WBIT (the NCAA secondary tourney)

[Vowelguy]

WBIT is the tournament that started last year by the NCAA. It has 32 teams. Illinois beat Villanova to win the first title.

"The first 4 out" from the NCAAs get the top seeds.
Any school that won its regular season but didnt make the NCAAs also gets an autobid.

That's looking like:

• Gonzaga
• James Madison
• UTSA

The start of the WBIT has pushed the non-NCAA-affilidated-WNIT (with 48 teams) to the 3rd-level tourney. It will get teams that dont make the NCAA or WBIT.

Seton Hall, Marquette, and Villanova should make the WBIT or the WNIT.

 

[Vowelguy]

Conference leaders that would get an autobid to the WBIT if they lose. Only Columbia is expected to have a chance at an NCAA at-large bid.

• Albany (in AmEast final) FRI
• FGCU (in ASUN final) SAT
• Fairfield (in MAAC final) SAT
• Ball St (in MAC final) SAT
• Norfolk St (in MEAC final) SAT
• Grand Canyon (in WAC final) SAT
• Lehigh (in Patriot final) SUN
• Liberty (in CUSA semi)
• Columbia (in Ivy semi)
• Missouri St (in MVC QF)
• Southern (in SWAC semi)

 

[Vowelguy]

8 WBIT bound:

• Gonzaga (WCC)
• James Madison (SunBelt)
• UTSA (American)
• UNLV (Mtn West)
• SE Louisiana (Southland)
• NC A&T (CAA)
• Hawaii (Big West)
• Albany (Am East)

 

[nwhoopfan]

Possibly hurts LaRoque's candidacy for a P4 job.

Because of one game? They've completely dominated their conference for 4 straight years. Compare what she's done to Molly Miller, who seems to be a hot name right now. La Rocque has done better, in a tougher conference, and has 3 straight Tourney appearances compared to...none.

 

[Vowelguy]

Because of one game? They've completely dominated their conference for 4 straight years. Compare what she's done to Molly Miller, who seems to be a hot name right now. La Rocque has done better, in a tougher conference, and has 3 straight Tourney appearances compared to...none.

1 game no , you are correct
was just thinking tho she’d get more attention if she had put her team in the NCAAs again

 

[TheFarmFan]

1 game no , you are correct
was just thinking tho she’d get more attention if she had put her team in the NCAAs again

She's a Vegas hometown girl. I suspect it'd need to be the right opportunity for her to leave, though I do wonder about ASU...

 

[nwhoopfan]

I suspect it'd need to be the right opportunity for her to leave, though I do wonder about ASU...

I thought you said the right opportunity.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I thought you said the right opportunity.

Well ASU would be a step up in resources and conference relative to UNLV, and she'd be only a few hours from home. I'm having a hard time thinking of a more obvious landing pad opening up for her in the next few years.

 

[Vowelguy]

Been editing the posts above -- up to 7 teams with "autobids" to the WBIT

 

[nwhoopfan]

Been editing the posts above -- up to 7 teams with "autobids" to the WBIT

Add another Albany out of the America East.

 

[Vowelguy]

Conference leaders that would get an autobid to the WBIT if they lose. Only Columbia is expected to have a chance at an NCAA at-large bid.

• Lehigh (in Patriot final) SUN
• Murray St (in MVC final) SUN
• Columbia ==> lost

 

[cancontent]

Conference leaders that would get an autobid to the WBIT if they lose. Only Columbia is expected to have a chance at an NCAA at-large bid.

• FGCU (in ASUN final) SAT
• Norfolk St (in MEAC final) SAT
• Grand Canyon (in WAC final) SAT
• Lehigh (in Patriot final) SUN
• Liberty (in CUSA final) SAT
• Columbia (in Ivy final) SAT
• Missouri St (in MVC semi)
• Southern (in SWAC final) SAT

Didn't FGCU win today?

 

[Vowelguy]

Didn't FGCU win today?

My post was at 3:22. The game started at 2.

 

[Vowelguy]

8 WBIT bound:

• Gonzaga (WCC) net=108
• James Madison (SunBelt) 55
• UTSA (American) 71
• UNLV (Mtn West) 48
• SE Louisiana (Southland) 95
• NC A&T (CAA) 152
• Hawaii (Big West) 147
• Albany (Am East) 117

Add Columbia (net 42) to the list if they don’t get a bid but I’m pretty confident they will.

