The OFFICIAL NIT Tournament Thread

[molson]

I never started one of these before. :)

The top four seeds are Syracuse, Ohio St, Arizona St, and Virigina Tech.

I might pay attention some this year with no real rooting interesting in the big dance - Syracuse has a very young team and is setup well for next year, it'd be nice to see them make a run here.

[Butter]

Millions will watch Dayton vs. Cleveland State in the first round.

OK, thousands.

Hundreds?

Well, I'll watch the thing.

[Horizon]

Who is doing the CBI bracket?

Get another bracket ready for inaugural CBI

3rd tournament making selections on Sunday too


http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-16-myslenski-cbimar16,1,1696047.story

[Blade6119]

Im not sure whats more depressing...that my arizona state team missed out of the NCAA's and will have to settle for the NIT, or that my Missouri team didnt even make that.

[Groundhog]

Though I could look it up myself if I weren't so lazy, did UMass make it?

[Butter]

Though I could look it up myself if I weren't so lazy, did UMass make it?

UMass is in the NIT.

[Young Drachma]

The CBI included Cincinnati at 13-18.

[14ers]

The CBI also features a best of 3 series according to Wiki.
The championship is a best-of-three series with games being played on March 31 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_31), 2008 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008); April 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_2), 2008 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008); and April 4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_4), 2008 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008) if necessary.

[Young Drachma]

http://www.gazellegroup.com/cbi/index_main.htm Their web site doesn't come up if you google it initially, since the tournament isn't that well known yet. You have to go to the Gazelle Group's web site to there. Real smart.

Here's the CBI Bracket, though they weren't smart enough to make it in a format other than PDF. Doofuses.

CBI Bracket (http://www.gazellegroup.com/cbi/cbi_bracket08.pdf)

[wade moore]

The CBI is big talk over on the CAA Boards.

It's quite clear that its goal right now (which may not be a bad thing) is to make money. This is not necessarily the next best 16 teams. These are the 16 teams that are generally respectable, are willing to pay the entry fee (if a home team), and will draw a crowd/travel well. Bottom line, they want attendance and money from the gates.

For instance - In the CAA UNCW did not get a bid (or even really considered) but ODU gets a home game. UNCW was ranked higher in the CAA this year (1 more win) and had a marginally higher RPI.

But ODU offered to pay the $60k entry fee and has a large fan base.

[Young Drachma]

Well they run a bunch of other tournaments during the pre-season, so they know what they're doing. I just don't think there will be lasting appeal for a tournament that's barely on TV that schools will take a loss participating in and yet, the Women's NIT seems to do all right each year..so maybe there is a market for this sort of thing.

[sooner333]

I think the Stephen F. Austin-UMass game could be pretty good. I saw the Lumberjacks come into Norman this year and beat the Sooners. It will be an intersting matchup with the slow-down defense oriented SFA and the up-tempo Umass squad.

[molson]

We should all start a tournament.

It would have to have a gimmick - like only schools that begin with vowels would be invited.

[Young Drachma]

We should all start a tournament.

It would have to have a gimmick - like only schools that begin with vowels would be invited.

That would be an interesting exercise. An FOFC tourney with all of the non-invited NCAA teams, setup to create the best matchups. The DOLA Invitational.

[sooner333]

We should all start a tournament.

It would have to have a gimmick - like only schools that begin with vowels would be invited.

Last place finishers from each conference get an automatic bid?

[BishopMVP]

I think the Stephen F. Austin-UMass game could be pretty good. I saw the Lumberjacks come into Norman this year and beat the Sooners. It will be an intersting matchup with the slow-down defense oriented SFA and the up-tempo Umass squad.It will be a nice contrast in styles, but like Butter said about Dayton, they'll be lucky to get 3000 people at the game, and an equal number watching on TV. Students are on spring break, and the game is on ESPNU. It'll be up on ChannelSurfing, but my internet connection here is rarely good enough. The next couple against FSU and potentially Maryland/Minnesota would draw better as they're name teams at least.

[sooner333]

It will be a nice contrast in styles, but like Butter said about Dayton, they'll be lucky to get 3000 people at the game, and an equal number watching on TV. Students are on spring break, and the game is on ESPNU. It'll be up on ChannelSurfing, but my internet connection here is rarely good enough. The next couple against FSU and potentially Maryland/Minnesota would draw better as they're name teams at least.

Yeah, actually, looking at tempo stats, Umass is the fourth fastest team in the nation while SFA is fifth slowest. I'm definitely going to tune into this game. Tonight and tomorrow are going to be a nice way to ease into a world of college basketball.

[Butter]

BishopMVP, hard to believe that our two teams would end up here when they played 2 months ago. It kinda sucks. Good luck to the Minutemen. Maybe we can have a rematch in New York City.

[14ers]

But ODU offered to pay the $60k entry fee and has a large fan base.
I thought the $60,000 entry fee was required from each team wanting to host a game?

[JeeberD]

The CBI also features a best of 3 series according to Wiki.

