March Madness

[ZoomZoom]

And FAU and SDSU in the same regional isn’t a fluke.

[Cajunsmike]

App State gets into NIT. Will play Wake Forest. Surprised that is the case but happy for Mountaineers. LSU plays North Texas in the NIT. NIT committe tried to create regional matchups after seeding top 16 teams.

[zephyr]

Yes it is but so are they. UConn has the best coach in the land and can rotate to matchup with anyone. They can go big or go small. It’s like two completely different teams. Iowa state in Omaha will take over the arena just like they did KC. I see them and UConn in the regional final but UConn will have the advantage being in Boston. Fau and sdsu aren’t the same teams as last year.

Dude, its the NCAA tournament. While they are the favorites and have a great team nothing is guaranteed and they do have the hardest bracket.

[zephyr]

I think James Madison has a chance to win their game vs Wisconsin. Both play very a very physical brand of ball. Wisconsin faltered late due to some injuries. That is a game we should all care about as a victory by the Dukes puts more money into the pockets of all SBC teams. The game is on Friday in Brooklyn. There are 3 other games involving Cajun opponents from this past season. Those are Long Beach vs Arizona, Samford vs Kansas, and McNeese vs Gonzaga. The Cowboys have a chance against Gonzaga as the Zips are not as strong as they have been in the past. Despite winning a couple of titles in years I can remember, Kansas has also been known to get upset early in the tournament.

Indiana State sets a record by having the best NET rating and not garnering an at large bid. Their NET rating was a 29. Hopefully they do well in the NIT. This year 10 conferences received more than 1 bid and 22 received only 1. It is usually 9 conferences receiving multiple bids and 23 receiving one. The Atlantic 10 and the American received 2 this year and often it is only one from the Atlantic 10. UAB and Temple played in the American Finals and neither was going to receive an at large bid. The American is not near the league they were prior to 3 major schools moving to the Big 12. South Florida won the American Conference regular season this year with a record of 16 and 2 but was left out. FAU received an at large bid from the American despite being two games behind USF. I believe the Owls received that bid solely due to their run to the Final Four last year. I think that is a shame for the Bulls. We will find out tonight if App was able to get an NIT bid. I am not hopeful.

Absolutely on James Madison although Wisconsin is playing at a high level. Also, Indiana State was screwed by the 5 "stolen" bids by teams that happened to win their conference tournament who were not going to be at larges. There were 5 conferences who had this which is not normal. Hell, Boise State had 6 quad 1 wins and were one of the last at larges in.

[zephyr]

And FAU and SDSU in the same regional isn’t a fluke.

Yes it is

[zephyr]

Zags are overrated. Cowplops could take them.

Absolutely. As a matter of fact, the zags have the lowest betting line of any 5 seed.

[ZoomZoom]

LSU WBB got jacked, lol. Have Colorado, who handed it to them early season, UCLA and Iowa in their bracket. Good riddance.

[RaginScotsman]

Lots of opt outs for the NIT. Pitt, St.John’s, Memphis, IU, Syracuse, ole Miss and maybe another. Some decent “names” but kind of a blah bracket.

Apparently they still do the CBI because state is in it. The field looks pretty unappetizing.

The CIT has not been played for a few years.

[ZoomZoom]

Speaking on WBB, if there is any doubt the men’s NIT was about money, the WNIT has no such rule. And only a few power conference teams.
https://womensnit.com/news/2024/3/17...announced.aspx


I’d be willing to guess the opt out big programs of the men’s NIT have injuries or know they have players that will be hitting the portal and numbers may be an issue.

Thanks to UL administration for no pay to play. That CBI lineup looks like Mohammad, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton.

[Cajunsmike]

Speaking on WBB, if there is any doubt the men’s NIT was about money, the WNIT has no such rule. And only a few power conference teams.
https://womensnit.com/news/2024/3/17...announced.aspx


I’d be willing to guess the opt out big programs of the men’s NIT have injuries or know they have players that will be hitting the portal and numbers may be an issue.

Thanks to UL administration for no pay to play. That CBI lineup looks like Mohammad, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton.

Portal was definitely a factor in the NIT opt outs. The conference tournament upsets is also why there were 10 conferences with multiple bids. Maybe that happens in the Sun Belt again. I don’t see it happening anytime soon though considering the year App had including a victory over SEC tournament champions.

[cajun_lannister]

Lots of opt outs for the NIT. Pitt, St.John’s, Memphis, IU, Syracuse, ole Miss and maybe another. Some decent “names” but kind of a blah bracket.

Apparently they still do the CBI because state is in it. The field looks pretty unappetizing.

The CIT has not been played for a few years.

If the NCAA Tourney expands again NIT is history.

[Turbine]

If the NCAA Tourney expands again NIT is history.

Agreed, the NIT is on its way out.

Simply because the same entity runs both tournaments.

They wont try to rightfully promote the NIT.

[ZoomZoom]

Agreed, the NIT is on its way out.

Simply because the same entity runs both tournaments.

They wont try to rightfully promote the NIT.

That is around the corner, the Greg Stankey was commenting on it changing. I figure once they're done shutting smaller programs out in football, basketball is next. Baseball and softball can get ready, they'll be on deck.

And we'll be seated with Mohammad, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton...

[cajun_lannister]

That is around the corner, the Greg Stankey was commenting on it changing. I figure once they're done shutting smaller programs out in football, basketball is next. Baseball and softball can get ready, they'll be on deck.

And we'll be seated with Mohammad, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton...

I was totally against G5 separation just 2 years ago. Now I say screw it let's do it. The SEC and Big 10 can have their NFL/NBA lite

[CajunNation]

I was totally against G5 separation just 2 years ago. Now I say screw it let's do it. The SEC and Big 10 can have their NFL/NBA lite

We could make it really special. Do a complete makeover of what is left of D1 athletics. I say we structure it along the rel/pro model of Europe. Southeastern schools would be the English divisions, the Northern schools could be the Spanish divisions and the Western schools could be the Italian divisions.

At the end of the season we do a "Champions League" tourney like Europe.

It would be soooo much fun.