 

[triaddukefan]

My Aggies

 

[Vowelguy]

8 WBIT bound:

• Gonzaga (WCC) net=108
• James Madison (SunBelt) 55
• UTSA (American) 71
• UNLV (Mtn West) 48
• SE Louisiana (Southland) 95
• NC A&T (CAA) 152
• Hawaii (Big West) 147
• Albany (Am East) 117

Add Columbia (net 42) to the list if they don’t get a bid but I’m pretty confident they will.

Tournaments complete. 8 (or 9) auto bids to the WBIT. Plus 4 autobids to the "first 4 out," though some of those just misses are probably teams like James Madison or UNLV.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Congrats to those who made it, but I'm not sure how big a deal it is.

If you win the tournament, then people will say that you underachieved all season. See Illinois 2023-24--they clearly shouldn't have been in the WBIT based on where they were the year before and what they were able to do during that tournament.

If you lose (especially in the Final Four), then it could lead to complete decimation of your program heading into the next season. See Penn State and Villanova (both teams lost major pieces after their WBIT runs in 2024).

The WBIT will sell itself as the preferred second-rate postseason tournament for the young women to compete for something tangible and for coaches to use as a "launch pad" (yeah, right) for an NCAA bid the following season. The problem is that it's so horrendously organized (if you can call it "organization") that everyone involved gets the sense that they really shouldn't (and don't want to) be there. I guess the appeal of it (lowered financial losses due to the NCAA's financial backing) makes it tolerable, but I can't imagine that the players or the coaches like it. The fans clearly don't. Nobody's going to watch this mess.

As for the ACC teams: I think UVA was right to decline their bid (and that's the one thing that I will applaud Mox for regarding this season). I think BC, Stanford, and especially Virginia Tech were so incredibly stupid to accept theirs. It won't help them next year, as they're all likely to end up as bottom-half ACC teams in 2025-26. I am facepalming hard.

 

[12au]

I feel like I'd want to play in the WBIT or something if my team didn't make it. Seems depressing to just have your season end. Especially if you're Minnesota or something. If your season is a disaster like Oregon last year then it makes sense to throw in the towel.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Congrats to those who made it, but I'm not sure how big a deal it is.

If you win the tournament, then people will say that you underachieved all season. See Illinois 2023-24--they clearly shouldn't have been in the WBIT based on where they were the year before and what they were able to do during that tournament.

If you lose (especially in the Final Four), then it could lead to complete decimation of your program heading into the next season. See Penn State and Villanova (both teams lost major pieces after their WBIT runs in 2024).

The WBIT will sell itself as the preferred second-rate postseason tournament for the young women to compete for something tangible and for coaches to use as a "launch pad" (yeah, right) for an NCAA bid the following season. The problem is that it's so horrendously organized (if you can call it "organization") that everyone involved gets the sense that they really shouldn't (and don't want to) be there. I guess the appeal of it (lowered financial losses due to the NCAA's financial backing) makes it tolerable, but I can't imagine that the players or the coaches like it. The fans clearly don't. Nobody's going to watch this mess.

As for the ACC teams: I think UVA was right to decline their bid (and that's the one thing that I will applaud Mox for regarding this season). I think BC, Stanford, and especially Virginia Tech were so incredibly stupid to accept theirs. It won't help them next year, as they're all likely to end up as bottom-half ACC teams in 2025-26. I am facepalming hard.

I can't see that the WBIT is particularly any different from the WNIT that preceded it as the #2 tournament.

Yes, there can be some accusation of under-achieving (or overachieving) depending on how good or bad your season was and the results. While it isn't specifically a launch pad for the next season per se, why should it be?, it can be beneficial. Why wouldn't players still leave if they want to, even if you happen to win the WBIT? And I'm not sure why you declare it is disorganized, you would have to explain that to me.

On a separate note, the #3 WNIT is a disgrace, now. They offered a shot to Rutgers. I mean, I typically root for my alma mater, but, um, ugh.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I feel like I'd want to play in the WBIT or something if my team didn't make it. Seems depressing to just have your season end. Especially if you're Minnesota or something. If your season is a disaster like Oregon last year then it makes sense to throw in the towel.

I disagree. This would be great for midmajors. For P4 teams, this is like eating a bread sandwich and washing it down with water. Every P4 should've declined.