NIT leaving MSG

[UCONNJACK]

NIT leaving MSG for at least the next two years. No reason given. The tournament will lose a lot of its attractiveness leaving MSG and NYC.

NIT leaving Madison Square Garden for at least next two years

Madison Square Garden won’t host the NIT semifinals and championship game the next two years, according to a person with direct knowledge of the decision — ending a college basketball traditi…

nypost.com

 

[storrsroars]

Oy, the comments...

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Oy, the comments...

Gotta wonder why they're reading the "New York" Post. The lack of self awareness is breathtaking!

 

[willie99]

Sorry to hear that. I like the tradition of MSG

Maybe moving around the country or something could spark some local interest. Maybe NYC doesn’t care

 

[navery12]

 

[Inyatkin]

In '97 as a UConn student a bunch of us bought tickets to the title game as soon as we made it to New York. Then we lost in the semifinals so we got to watch the third-place game, which I think they did away with soon after.
Ended the season with a win, though

 

[gtcam]

I remember my father telling me back in the 60s that the NIT meant more than the NCAAs

 

[John]

I remember my father telling me back in the 60s that the NIT meant more than the NCAAs

NIT was a very big deal for a long time.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I remember my father telling me back in the 60s that the NIT meant more than the NCAAs

Occasionally a team would turn down the NCAA Tournament to play in the NIT through the 60's. I think Marquette was the last team to do that around 1968 or 1969, and then they changed the rules and a team had to go to the NCAA tournament if it was invited. The NCAA had a weird format where small conferences got automatic bids but there were few at-large bids into the 1970's, so the top half of the NIT was better than the bottom half of the NCAA most years until the field went to 64 teams in the early 80's. The NCAA Tournament was also bracketed regionally. I wouldn't say that was the only reason UCLA won all those championships, but playing teams like Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara in the Final 8 certainly helped.

 

[Ha Who]

My fathers school won both in the same year

 

[businesslawyer]

Occasionally a team would turn down the NCAA Tournament to play in the NIT through the 60's. I think Marquette was the last team to do that around 1968 or 1969, and then they changed the rules and a team had to go to the NCAA tournament if it was invited. The NCAA had a weird format where small conferences got automatic bids but there were few at-large bids into the 1970's, so the top half of the NIT was better than the bottom half of the NCAA most years until the field went to 64 teams in the early 80's. The NCAA Tournament was also bracketed regionally. I wouldn't say that was the only reason UCLA won all those championships, but playing teams like Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara in the Final 8 certainly helped.

1. That was the "Dean the Dream" Meminger Marquette team and you are correct -- that was the last time a team turned down an NCAA bid for the NIT. I was at the final that year. Meminger ended up as a backup on the Knicks.

2. The 25 team NCAA tournament was totally different. Not only was it regionally bracketed but only one team per conference was allowed. So to get to the Final Four every year, all UCLA had to do was win its conference and then best two much smaller schools (champions of the PCAA (now Big West), old WAC (closer to today's Mountain West but including Utah, BYU, ASU and U of A) and the Big Sky. That what was made the ACC Championship game between David Thompson's NC State and the Maryland team of Elmore/McMillan/Lucas one of the best games every played. The winner was overwhelmingly likely to get to the Final Four, while the loser went to the NIT.

 

[John]

How The NCAA Overtook Its Rival, The NIT

www.sportshistoryweekly.com

 

[UConnJim]

It's hard for the NIT Final Four to attract fans when the teams are not local. Look at the last 3 championship game attendance:

2019: 4,051 Texas vs. Lipscomb
2018: 11,175 Penn St. vs. Utah
2019: 5,029 Georgia Tech vs. TCU

I doubt ticket revenues are covering the rental cost of MSG.

 

[Chin Diesel]

If a tree falls in the woods.........................

 

[ThabeetDown]

It's hard for the NIT Final Four to attract fans when the teams are not local. Look at the last 3 championship game attendance:

2019: 4,051 Texas vs. Lipscomb
2018: 11,175 Penn St. vs. Utah
2019: 5,029 Georgia Tech vs. TCU

I doubt ticket revenues are covering the rental cost of MSG.

