Rutgers fans...WNIT or no?

[Blakeon18]

I read that Army lost in their conference tourney...apparently they were the favorites.
They have already been extended a bid to the WNIT....and accepted.

Assuming that Rutgers [16-14] doesn't get a bid to the NCAA do you think C. Viv /AD would accept a bid to the WNIT? Should they?

I would not be a bit surprised if the WNIT has already offered them given their national exposure and HOF coach.

 

[EricLA]

I think as long as you have over a .500 record you can get invited to the WNIT. I'd expect RU would get an invite. I'd expect they would accept. i'm not sure if i've ever heard of a team getting invited to the WNIT and NOT accepting... has it ever happened? Maybe a team that was really pissed they didn't get a NCAA bid?

 

[Blakeon18]

BTW: Quinnipiac has a great record.....something like 28-2. If they get knocked off in their conference
tourney I wonder if it is at all possible they would get an at-large bid.

Probably not. If they do get shut out of the NCAA, a first round match-up in the WNIT with Rutgers...if held at Quinni....would generate a ton of Quinni fans...imo.

 

[ThisJustIn]

People have refused -- Cooper/USC, I believe. And didn't CViv say no?

She has expressed a willingness.

And I would have called it even between Army/Navy... with a slight edge to the Midshipfolks

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Historically, Rutgers has said no, or, rather, indicated we would when we were on the bubble. Not sure we ever missed the NCAA with a positive record, no more than once I am postitive. This was by far the worst "winning" record in the CVS era.

The reasoning for CVS was a combination of "why compete in a tourney to see if you are the 65th best team" and "why be rewarded when you weren't good enough". I am ambivalent about the WNIT, because, while playing can have positive effect on the team, it is somewhat of a "losers" tournament.

Add Jody Conradt to the coaches who have declined bids, and actually at least one other PAC team the same year that Cooper declined.

 

[meyers7]

Does the WNIT pay for stuff like the NCAA does?

 

[EricLA]

At 16-14 I'm unsure why anyone thinks RU would get a NCAA bid. Even if they had a really strong RPI (they are 57 per Sagarian, 79 per realtime rpi), I don't think they are even close to being on the bubble. Maybe I'm just thinking of the men's side, but a 16-14 team should never be in the NCAA's unless they win their conference tourney.

Or maybe i'm not understanding Knight's post. For sure a really frustrating year to be a RU fan... I hope for better days ahead for the team and fans!!!

 

[Vowelguy]

. i'm not sure if i've ever heard of a team getting invited to the WNIT and NOT accepting... has it ever happened?

UNC last year.
Hatchell said that the standard was the NCAAs and she wasnt going to accept anything less.

 

[ThisJustIn]

WNIT article from 2006:

When asked if she’d rather the WNIT stay independent or become part of the NCAA, Barksdale is of two minds. “The hardest thing (about hosting) it the financial obligation,” she says. Indiana, being a basketball state with lots of interstate rivalries, the risk was less. “We played Illinois and had close to 6000 people come to watch us play. If I can get 6000 people in my building, it’s worth it.” But, she wonders if some teams avoid participating or hosting because of money they have to put upfront.

“The NCAA would have a ton more money to work with, and it would put you in a position to at least break even.” Then again, Barksdale continues, “when working with the NCAA, they foot the bill but they also tell you how to run it as well. The WNIT lets us run it the way we already run our games.”

Barksdale’s experience with the NCAA is “you end up doing things for the ‘betterment of all,’ which really means big schools. So many decisions that are made are in the ‘best interest of all institutions.’ But we all know that it’s big schools and that’s really it. I would be afraid that that piece [of the WNIT which supports mid-majors] would get lost if it went to the NCAA.”

 

[ScarlettB]

Vivian said that she would leave the decision of whether RU accepts a WNIT bid this season (if invited) up to the AD. In previous seasons, she has said that she definitely would not accept a bid. If they do play, it will be to give the Frosh and Soph's tournament experience.

There is no way RU gets an NCAA tournament bid this year. I am sure CViv knows that and would prefer not to play in the WNIT. As a fan who has suffered through a disappointing season, I would prefer that they do not play in the WNIT. The three seniors are injured, with at least two of them requiring surgery, so IMO it would be best to declare the season over and move on to next year.

 

[triaddukefan]

UNC last year.
Hatchell said that the standard was the NCAAs and she wasnt going to accept anything less.

 

[Coler]

Yes CVS said it was up to our AD.

I do wish we'd accept it..give our young players more playing time, and give our seniors some more games.

But I'm already looking ahead of next year where hopefully our PG troubles will be fixed. Is the WNBA season here yet?

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

At 16-14 I'm unsure why anyone thinks RU would get a NCAA bid. Even if they had a really strong RPI (they are 57 per Sagarian, 79 per realtime rpi), I don't think they are even close to being on the bubble. Maybe I'm just thinking of the men's side, but a 16-14 team should never be in the NCAA's unless they win their conference tourney.

Or maybe i'm not understanding Knight's post. For sure a really frustrating year to be a RU fan... I hope for better days ahead for the team and fans!!!

Sorry - I wasn't clear. What I meant was that - in the past - while Vivian "refused" the NIT, it was only theoretical - those years that she said she wouldn't go to the WNIT, we ended up getting an NCAA bid anyhow.

No NCAA's this year, I personally would prefer no WNIT, either. Done with this year's team, on to next year.