NIT
- Thread starter Ilzion
- Start date
Class of 72
Active member
It took Norm Roberts six years to get to one NIT (and first round exit). One NCAA and two NITs in four years under Lavin is a huge improvement given the bad luck Lavin has had during those years with cancer and players not working out (Polee, Lindsey, Pelle) and Harkless bolting. We were two wins (Xavier at MSG and Providence) from the dance. The Xavier game and the DePaul loss were all that separated us from the NCAA. We are a top seed in the NYC based NIT. If you are a basketball fan you should be happy. If all you want to do is bitch and moan and be delusional about losing in the first round of the NCAA in Spokane then you are a glutton for punishment! This team could go on a run and win 26 games for the year. When was the last time a St. John's team did that? With Jordan, Sampson and Harrson this team will be an NCAA team next year....PERIOD!
Class of 72
Active member
There are around 20 conferences that play at a junior college level that get automatic bids. Eliminate automatic bids and St. John's would have been in the field of 68. It is that simple. I also agree that expanding the field to 80 would eliminate the problem of schools with SOS and RPIs in the 100s getting automatic bids.
ive been saying this all along, winning the NIT is still a great feat. there are some legit teams plaing in this thing. Id be happy with a NIT championship. The last games are in early April when most of the NCAA teams are home watching. Id rather play on and have the kids win something. A NIT championship still goes further than an early knockout in the big dance, thats my opinion. Now, winning this thing is another story. Lets hope the team gels well and can build from falling short. We will see. Go Johnnies !
If these guys aren't motivated they will lose to Robert Morris. They won the NEC pretty easily and they shoot over 38% from three with their best player and leading scorer shooting over 45% from beyond the arc. Winning the NIT would be a nice consolation prize to an extremely disappointing season but losing at home as a 1 seed in the opening round of the NIT would be a new low.
The contrary viewpoint would be that there are only 30 or 40 schools that are worth putting into the tournament. The rest are there to take up space, maintain broad-based interest, and provide the occasional Cinderella story. The latter is more frequent now because the game is so watered down.
Class of 72
Active member
Your contrary view is that of the football based power conferences. This is basketball. While it would impossible for Temple to ever beat Alabama in football, it would not be impossible for a Gonzaga to beat a Duke or Kentucky. The automatic bids of conferences that have mostly schools with BPI's in the 100-200 range is what kills the chances of the St. John's, Georgetown and Marquette's of the world. Wicitha State is a top seed from a non power conference! Florida is a #1 seed from a conference that includes the gold standard for college basketball - KENTUCKY!! The SEC conference received three (3) bids! The Big East got 4 and should have gotten 5 given its power ranking. Both the AAC and Big East are literally new conferences and yet still received more bids than the SEC. The AAC will slide next year while the Big East should rise a notch in the next two years if it expands by two. I have not been impressed with Val Akerman's aggressiveness in this area and unimpressed with her in general but the Big East will be a player in post season for years to come. Over on JJ they are discussing the success or failure of the new Big East. Well, with 4 bids and 2 in the NIT that is 60% of the schools in post season. Not exactly the MAAC!
I've been critical of SJU ticket pricing in the past but I'll applaud them for the NIT prices. They seem more than reasonable. Since there is no chance of a sellout I wish they had a ten dollar ticket for children and high school students.
Would love to see another school in the country repeatedly using one of the school's worst coaches ever as a benchmark for improvement.
We had a bad season.
"But Norm".
We underachieved this year.
"But Norm".
Our players aren't living up to their rankings.
"But Norm".
Half of this fanbase and apologists sound like abuse victims.
We cant compare this to the 80's because its not the 80's and we cannot compare ourselves to the Jarvis teams because we are running/want a clean program which he did not have. So our only REALISTIC comparison is Norm and everything in the Lavin regime has been an improvement on Norm.
We also cant compare ourselves to the Syracuse, Duke, and Kansas of the world because that too is unrealistic although a long term goal ofcourse. If you want to compare ourselves to Kentucky and Calipari that is fine, but you are asking for a dirty program again. For the short term Norm is the only present day realistic comparison.
Although now I might add that for the NIT and next year we should be comparing ourselves to Virginia, we are in the same position they were a year ago so I see no reason at all why we should not follow in their footsteps.
We also cant compare ourselves to the Syracuse, Duke, and Kansas of the world because that too is unrealistic although a long term goal ofcourse. If you want to compare ourselves to Kentucky and Calipari that is fine, but you are asking for a dirty program again. For the short term Norm is the only present day realistic comparison.
Although now I might add that for the NIT and next year we should be comparing ourselves to Virginia, we are in the same position they were a year ago so I see no reason at all why we should not follow in their footsteps.
ZanMan
Well-known member
If we don't, then Coach Lavin will not have many more supporters left.
There is absolutely no excuse for us to not be a top 20 team next season with a nice little run through the tourney.
There is also no excuse to not have a good class of freshmen coming in for the year after.
Two things that are a must IMO, otherwise this rebuilding has failed.
Not to pick on you, but I hate the word apologist. It is trite word used around here. Posters like to think you have one headstrong opinion or another.
Heaven forbid you are angry at the way the season turned out, yet your anger is anyting less than hell's fury directed at Lavin. Is that is an apologist? No one here is happy. There are a myriad of ways many are dealing with this lost season. I am boycotting this year's bracket pool because I do not have it in me to care.
And bringing Roberts (like we did Mahoney, and Jarvis before him) in the discussion, to me just shows the University hasn't made a right coaching hire since Carnesecca retired.
Who says you have to compare it to anything?
The way these guys make themselves feel better is by comparing everything to what a Norm Roberts didn't do.
Norm Roberts has moved on and is doing very well for himself.
This fanbase needs to move on as well.
Any Jets fans sit around comparing current seasons to Rich Kotite? It's ridiculous.
This is Lavin's team, his recruits, his brand. End of story.
Just ordered my ticket for tomorrow night. And have scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist for later today, to have my head examined. I'm sure when he looks in there, he'll find absolutely nothing! 
hmy:
Kranmars, that was for you!
hmy: Kranmars, that was for you!
