I don't know about that, coaches want those extra practices in footballA signpost of college athletics being an increasingly unhealthy ecosystem:
Snubbed St. John's, OU, Pitt decline invites to NIT
First-year St. John's coach Rick Pitino told the NIT selection committee that the team didn't want to play in the also-ran event. Oklahoma and Pitt also said they didn't want to take part.www.espn.com
Such will the be the fate of the bowls shortly.
The concept of “we aren’t going to play in the NIT so we can get ready for next season” sounds so hollow.A signpost of college athletics being an increasingly unhealthy ecosystem:
Snubbed St. John's, OU, Pitt decline invites to NIT
First-year St. John's coach Rick Pitino told the NIT selection committee that the team didn't want to play in the also-ran event. Oklahoma and Pitt also said they didn't want to take part.www.espn.com
Such will the be the fate of the bowls shortly.
Totally agree about the sour grapes. I'm kind of already rooting against those teams next year who skipped the bids this year, and hope the ones who took it and played can improve for doing it. (except Iowa of course, though I bet this could end up helping some of their young players)Nothing new bunch of sour grapes,UNC did same couple of years ago.
I don't know, if Illinois missed the NCAAT would you want BU and assistants spending their time getting ready for mostly meaningless games, or going out and hitting the transfer portal (which opened yesterday) to make sure it doesn't happen again next year? As long as the portal opens this early it will make the NIT less and less relevant, especially when players could start to skip it to jump in the portal.Totally agree about the sour grapes. I'm kind of already rooting against those teams next year who skipped the bids this year, and hope the ones who took it and played can improve for doing it. (except Iowa of course, though I bet this could end up helping some of their young players)
As brutally bad as it was in the late Weber and Groce years here, I'm glad we always went to play in the NIT. I actually printed out the NIT brackets and followed that way more than I should admit.
Thank you Dan. I am catching the three NIT games with B1G Teams (Iowa, Ohio State & Minny) tonight at 6pm spread out on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN+. I follow and root for all Women's and Men's B1G Teams in all Tourneys. I have some familiarity with players that makes it more interesting to me, and I do absolutely believe a rising tide lifts all boats inc Illini in prestige, reputation/perception, recruiting, attention and $$$.NIT 1st Round Day 1 Schedule
NCAA Tournament First Four Day 1
16 Wagner vs 16 Howard, 5:40pm, truTV
10 Colorado State vs 10 Virginia, 8:10pm, truTV
All times CT
I know we get on Fran’s case here, but he had a Zoom video clip on this morning’s news in Des Moines where he went off on the teams who declined NIT bids. His first line was basically “I don’t know why we’re even having this conversation. Of course we’re going to play.”Totally agree about the sour grapes. I'm kind of already rooting against those teams next year who skipped the bids this year, and hope the ones who took it and played can improve for doing it. (except Iowa of course, though I bet this could end up helping some of their young players)
As brutally bad as it was in the late Weber and Groce years here, I'm glad we always went to play in the NIT. I actually printed out the NIT brackets and followed that way more than I should admit.
Oh, no. Are you telling me I kinda-sorta respect Fran McCaffrey right now? Yikes.I know we get on Fran’s case here, but he had a Zoom video clip on this morning’s news in Des Moines where he went off on the teams who declined NIT bids. His first line was basically “I don’t know why we’re even having this conversation. Of course we’re going to play.”
One thing about Fran is you will never have to interpret what he’s saying, for good and bad.
Not an Impractical Jokers fan?TruTv goes from a channel I completely forget exists to one of my most watched during March Madness. Could not be more excited to get this tournament started.
IU also declined, I believeA signpost of college athletics being an increasingly unhealthy ecosystem:
Snubbed St. John's, OU, Pitt decline invites to NIT
First-year St. John's coach Rick Pitino told the NIT selection committee that the team didn't want to play in the also-ran event. Oklahoma and Pitt also said they didn't want to take part.www.espn.com
Such will the be the fate of the bowls shortly.
Could not have less of a clue what they are.Not an Impractical Jokers fan?
And this is how the show still goes on….Could not have less of a clue what they are.
didn’t St Joseph’s make the NCAA final four in the early 1980’s ?I went to the semifinals of the NIT in 2005 at MSG, it was fun!
Not a full house, but a decent number of fans from all four schools, and a clear victory in numbers, noise, and drunkenness from the contingent from St. Joseph's.
Agreed. Can't win if you don't show up. Whatever the challenge you've earned, show.Totally agree about the sour grapes.