Am I the only one who wonders why they even bother with the NIT?

Estil

Also, you know how the team that wins the NCAA Championship holds up one finger and shouts "NO #1!!" or whatnot? Well what does the NIT champ do? Hold up six fingers and say "We're the 66th best team!! Woo-hoo!!!" Not to mention several teams the past few years have even refused NIT invites after being rejected for the NCAAs. My point is, why bother with the NIT, which to me seems like nothing more than a second-string NCAA Tournament.

dirtmonkey

<< <i>Also, you know how the team that wins the NCAA Championship holds up one finger and shouts "NO #1!!" or whatnot? Well what does the NIT champ do? Hold up six fingers and say "We're the 66th best team!! Woo-hoo!!!" Not to mention several teams the past few years have even refused NIT invites after being rejected for the NCAAs. My point is, why bother with the NIT, which to me seems like nothing more than a second-string NCAA Tournament. >>



Tradition and money are my best guesses... Further, it's an opportunity for snubbed teams to play a little more basketball. And although they are not declared #1 after winning the NIT or anything, I can assure you they're better than 66th even if not recognized as so. There's at least 10 teams in there that are better than teams making it into the big dance, and once you make it there you never know what can happen.

Michigan

They don't call it the "nobody's interested tournament" for nothing. It will never get any serious respect playing in the shadow of the
NCAA tournament.

Volver

I have never paid any attention to the NIT, it is second rate

ziggy29

<< <i>They don't call it the "nobody's interested tournament" for nothing. It will never get any serious respect playing in the shadow of the NCAA tournament. >>

I thought it was the "Not In Tournament."

Michigan

<< <i>

<< <i>They don't call it the "nobody's interested tournament" for nothing. It will never get any serious respect playing in the shadow of the NCAA tournament. >>

I thought it was the "Not In Tournament." >>




That works too but I like "nobody's interested tournament" better.

BobaFett72

someones making $$$

Michigan

The NCAA actually owns the NIT, it was part of deal to settle a lawsuit the NIT filed against the NCAA.

GOODLIEU

It unfortunatly has become a mediocre tournament. A far cry from its heyday when it was a honor to be selected and players looked forward to playing at Madison Square Garden. Someone needs a plan to revitalize it or it will fade into obscurity

Michigan

<< <i>It unfortunatly has become a mediocre tournament. A far cry from its heyday when it was a honor to be selected and players looked forward to playing at Madison Square Garden. Someone needs a plan to revitalize it or it will fade into obscurity >>



If the NCAA tournament expanded beyond the 64 (actually 65) teams at present it will just dilute the NIT even more. Since the NCAA
now owns the NIT as part of a lawsuit settlement that might prevent them from wanting to expand the NCAA beyond what it is now.

Estil

Indeed, I never understood that whole play-in game; it seems like an even bigger unneccesary gimmick than the "Chase for the Championship" in NASCAR for The Cup Formerly Known as Winston. In fact, the two teams that are picked for it (especially the loser) doesn't even feel like it's part of the real tournament field (and thus feel cheated that they didn't truely win an automatic NCAA bid).

jradke4

here is the reason why.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Goot

Although it gives small schools a chance, I hate the fact that tiny tiny schools get auto bids to the NCAA tourney. Other than a few upsets every year all 1 vs 16 through 4-13 are normally blowouts. These spots should go to the FSU's, Ole Miss and those teams that would actually have a shot against a 4 seed, not Belmont or Central Connecticut St.

Connecticoin

Estil, despite your icon, I guess you are not a Falcons basketball fan .

As others mentioned, the NIT gives "bubble" teams and other respectable teams an opportunity to play more ball, and for the teams that do well, it could help their program. For example, UConn won the 1988 NIT, which was a stepping stone toward their 1990 "dream season" (damn Christian Laettner!!), the great 90s teams, and the 1999 NCAA title.

Estil

No, I would have a Kentucky Wildcats logo if given the choice (I don't think it's on the icon list). And on the "upload your own icon" day, I couldn't find the menu that let you do that.

Estil

<< <i>Although it gives small schools a chance, I hate the fact that tiny tiny schools get auto bids to the NCAA tourney. Other than a few upsets every year all 1 vs 16 through 4-13 are normally blowouts. These spots should go to the FSU's, Ole Miss and those teams that would actually have a shot against a 4 seed, not Belmont or Central Connecticut St. >>



An automatic bid is an automatic bid, it don't matter if the team won ZERO games in the regular season. BTW, who is the NCAA Tournament qualifing team that had the fewest regular season wins? Anyone know?

Connecticoin

<< <i>An automatic bid is an automatic bid, it don't matter if the team won ZERO games in the regular season. BTW, who is the NCAA Tournament qualifing team that had the fewest regular season wins? Anyone know? >>



I recall an automatic qualifier that was 12-18 (I think it was Lehigh), athough a vaguely recall another one had 11 wins (don't remember who).

I also remember one year that the U of Detroit made it to their conference tournament final with 5 wins, but did not win the final.

markj111

First of all there are plenty of teams in the NCAA tournament who would lose their first round games in the NIT. The winner of the NIT is probably the 40th best team in NCAA.

Second, although I do not care about the NIT I am not offended by it. If the teams want to play, and the fans want to watch, who I am I to care? For me the NIT is like soccer, hockey, the NBA, NASCAR, and all women's sports. I know they are out there, and I assume there are fans of these sports (else they would not exist). However I do not expend two brains cells a year contemplating them.

markj111

Trivia-who was the last team to go to the NIT after refusing a bid to the NCCA, and why did they do it?