March Madness Upsets and blowouts

[ZoomZoom]

I like the Zags. Was thrilled they were one of the first chartering jets that accommodated the players’ size. Flexing private money.

But NIL will be tough to beat in the long run. Their ace in the hole might be no D1 football.

I’m comfortable thinking the MBB P5 Commissioners don’t view the Zags as a blue blood.

[JAB]

You’re either a blue blood or you’re not. Gonzaga is far from a blue blood. They are the definition of consistency. They are consistently getting to the tournament and are consistent in not winning it.

If UL or any Sun Belt team were in Gonzaga's position--that is, they've gotten to the tournament 25 straight times and they had two Final Four appearances in less than 10 years--you would be saying that the whole country needs to respect them. You wouldn't care whether they've actually won a championship, and you would be arguing that they had cemented themselves as a CBB powerhouse.

[Million$Mullet]

If UL or any Sun Belt team were in Gonzaga's position--that is, they've gotten to the tournament 25 straight times and they had two Final Four appearances in less than 10 years--you would be saying that the whole country needs to respect them. You wouldn't care whether they've actually won a championship, and you would be arguing that they had cemented themselves as a CBB powerhouse.

Of course I would consider that a powerhouse. But that’s not the point. They are on a great run and certainly have cemented themselves as one of cbb premier programs. It still doesn’t make them a blue blood. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana and UCLA are the blue bloods of college basketball. The more recent ones to come along are Florida(3 nc) and UConn(6 nc) who have more national championships in the last 25 years than Gonzaga has final four appearances. Gonzaga is not a blue blood. Thats all I was saying.

[ZoomZoom]

There are two positive outfalls of NIL that most can agree on.

Positive #1. Players start heading to the portal (and increased recruiting by P5) the moment their team isn’t invited to the NCAAs.

Case in point, last year, the NIT was full of P5 teams. Quietly this year, that did not happen. Auburn is the only power conference team in the quarterfinals. The negativity from last year of teams opting to stay home due to NIL wasn’t something the NCAA wanted to see again.

And the second positive. Pay to play post season tournaments, they’re dead. The CBI was cancelled at the last minute and gave up the ghost. Guessing once they saw the NIT field, the quality of available teams were greatly diminished.

[MarlinMan3]

ironically wouldnt cbi be a type of nil, so new nil killed old nil? lol

[Cajunsmike]

If UL or any Sun Belt team were in Gonzaga's position--that is, they've gotten to the tournament 25 straight times and they had two Final Four appearances in less than 10 years--you would be saying that the whole country needs to respect them. You wouldn't care whether they've actually won a championship, and you would be arguing that they had cemented themselves as a CBB powerhouse.

Gonzaga is a private school with a large donor base. 2nd tier state schools like the SBC is composed of cannot compete with that. Now, when I say 2nd tier I am talking about national perception. Every one of our schools has a P4 in their state sucking up the majority of NIL support.

[JAB]

Gonzaga is a private school with a large donor base. 2nd tier state schools like the SBC is composed of cannot compete with that. Now, when I say 2nd tier I am talking about national perception. Every one of our schools has a P4 in their state sucking up the majority of NIL support.

How does this explain Texas Tech, which has to compete with Texas and Texas AM?

I agree that Gonzaga isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But I disagree that second tier schools are hopeless. Texas Tech was a second tier school until 5 minutes ago.

[MarlinMan3]

How does this explain Texas Tech, which has to compete with Texas and Texas AM?

I agree that Gonzaga isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But I disagree that second tier schools are hopeless. Texas Tech was a second tier school until 5 minutes ago.

One might ask is the texas tech way sustainable? Seems they went all or nothing ..... it might be a good strategy for cajuns to save for 3 to 4 years , then splurge, rinse and repeat...see the florida marlins with two WS that way

[zephyr]

How does this explain Texas Tech, which has to compete with Texas and Texas AM?

I agree that Gonzaga isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But I disagree that second tier schools are hopeless. Texas Tech was a second tier school until 5 minutes ago.

They decided to pull out the wallet and they got some donors to step up. They spent significant dollars the last couple of years in both basketball and football and they have a great coach for both sports. That helps.

[zephyr]

One might ask is the texas tech way sustainable? Seems they went all or nothing ..... it might be a good strategy for cajuns to save for 3 to 4 years , then splurge, rinse and repeat...see the florida marlins with two WS that way

Sustainable depends on the money obviously but the school seems committed to building something. Their basketball team could have competed for a national title this year had they not lost Toppin and another player. Toppin was playing like an all american before tearing his ACL.