NIT Changes

[Hey Adrien!]

I hate this.

The NIT can be a highlight for a mid-major team and an embarrassing for a high-major team. All this does is prevent mid-majors from playing.

 

[auror]

This must be a response to the Fox thing, but not sure in what way. Maybe it was a compromise with the Fox conferences to keep them from agreeing to the Fox deal (so maybe that's dead now).

 

[storrsroars]

I hate this.

The NIT can be a highlight for a mid-major team and an embarrassing for a high-major team. All this does is prevent mid-majors from playing.

NCAA once again telling fans they don't matter.

But hey, this is probably the best thing that's happened for Wake Forest this century.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This must be a response to the Fox thing, but not sure in what way. Maybe it was a compromise with the Fox conferences to keep them from agreeing to the Fox deal (so maybe that's dead now).

That's the speculation. Still this blows. No teams get screwed more than regular season champs from small conferences who don't win the tournament. Regular season should >> conf tournaments.

 

[OkaForPrez]

The Mid Majors that don't get into the dance should form their own tournament, it would be more entertaining than the NIT.

 

[navery12]

Nobody watches the NIT anyway, but guaranteeing 12 host teams per year being teams that fans won't show up or watch is obviously a great business decision

 

[JonnyRI]

This one’s for you Syracuse!!!

 

[UCLJ0211]

It’s good to be a UConn fan - where this doesn’t apply to us!

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I've watched like 3 NIT games my entire life that I can remember, when UConn lost at home to Arizona State being the latest.

Sucks for the low majors but I suspect even a bad power league team will draw more eyeballs than a random low major regular season winner.

 

[M.S.G.]

Lindsey Hunter lit us up in the NIT

 

[Waquoit]

As did Trent Tucker. But that was before we got good.

 

[HooperScooper]

It’s good to be a UConn fan - where this doesn’t apply to us!

Don't be arrogant and jinx it! We've been in the NIT plenty of times since Calhoun started in 1986.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I suspect that 18-14 Minnesota will draw more fans and TV eyeballs than a low-major conference champ who lost their tournament, but it sure as hell won't be more meaningful for them.

 

[dogpause]

Lindsey Hunter lit us up in the NIT

And it still hurts.

 

[Waquoit]

And it still hurts.

Ehhh. That team never came together.

 

[Travelman6]

Remember the 2011 Big East? The BE with 11 bids. The NIT auto-bids in this case would’ve been a 13-18 Seton Hall and a 15-17 Rutgers, both getting home games. Because everyone wants to see a 13-18 Seton Hall and 15-17 Rutgers in mid March...(never mind 18-14 Minnesota). This change is trash.

 

[Dooooooomed]

Remember the 2011 Big East? The BE with 11 bids. The NIT auto-bids in this case would’ve been a 13-18 Seton Hall and a 15-17 Rutgers, both getting home games. Because everyone wants to see a 13-18 Seton Hall and 15-17 Rutgers in mid March...(never mind 18-14 Minnesota). This change is trash.

I mean... I'd be more likely to tune into that trainwreck than a Jacksonville State vs Southeast Missouri State game...

 

[CL82]

Don't be arrogant and jinx it! We've been in the NIT plenty of times since Calhoun started in 1986.

Wow! Cooley has an entirely new look since he's moved down to DC.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[UCan3]

It’s good to be a UConn fan - where this doesn’t apply to us!

that might be true but the night UConn basketball changed forever is when we won the NIT.

i was there and it was one of the greatest and least talked about moments of UConn men's basketball history!

 

[Waquoit]

that might be true but the night UConn basketball changed forever is when we won the NIT.

i was there and it was one of the greatest and least talked about moments of UConn men's basketball history!

And don't forget the 1997 NIT. I know a bunch of grumps at the time said that UConn shouldn't even have played in it. As it turned out it formed the bond that took us to the Elite 8 the next season.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

Nobody watches the NIT anyway, but guaranteeing 12 host teams per year being teams that fans won't show up or watch is obviously a great business decision

7 of them will probably decline the invite anyways.

 

[Palatine]

Maybe it's just me but I always thought the 88 NIT Champion banner should look more like the other championship banners. It's an odd shape and hidden in the the shadows on the wall of Gampel.

 

[McLovin]

IMO they should have limited the NIT to 1 team per P6 conference not given them 12 of the 32 spots guaranteed… who even owns the NIT? It’s not run by the NCAA, right? Is it like the CFP where it’s owned by the conferences?

 

[navery12]

IMO they should have limited the NIT to 1 team per P6 conference not given them 12 of the 32 spots guaranteed… who even owns the NIT? It’s not run by the NCAA, right? Is it like the CFP where it’s owned by the conferences?

It's run by the NCAA

 

[REB1094]

So dumb. But then again, Rutgers lost to Hofstra at home in the NIT this year..anything can happen

But so dumb.

 

[gtcam]

IMO they should have limited the NIT to 1 team per P6 conference not given them 12 of the 32 spots guaranteed… who even owns the NIT? It’s not run by the NCAA, right? Is it like the CFP where it’s owned by the conferences?

It’s operated by the NCAA

 

[HCCForever]

As did Trent Tucker. But that was before we got good.

Names and games from the past. I sure remember Trent Tucker bombing away at the Hartford Civic Center with Minnesota. Lindsey Hunter had a great game against UConn at Gampel as well. There was also the quick guard Rashad Phillips from Detroit Mercy in 2001.

The good thing about those NIT games at Gampel was that I had seats right on the floor across from the bench since there wasn't great interest in those games.

 

[Travelman6]

I mean... I'd be more likely to tune into that trainwreck than a Jacksonville State vs Southeast Missouri State game...

Yes, but you said it yourself, a train wreck. I'd be more inclined to be interested in mid majors who got snubbed than freakin.....checks notes....16-19 Ohio state who would have made it this most recent season with the new criteria. Higher qualitly of bball between two 25+ win solid mid majors who just happened to lose in the finals.

What is likely to happen, or at least I wouldn't be shocked, is midmajors will simply forgo their conference tournaments and simply pick the regular season champ so the regular season champ avoids being screwed because of one bad long weekend.

 

[pepband99]

A bad decision that would spur an even worse one.

Is Emmert still on the NCAA payroll as a consultant for this?