NIT

[austour]

I know this is going to sound ridiculous to those who don't GAF but I'm actually going to be in town Thurs through Tues and don't get to see the team that often. Anyone seen the full schedule. I might be able to make a game Thurs, Sun or Mon night.

 

[austour]

Assuming they win, of course.

 

[redman#13]

As a whole I think the NIT is a lot more competitive in the first few rounds. There will be some major blow outs in the first couple rounds of the NCAA

 

[JackofVirginia]

I hope everyone will get to the second game if it's Green Bay. That will be a good game. I'd definitely go if I lived anywhere close.

It sure will be, especially since Green Bay defeated the ACC champs, Virginia.

 

[tom in salem]

I would like to see Hooper play in this tournament.

Are you a masochist?

 

[rawdognyc]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

 

[westchesterjoe]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

The standard should be the NCAA tournament. Wins and losses, especially against cupcakes, don't really count as improvement.
We are repeaters this year in the NIT, a tournament that should be a stepping stone to greater glory. Witness, Virginia and St Joe's, our 2 NIT opponents from last year heading to the Dance.

 

[SJUalum98]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

You sound like Lavin.

Lavin himself said that making the NCAA tournament was the goal. Not 20 or 17 or 13 wins. Making the tourney.

Everything else is just spin.

Yes the team improved. But yes the team also underachieved.

We're talking reality here not some analytic who reaches for straws trying to make it sound better than what it is.

 

[rawdognyc]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

The standard should be the NCAA tournament. Wins and losses, especially against cupcakes, don't really count as improvement.
We are repeaters this year in the NIT, a tournament that should be a stepping stone to greater glory. Witness, Virginia and St Joe's, our 2 NIT opponents from last year heading to the Dance.

St. Joes record for same 3 year period 20-14 NIT 18-14 NIT 24-9 NCAA. Virginia 22-10 NCAA 23-12 NIT 28-6 NCAA. The schools started with a leg up already on St Johns. Do you understand building something from scratch and already having a cake in the oven. From my observations we are doing right on track if you want to compare us to those 2 teams.

 

[rawdognyc]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

You sound like Lavin.

Lavin himself said that making the NCAA tournament was the goal. Not 20 or 17 or 13 wins. Making the tourney.

Everything else is just spin.

Yes the team improved. But yes the team also underachieved.

We're talking reality here not some analytic who reaches for straws trying to make it sound better than what it is.

Ummm no duh. For every school their goal is to make the dance. In reality whose eyes did they underachieve in? Every prognosticator and publication that picked them to finish in the middle of the big east as a bubble team, or in your eyes? Maybe the people who get paid to pick where teams will finish perhaps know more then you do. Just saying.

 

[paultzman]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

You sound like Lavin.

Lavin himself said that making the NCAA tournament was the goal. Not 20 or 17 or 13 wins. Making the tourney.

Everything else is just spin.

Yes the team improved. But yes the team also underachieved.

We're talking reality here not some analytic who reaches for straws trying to make it sound better than what it is.

Yep

 

[Class of 72]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

You sound like Lavin.

Lavin himself said that making the NCAA tournament was the goal. Not 20 or 17 or 13 wins. Making the tourney.

Everything else is just spin.

Yes the team improved. But yes the team also underachieved.

We're talking reality here not some analytic who reaches for straws trying to make it sound better than what it is.

Most of what you say is correct. I was a harsh critic early in the season for lack of preparation, poor recruiting for 2014 and other issues but this team came back from 0-5 in the conference and until two weeks ago was one of the hottest teams in the country and being mentioned as a bubble team. That is a big positive given the many flaws that this team has from shooting free throws to low BB IQ. The NCAA goal was just that - a goal and if it were not for two losses, DePaul and the NCAA play in game against Xavier, this team would be dancing IMO given a couple of weaker A10 teams got in. When one looks back at the key losses they are attributable to both the coaching and the players but more so the players since the coaches can't shoot foul shots or inbound the ball, etc. Players like Obekpa, Jordan and Sanchez just underperformed early and it cost us. Jordan has an excuse but Sanchez practiced all last year and Chris seems immature. As a fan I hoped for a better season but I would rather see my team in my home town now with a possibility of winning more games than trying to book tickets to Milwaukee for a likely first round loss. The NIT field is a good one with some good coaches and it gives us a chance to see if Lavin can motivate these players to build some momentum for next year. It is more than a Hoosier can say about Indiana. It is not as disappointing as Duke losing the ACC crown with a top recruiting class. We won 20 games with a bunch of guys with warts all over their game in a tough conference. Let us see what they can do in the next two weeks. It may surprise us in a good way. I just cannot go to the games with negative Karma. It would be self-defeating.

