um you guys had a .. um ... a season, I guess.

 

[87Xfer]

My guess is that Pitino didn't want to do that and told his players why they didn't want to do it.

You think these kids wouldn't want an opportunity to finish the 2024 season by winning at MSG? What senior wants his career to end?

I think this is portal-related. Pitino's got bigger fish to fry.

And, yeah, the fact that the portal opens now is downright ridiculous. What morons thought that was a good idea?

Yes.

 

[JungleLobo]

Was it dead when UConn won the '88 NIT or when Rip and K-Free and Rickey and Jake went to the NIT Final 4 in 1997? Seemed pretty damn alive to me.

I appreciate things are different now, with the portal, but I find it incredible that schools want to end their seasons. As Crean said, in football, there are tons of guys sitting out. You don't want to play, then don't play. But you're going to tell me the guys who are out of eligibility want to end their season on a conference tournament loss? I haven't played competitive sports for a long time, but I just can't imagine ever wanting that.

You don’t get anymore NIL, so go get that Turkish or Argentinian cheddah

 

[maple]

Not surprised at all.

The NIT is the basketball version of non-playoff bowl games in football. They just don’t matter anymore.

Yep. I've always heard it referred to as the No Interest Tournament. (I was born in '88, for reference.)

Though UConn football winning the Great Value Bowl would be more interesting and meaningful to me than UConn MBB winning the NIT.

 

[Waquoit]

Stiffing the NIT is the right move. Especially for St John's since they move the NIT out of the Garden.

 

[uconnbill]

My feeling is that players want to play and get more exposure. Why wouldn't they, even in the NIT

 

[gsmooth]

My feeling is that players want to play and get more exposure. Why wouldn't they, even in the NIT

What exposure are they going to get in the NIT? Hardly anyone watches it.

 

[How Sway?!]

My guess is that Pitino didn't want to do that and told his players why they didn't want to do it.

You think these kids wouldn't want an opportunity to finish the 2024 season by winning at MSG? What senior wants his career to end?

I think this is portal-related. Pitino's got bigger fish to fry.

And, yeah, the fact that the portal opens now is downright ridiculous. What morons thought that was a good idea?

The NIT is not at MSG anymore

 

[Waquoit]

My feeling is that players want to play and get more exposure. Why wouldn't they, even in the NIT

Are you on the team, Bill?

 

[HooperScooper]

That works with a young team that is all coming back, not a team of 5th year mercenaries.

Is most of his team gone after the season? If so then I see your point.

 

[uconnbill]

Are you on the team, Bill?

nope, but come on who doesn't want to keep playing?

 

[HuskyHoosier]

is there any logical reason for why they don't delay the portal until after the final four?

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I hope Johnnies declined because the players didn't want to play the NIT. If players wanted to play, Pitino should have let them play.

 

[SallyH]

Pitino is done with this current team...he's out for revenge and on to the portal. Hide the UConn player phones & block calls from Pitino cell#

His team probably mostly didn't care about NIT either...would have been an early exit.

Why any player would want to play for him is beyond me. He ditches all the players he inherited, hand picked his team in the portal, and publically trashes them and now whines about not making the tournament.

 

[nomar]

The NIT is not at MSG anymore

Oof. Where is it? A high school gym in Staten Island?

Edit: I see it’s Hinkle. I hear the hoops are 12 feet above the ground there.

 

[SubbaBub]

NIT isn't going to pause the transfer market. Not worth it for any team looking ahead to next season. Agree with Pitino on this one. One reason for him to play is a run to the final would help build the local fanbase. He's going to turn his roster over again so may as well get one with it.