The UConn Men's team used the NIT championship in 1988 to springboard to national prominence; As have many teams. It is not as far away from a NCAA Championship as it seems. It can be easily argued that he NIT Champion, in any given year, is at least as good if not better than 25% of the automatic qualifiers; Especially those with losing records who slither in through the back door. Rutgers winning the WNIT and USF also making it to the Final Four keeps alive the argument that they were snubbed by the NCAA. I think it is good for the women's tournament that there are discussions/controversies surrounding snubs.