I'm looking forward to the UTEP-Houston final...we've already played them three times, what's another three games? ;)

[BishopMVP]

BishopMVP, hard to believe that our two teams would end up here when they played 2 months ago. It kinda sucks. Good luck to the Minutemen. Maybe we can have a rematch in New York City.I guess it's cushioned somewhat for us because no one thought we had a shot at the NCAA's before the season, but just every time it looked like UMass cemented their spot they would lose a crippling game. Up 19 in the 2nd half against Charlotte before they started hitting crazy 3's (does Leemire Goldwire even look at the basket when he shoots?) proving to be the final nail. Dayton's probably a little harder because there's the what-if of Chris Wright's injury. But hey, each team gets a chance to have some decent resolution. We could even have an all-A10 final 4 with URI and Charlotte.Yeah, actually, looking at tempo stats, Umass is the fourth fastest team in the nation while SFA is fifth slowest. I'm definitely going to tune into this game. Tonight and tomorrow are going to be a nice way to ease into a world of college basketball.Gary Forbes is the SR NBA prospect, but I hate the way he plays. He thinks he's Kobe, but has shot like 22% from 3-pt range sicne conference play started. Our other guards are nice - Chris Lowe is a lightning-quick PG who's probably too short to play in the NBA, but is a fantastic college player, and Ricky Harris is a sophomore who can score from anywhere. Up front we have some hilariously mismatched players, especially Luke Bonner the 7'3 wannabe-SG who gets outrebounded by 6' guys on the rare occasions he steps into the post. Objectively, we're a really fun team to watch, because regardless if we're up 10 or down 10 the score will probably be flipped 5 within minutes. I just wish I got ESPNU.

[wade moore]

I thought the $60,000 entry fee was required from each team wanting to host a game?

Yes - that's true.

My point was that on Monday ODU was going to them saying "oh hey - we don't mind paying at ALL, seriously - our cash is yours" vs. the CBI having to come to a team and saying "uh, hey - want in (oh btw - it'll cost ya)".

From what I've read, quite a few teams turned down this offer.

[Butter]

I guess it's cushioned somewhat for us because no one thought we had a shot at the NCAA's before the season, but just every time it looked like UMass cemented their spot they would lose a crippling game. Up 19 in the 2nd half against Charlotte before they started hitting crazy 3's (does Leemire Goldwire even look at the basket when he shoots?) proving to be the final nail. Dayton's probably a little harder because there's the what-if of Chris Wright's injury. But hey, each team gets a chance to have some decent resolution. We could even have an all-A10 final 4 with URI and Charlotte.

I kind of feel the same way. Before the season, I would've been all over getting to the NIT. But then the way the season played out, it's just a disappointment. They are talking like Wright may get some minutes against Cleveland State tomorrow night, so I am looking forward to seeing him back on the court.

I watched that Charlotte-UMass A10 tourney game. Goldwire is insane when he's hot. I hope he is graduating at some point in his life. He dropped like 30 points on UD in a half last year at Charlotte by hitting some of the same shots he was hitting against UMass. Then we beat Charlotte this year at home because Goldwire was something like 2-16 shooting. But I was on edge the whole game waiting for him to heat up, hoping he wouldn't.

For those of you who are bored of A10 talk, that 7-foot-7 giant guy and UNC-Asheville are playing at Ohio State tonight at 7 PM. It's pretty entertaining just to watch that guy try to move around.

[BishopMVP]

I kind of feel the same way. Before the season, I would've been all over getting to the NIT. But then the way the season played out, it's just a disappointment. They are talking like Wright may get some minutes against Cleveland State tomorrow night, so I am looking forward to seeing him back on the court.

I watched that Charlotte-UMass A10 tourney game. Goldwire is insane when he's hot. I hope he is graduating at some point in his life. He dropped like 30 points on UD in a half last year at Charlotte by hitting some of the same shots he was hitting against UMass. Then we beat Charlotte this year at home because Goldwire was something like 2-16 shooting. But I was on edge the whole game waiting for him to heat up, hoping he wouldn't.

For those of you who are bored of A10 talk, that 7-foot-7 giant guy and UNC-Asheville are playing at Ohio State tonight at 7 PM. It's pretty entertaining just to watch that guy try to move around.Goldwire did the same thing to us feels like 8 years ago when I was a freshman. Dropping insane shots and hearing Leeeeeeeeeemmmmmmiirrrrrrrre Goooooooooooldwiiiiiiiiiire over and over again like we had Leeroy Jenkins as the PA announcer. There's no way to play defense against the guy, he's either hitting 30 footers or missing open bunnies. I too heard the rumor he's finally graduating, :D but I won't believe it until I see it.

Battle of styles was won by UMass' athleticism tonight. 3 minutes to go, up 24 and set a season high for points allowed by SFA.

[wade moore]

Well, ODU wins the first ever CBI game.

yippee.

[Butter]

Man, can't believe Rhode Island blew a 12 point lead with 3 minutes to go. Great finish by Creighton.

[ThunderingHERD]

NIT Still Has 10 Open Slots If Anyone Wants To Play (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nit_still_has_10_open_slots_if)

[BishopMVP]

UMass came back from 22 down in the 2nd half to become the 1st team to beat Syracuse at the Carrier Dome twice in the same season. Matchup vs. Florida in one semifinal.

[Butter]

UMass came back from 22 down in the 2nd half to become the 1st team to beat Syracuse at the Carrier Dome twice in the same season. Matchup vs. Florida in one semifinal.

Awesome comeback, congrats!

Not real optimistic about Dayton going against Ohio State tonight... but we did finally get Chris Wright back, and he was the difference against Illinois State. The Flyer fans are fired up, as Ohio State basketball will not play in-state teams for the most part. I think this is the first time UD has played Ohio State in around 20 years.