what would you rather have: out 1st game of the tourney or finals of the NIT

[husky99]

Does not mean you will win the nit...talking at lunch about this question. Most said nit, but I said big dance.. the nit is like playing AAA ball

 

[traitor71]

Anyone that says NIT is probably one step above being brain dead.

 

[husky99]

Agreed, most where "experienced" teachers who remember when the nit was important

 

[Inyatkin]

I could see if you're a really young team, like in 1997, when we made it to New York in the NIT, how it could be a good learning experience. But 99 percent of the time, it's NCAA one and done

 

[Vuce]

This comes up every year. I look at it like this - if you have never played in either tourney and you have a shot to play in one of them and lets even say it is winning the NIT or first round exit in NCAA. I would have to think that most people would take the experience of playing the NCAA Tournament. It's all about the NCAA Tourney.

 

[Ed-D]

I agree the NCAAA is where it's at, but don't forget it was the 1988 NIT victory that put this program on the map, pretty much...

 

[jleves]

If you're a young team, winning 3 our 4 post season one and done games could be far more valuable than making the dance and being blown out. And as stated above, it's what launched UConn.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

 

[Silk City]

Dance, easy.

Not winning any games sucks. But it's more about not missing it.

 

[Gurleyman]

It's not even close for me. Two years ago, we lost in the second round of the NIT on a blown layup, and I didn't lose a minute's sleep over it. I probably didn't even think about the game as soon as I turned the channel. Now, I am only ticked at Gavin Edwards for not graduating. Meanwhile, I spent two hours in the chat room for therapy after the Iowa State game while lamenting the loss and the whole season with family on the phone as I typed.

If it doesn't hurt when you lose, it obviously isn't important.

 

[rw005]

If this was 1950 I would have said NIT.

and that's where I will leave it.

 

[bertieboy]

I favored the NIT for this year. Uconn did not deserve the bid to the NCAA and their play against Iowa State proved it. I think they might have one 2 in the NIT.

 

[caw]

Does not mean you will win the nit...talking at lunch about this question. Most said nit, but I said big dance.. the nit is like playing AAA ball

UConn or another team?

UConn is NCAA unless you have all freshmen with a few sophs.

Mid-major: NIT if team isn't mostly seniors, chances are underclassmen come back and you gain precious experience for the following year.

Low-major: NIT if team isn't mostly seniors, ditto above.

 

[Ts5034]

You always want to be in the NCAA Tournament no matter what. Once you get there anything can happen. There are exceptions like the 2006-2007 season when the team was made up of all Freshmen. The difference between Uconn and other programs like Duke, Kansas, UNC, Michigan St is that every year those teams are a lock for the NCAA tournament. Uconn still has not made the NCAA 5 years in a row...a lot of people would be surprised to hear that.

 

[Gurleyman]

The whole problem with the NIT for us now (not 1988) is that if you get in there, get hot and do well, there's a sense of missed opportunity - could the team have gelled in the big show and maybe gotten to the Sweet 16? Even if you aren't really a national title contender, it's a fun week when you get through the first two rounds and have a week to prepare for the Sweet 16 and contemplate the possibilities. Look at someone like NC State right now. Had we won the NIT two years ago, I probably would have been pissed (ie where was this three weeks ago when St John's punked us in the BET?).

We got in this year and lost - so there's no need to question what might have been in that regard.

 

[Tenspro2002]

You always want to be in the NCAA Tournament no matter what. Once you get there anything can happen. There are exceptions like the 2006-2007 season when the team was made up of all Freshmen. The difference between Uconn and other programs like Duke, Kansas, UNC, Michigan St is that every year those teams are a lock for the NCAA tournament. Uconn still has not made the NCAA 5 years in a row...a lot of people would be surprised to hear that.

2002-2006 was 5 years in a row, but your point is taken. Unlike those other top programs, we have truly down years about every 4-5 years. That's really the only thing standing between us and the blue blood label.

 

[uconndoit]

I generally agree that showing at the dance is better than winning in the NIT but it would've been nice to see JC get 3 more wins (esp. knowing the outcome). 3 wins in the NIT would have put JC in a tie with Rupp for 5th in all-time wins at 876.

Assuming JC comes back, at 873 wins, JC will need 30 wins next season to pass Rupp's 876, Dean Smith's 879 and Bobby Knight's 902. So I hope he gets those 30 wins next season (which means the team has a great year) or returns for (at least) 2 more seasons.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

NCAA tourney. Not even a question for me.

 

[huskyharry]

If the choice is before the first NCAA game, then clearly the NCAA is the choice. Just the chance to have magical run like last year is truly special. But, if I knew ahead of that they would play like husky-crap on fresh snow against IowaState, then I certainly would have preferred the NIT and at least more of a chance to get their act together and play up to their potential. You never no that going in. And the way they have been playing, they would not have made it to the finals of the NIT.

 

[NOTaDIME]

Playing in the NIT at UConn is a failure. Period.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

There simply is no scenario where it is better for Uconn to be in the NIT than the NCAA tournament.

 

[Palatine]

Being in the NIT means a very bad year. Period.

 

[wpq4elamin]

I agree the NCAAA is where it's at, but don't forget it was the 1988 NIT victory that put this program on the map, pretty much...

true, but i would argue that the NIT meant more in 1988 than it does now... it had a little more clout and hype surrounding it... now, i think that March Madness is so big that it's basically an afterthought

 

[wpq4elamin]

2002-2006 was 5 years in a row, but your point is taken. Unlike those other top programs, we have truly down years about every 4-5 years. That's really the only thing standing between us and the blue blood label.

Indiana, UCLA, Kentucky, and UNC have had some major down years.... basically, the only "blueblood" teams that haven't had awful down years in the past 15-20 years are Duke, Kansas and Michigan St. (if you want to include them)... Duke has been in the tourney every year since 96, KU since 90, and Mich St. since 98... Believe it or not, Texas, Wisconsin and GONZAGA! have all been in the tourney every year since 99...

 

[Palatine]

In 1988 the program was in a much different place.

 

[BugsyCT]

NCAA tourney. Even if it's a one & done, it's still the NCAA tourney and gives the players the experience of being there. The '88 NIT championship was without question the stepping stone the program needed to catapult UConn to the next level, but as said, we're in a different time & place now.