Pretty much a sad reality. However, I definitely think there is an opportunity with the rotation. Rather than go to premier arenas, I think it would be cool if they rotate through more historic arenas/smaller venues that wouldn't normally get to host a big event. I think that would add to the appeal of the NIT and really double down on its heritage. Think like Hinkle, Assembly Hall, The Palestra, Cameron Indoor, etc.

 

[John]

Pretty much a sad reality. However, I definitely think there is an opportunity with the rotation. Rather than go to premier arenas, I think it would be cool if they rotate through more historic arenas/smaller venues that wouldn't normally get to host a big event. I think that would add to the appeal of the NIT and really double down on its heritage. Think like Hinkle, Assembly Hall, The Palestra, Cameron Indoor, etc.

one nice thing about the NIT final four format is that you're guaranteed to see your team play two games, which eliminates the risk of traveling to these venues and your team losing the first game.

 

[TerryBoyz]

My guess would be Las Vegas will host. Don’t need much of an incentive to get people to travel there and flights are generally reasonable

 

[fireford]

Too bad. I was there with a few friends in 1988 when Calhoun was in his 2nd season and UConn making the NIT was a big deal at that time. The place was packed and loud and when UConn won it the fans (us included) stormed the court and celebrated with the players. Fun memories.

 

[HuskyHawk]

My guess would be Las Vegas will host. Don’t need much of an incentive to get people to travel there and flights are generally reasonable

Or maybe Orlando, Miami or New Orleans. The reality is that New York is wildly expensive and not all that appealing as a destination in March.

 

[Waquoit]

I wouldn't say that was the only reason UCLA won all those championships, but playing teams like Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara in the Final 8 certainly helped.

Not just that, they got to host West Regionals at Pauley.

 

[Greedo]

Occasionally a team would turn down the NCAA Tournament to play in the NIT through the 60's. I think Marquette was the last team to do that around 1968 or 1969, and then they changed the rules and a team had to go to the NCAA tournament if it was invited. The NCAA had a weird format where small conferences got automatic bids but there were few at-large bids into the 1970's, so the top half of the NIT was better than the bottom half of the NCAA most years until the field went to 64 teams in the early 80's. The NCAA Tournament was also bracketed regionally. I wouldn't say that was the only reason UCLA won all those championships, but playing teams like Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara in the Final 8 certainly helped.

Thank you for explaining this. My mom always talks about how she was a student at Dayton when they won the NIT and how it was a huge party. I never really understood why until reading this post.

 

[husky429]

No one cares about the NIT any more. I'm not surprised.

 

[storrsroars]

No one cares about the NIT any more. I'm not surprised.

I watched four games this week, they were pretty good.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Occasionally a team would turn down the NCAA Tournament to play in the NIT through the 60's. I think Marquette was the last team to do that around 1968 or 1969, and then they changed the rules and a team had to go to the NCAA tournament if it was invited. The NCAA had a weird format where small conferences got automatic bids but there were few at-large bids into the 1970's, so the top half of the NIT was better than the bottom half of the NCAA most years until the field went to 64 teams in the early 80's. The NCAA Tournament was also bracketed regionally. I wouldn't say that was the only reason UCLA won all those championships, but playing teams like Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara in the Final 8 certainly helped.

Yes.

Back when the tournament was the UCLA invitational Marquette had a team that could have competed with anyone in the country except UCLA. As an independent, they had no specific region and were selected to be in the west as a top five team with no realistic shot at making the final four. McGuire turned it down for the NIT, leading the NCAA to make a rule where if you decline the NCAA tournament, you decline postseason play.

 

[Waquoit]

Back when the tournament was the UCLA invitational Marquette had a team that could have competed with anyone in the country except UCLA. As an independent, they had no specific region and were selected to be in the west as a top five team with no realistic shot at making the final four. McGuire turned it down for the NIT, leading the NCAA to make a rule where if you decline the NCAA tournament, you decline postseason play.

Thanks for filling in the gaps in my understanding of this story.