 

[Section3]

Tomorrow at 10 AM. Cheapest seats are $25. An absolute joke and anyone who pays that price to see a first round NIT game vs an NEC team needs to get their head examined.

Cheapest student tickets are $25 ????

Student tix are $5

 

[Section3]

No reason not to have a big student turnout at $5 per ticket.

Biggest joke was getting hit for $10 for ordering over the phone...when the only other option was to walk up to the window...

 

[Section3]

The NIT should be eliminated in modern day college basketball. It does not hold the reverence it did 50 years ago. With all the good teams out there today, I believe it is time to expand the NCAA tournament to a field of 80 to 100 teams!

Ordinarily I am not a fan of expanding the # of post season team -- pro or college -- as it always dilutes the regular season...But, with all of the automatic qualifiers, it is getting tougher for teams that are better than the autp qualifiers to to get into the tournament...

 

[Section3]

The NIT should be eliminated in modern day college basketball. It does not hold the reverence it did 50 years ago. With all the good teams out there today, I believe it is time to expand the NCAA tournament to a field of 80 to 100 teams!

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.

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.

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!

Agree with your points but curious about your comments re: Ackerman...where do you think she is lagging?

 

[ras]

There are some good teams in the NIT. Because of all the automatic qualifiers ,teams are in the NIT that should be in the NCAA. Marquette and Indiana didn't even make it.

 

[Class of 72]

The NIT should be eliminated in modern day college basketball. It does not hold the reverence it did 50 years ago. With all the good teams out there today, I believe it is time to expand the NCAA tournament to a field of 80 to 100 teams!

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.

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.

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!

Agree with your points but curious about your comments re: Ackerman...where do you think she is lagging?

I was not a fan of her hiring from day one so I am biased to begin with but the league offices have been slow to get off the ground as were little things like hiring staff, a functional website and being the face of the conference. It is a well known fact that Fox wants an expanded market with two additional quality teams to raise the profile and profitability of the league and it will be interesting to see if she has the persuasive influence to move that agenda.

 

[Section3]

The NIT should be eliminated in modern day college basketball. It does not hold the reverence it did 50 years ago. With all the good teams out there today, I believe it is time to expand the NCAA tournament to a field of 80 to 100 teams!

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.

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.

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!

Agree with your points but curious about your comments re: Ackerman...where do you think she is lagging?

I was not a fan of her hiring from day one so I am biased to begin with but the league offices have been slow to get off the ground as were little things like hiring staff, a functional website and being the face of the conference. It is a well known fact that Fox wants an expanded market with two additional quality teams to raise the profile and profitability of the league and it will be interesting to see if she has the persuasive influence to move that agenda.

Got it...i hope she is pressured to bring in HIGH PROFILE programs

 

[salty dog]

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!

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.

OK, so we'll start with a clean slate like Lavin did. First year they won 13 games during the regular season with his players. Second year they won 16 games during the regular season and were a 5 seed in the NIT. Third season they won 20 and are a number 1 seed. Any way you slice that you'll see we are in am upward motion. Just because you and I had certain expectations for what the team SHOULD do really doesn't change whether the program has improved since Lavin took over. Record shows we improved every year since we started with Steves players and not Norms.

The standard should be the NCAA tournament. Wins and losses, especially against cupcakes, don't really count as improvement.
We are repeaters this year in the NIT, a tournament that should be a stepping stone to greater glory. Witness, Virginia and St Joe's, our 2 NIT opponents from last year heading to the Dance.

St. Joes record for same 3 year period 20-14 NIT 18-14 NIT 24-9 NCAA. Virginia 22-10 NCAA 23-12 NIT 28-6 NCAA. The schools started with a leg up already on St Johns. Do you understand building something from scratch and already having a cake in the oven. From my observations we are doing right on track if you want to compare us to those 2 teams.

No he doesn't understand. That's the problem.