ST Johns declines NIT bid

[B1GEast]

Pitino really hates his kids. Instead of letting them play on, he'll just let them all go to the portal.

He probably thinks they don't deserve to play.

St. John’s says no to NIT after March Madness 2024 snub

The Johnnies are taking their ball and going home.

nypost.com

 

[Vowelguy]

1) how exactly does playing in NIT games keep you from preparing for next year? Unless he means it slows down his ability to kick people out and study the portal
2) Any word from Memphis?

 

[noeynox]

Big East got royally screwed. MWC 6 teams, BE 3?

Is the bottom of the league dragging everyone down?

 

[B1GEast]

Pitt declines NIT bid too

Pitt Declines NIT Invitation, Marking Conclusion of 2023-24 Season

Pitt’s 2023-24 season has come to an end. Shortly after missing the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers announced on Sunday night that they have declined an invitation to the NIT tournament. “I am incredibly proud of the performance, development, and fight of our team,” Jeff Capel said in a release...

pittsburghsportsnow.com

 

[Dooooooomed]

A lot of power conference teams are gonna do this. Jump start on the portal. Can't say I disagree in today's landscape.

 

[HooperScooper]

So stupid for Pitino to do this. He’s trying to build the program back up. Take the extra games and swallow your pride. Calhoun should tell them about 1988.

 

[Blue Huskie]

Pitino thinks it's below him

 

[HuskyBoi]

I think he reacted out of emotion from the NCAA tournament snub, no other explanation

 

[TRest]

So stupid for Pitino to do this. He’s trying to build the program back up. Take the extra games and swallow your pride. Calhoun should tell them about 1988.

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

 

[How Sway?!]

So stupid for Pitino to do this. He’s trying to build the program back up. Take the extra games and swallow your pride. Calhoun should tell them about 1988.

The game is in a completely different place than in 88. JC was also in a much different place in his career than Pitino is now.

 

[Scoe]

Such a soft culture we have today, Pitino is going against what he has preached. The NIT FF should still be in MSG btw. I get your pissed about not getting a tourney bid but wouldn’t you want your team playing in the Garden in your first year.

 

[Chuck]

So stupid for Pitino to do this. He’s trying to build the program back up. Take the extra games and swallow your pride. Calhoun should tell them about 1988.

It was a team of one year players. NIT is a waste of time. Just end the season. The NIT is something for mid majors nowadays.

 

[kobe]

man up and play in the tournament coward

 

[REB1094]

Pitt, Indiana, and Ole Miss also declined

Why focus on the NIT when you can go full steam reaching out to open transfers or tampering to poach guys off of teams that are still playing?

Unfortunately, that's pretty much an open admission if you're a player on the current team that your situation probably isn't safe.

 

[uh-no]

1) how exactly does playing in NIT games keep you from preparing for next year?

extra weeks of practice. otherwise they can't practice until october, or whatever. It's the same for football teams getting to bowl games.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Turning down the NIT is stupid. Play the games.

 

[Hi-Low]

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.

 

[storrsroars]

Pitt, Indiana, and Ole Miss also declined

Why focus on the NIT when you can go full steam reaching out to open transfers or tampering to poach guys off of teams that are still playing?

Unfortunately, that's pretty much an open admission if you're a player on the current team that your situation probably isn't safe.

Gave this a like even though I don't agree with a couple of points. Obviously not "liking" tampering, but more important, I disagree with the seemingly all-or-nothing last line. I think there are many teams with solid cores of 1st and 2nd year players they want to build around. It's not like everyone has to go a la Pitino. That said, certainly the portal and NIL have created urgency to get players signed asap. Unless/until the NCAA changes the opening date for recruiting portal guys, it's actually a bit of a disadvantage to teams in any of the tourneys. Let's face it, the landscape has changed dramatically and in ways probably nobody expected, like this.

 

[Dove]

Weak.

 

[brihman]

I’m not a fan of transfers within conference. It’s cool for lower conference guys to move up to a major program or vice versa but something feels slimy about transferring within the same league.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I think this is a calculated move to kill the NIT and push for expansion.

 

[freescooter]

Big East got royally screwed. MWC 6 teams, BE 3?

Is the bottom of the league dragging everyone down?

Yes.

 

[That Guy]

If I were a player, this would absolutely piss me the hell off. I would want a chance to keep playing in March with a chance to at least win something. Also it's a chance for players to continue to develop and give a big middle finger to the selection committee by winning the whole thing.

 

[freescooter]

Pitt, Indiana, and Ole Miss also declined

Why focus on the NIT when you can go full steam reaching out to open transfers or tampering to poach guys off of teams that are still playing?

Unfortunately, that's pretty much an open admission if you're a player on the current team that your situation probably isn't safe.

LOL. And teams that want to play, small conference regular season champs, didn’t get bids because the NCAA reserved them for Major conference teams. Screw Pitt, st Johns Indiana and Ole Miss. I hope the NCAA remembers the snub next time they are on the bubble.

 

[Fishy]

This is less about St. John’s and Pitt and more about the NIT - feels like that tournament is getting shakier by the year.

 

[willie99]

LOL. And teams that want to play, small conference regular season champs, didn’t get bids because the NCAA reserved them for Major conference teams. Screw Pitt, st Johns Indiana and Ole Miss. I hope the NCAA remembers the snub next time they are on the bubble.

It's the committee that deserves all the ridicule thrown their way. For their omissions, for the balancing and for their brackets

They suck at their jobs

But as a fan, I would want my team to play on. It can only help

Maybe teams are losing money when they play in the NIT, I wonder

 

[Purple Stein]

If I were a player, this would absolutely piss me the hell off. I would want a chance to keep playing in March with a chance to at least win something. Also it's a chance for players to continue to develop and give a big middle finger to the selection committee by winning the whole thing.

For real. I can't imagine the kids don't want to put the uniform on again and play in a tournament. And as a fan I'd want to keep watching my team play.

I'd be bummed if a UConn team got an NIT bid and said "no thanks."

 

[Hi-Low]

If I were a player, this would absolutely piss me the hell off. I would want a chance to keep playing in March with a chance to at least win something. Also it's a chance for players to continue to develop and give a big middle finger to the selection committee by winning the whole thing.

5 of their 6 top players are seniors and I'm sure have zero interest in NIT. They transfered to St. Johns with Pitino to make the NCAA.

 

[Scoe]

Except for Luis all main players are seniors and I'm sure have zero interest in NIT. They transfered to St. Johns because they expceted with Pitino would make NCAA.

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.

 

[Kolumbo]

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

Perhaps. Chris Smith and Rod Sellers were freshmen in 1988-1989 but I don't know if the NIT had anything to do with that. Lot's of good points in this thread though. The entire landscape has changed. I think SJU should still play. With all the seniors they have, the fans would have a lot of fun and Pitino has stressed the need to bring the fans back. Jenkins just dropped 27 on UConn!