NCAA's vs. NIT

[Sam Minuteman]

I thought this might be an interesting topic and generate a healthy debate. Here is my "thesis"

Getting to MSG for the NIT final four will be better for the program long term than a one and done would have been in the NCAA's.

1. More game experience for the players and coaches who will be returning next year. While this is a nice way to go out for the seniors I think the real value can be found in what it does for returning players. Not to be lost is the experience it gives the coaches, let's not forget that this is a young coaching staff.
1B. More practice time for the coaches to work with the players.
2. Tournament experience for players and coaches, I think our post season record over the last 7 years or so speaks for the need for this.
3. National exposure. Of course being in the NCAA's gets your name out there for 5 or 6 days and the NIT is generally overlooked early on but when the games are played they are the only game on. With the NCAA's there are a million other games on at the same time and even if you have a great game it is forgotten early unless you go to the sweet 16. Making it to the NIT quarter's assures you of a nation wide audience of college hoops junkies who have nothing else but your team to watch.
4. Ending with a bang! Making it to MSG gives the program a positive postseason experience to build off and recruit with. The coach can show this to future recruits to show that the program is going in the right direction and they can be a part of building the next BIG PROGRAM rather than a team that was one and done.

Yes making it to the big dance is awsome and I would have rathered make it but it is a short fleeting moment, for a program on the rise and truly rebuilding as Umass is I think this run may end up being more valuable to the program. Finally I am not stating that Umass would have been one and done I am just using this for arguments sake, just look at 'Nova! Ohhh and no need to flame anyone I just want to hear different points of view on something I have been contemplating.

[DEM]

Sam, you read my mind. I was going to wait for tomorrow to settle down and essentially say some of what you said. I think with the fact that we won a game like this (especially with the incredible comeback, and the fact that we set a record and made history in the process) and are now going to Madison Square Garden is huge for this program. I think the fan base has really been re-energized, possibly even moreso than if we just made a token appearance (one and done or 1-1) in the NCAA's (not to say I don't think a run would have been possible, but it would have certainly been a lot harder).

I'm also really happy because I think this a great thing for the seniors. To come back from the disappointment of being so close to the NCAA's and actually achieve something like this is incredible. In my mind, they have more than redeemed themselves from the Charlotte loss and given the fans and most of all themselves a lot to be proud of.

There is no doubt that this is an excellent thing for the program. I hope TFord is right and we can get the most fans at MSG. Go UMass!

[AGAWAM28]

I think our argument might change if we had made the NCAA tourney, but I agree that advancing in the NIT might be better for our program.

Its hard to predict what will happen in the NCAA tourney, but losing in the first or second round of the NCAA is probably not as beneficial as advancing and beating a program like Florida (potentially) in the Final Four of the NIT.

Primetime ESPN coverage rarely hurts a program, unless we had played the second half like we did in the first. I'm excited for the future of the program.

Either way you look at this topic, I'm just excited that we are still playing and that we made it to MSG.

[bharms08]

i would love to know the last time UMass basketball was on the ESPN network for 4 straight games in a single season:

ESPNU vs Stone Cold Stephen Austin
ESPN vs Akron
ESPN vs Syracuse
ESPN2 vs Florida


side note: as of right now theyre replaying the game on ESPNU for anyone who has it

[philosopher]

I've never subscribed to the notion that the NIT is the Not Important Tournament. Just looking at the faces of our team when tonight's game was over just said it far more eloquently than I ever could.

[Rocks22]

[shovelhd]

We're playing the current NCAA champion in the NIT championship semifinal. That still hasn't sunk in yet. There are a ton of schools that would gladly trade places with us right now.

And yes, for a team at this stage of its rebirth, going deeper into the NIT has more long-term value than one and done in the NCAA's.

[Jeff93]

I said this in another post, but this track is eerily similar to UMass' rise in the late 80's early 90s. It took time...it was not until we beat Siena in the awesome OT game that students lined up to get tickets. That was when we really saw the enthusiasm pick up.

Those teams had some inconsistency, lost some games they should have own, stole a couple they should have lost, etc. Then they found stability, leadership and Cal settled into his role. I see the same thing happening here.

This NIT run IMO is way better than going to the NCAA as a 11, 12 13 seed. Remember, we went to the Sweet 16 the year after our last NIT Final Four appearance. And this was all pre Camby, so if we pick up a monster recruit along the way...well I get goose bums

[Chizzle]

ESPN is making this a more important tourney for schools.

TFord mentioned that last years Alabama game was huge for recruiting.... I wonder what that SU game was to future recruiting.

On a side note.... I called my lil' brother who is a freshman at UMass. There were many times that his friends had better things to do than go to a UMass basketball game. He stated that his whole dorm was watching the game on ESPN and that the place was going crazy.... The fans are back!

Wish the next game was at home to show a sell out!

[npt3]

Chiz, tell your bro to do the same thing next season, but in the Bill!

[Mrbaseball220]

I dont think you'll find a logical peson that would or should disagree with this post. Anytime your playing later in the season and getting nationally televised games it can only help. If we absolutely knew or could say we would have won two games in the NCAA's then maybe we have an argument, but you can't so well said. This is a very exciting time of the year! Without question I hope eventually we are turning some of these into the "big dance" but for right now..job well done!

[xlgman]

I agree - it's a great step and recruiting bonanza to play and win in the NIT - especially for a team that is on the way up rather than on the way down. Recruits can see that we are almost NCAA material and need some studs to put us over the hump. To do it in historic fashion, with a dramatic win, high octane offense, and gritty play is like a recipe made in heaven. TF knows how important this game was. And the next one is even bigger!

A one and done in the NCAA would have been very good too but I think this is better for this team, this season. Not by much, but better.

I remember how the tide turned with the fan base when we beat Siena to make it to MSG in '91. When students begin to believe that greatness is possible, they will come out in droves with painted faces and basketballs on their heads and Elvis costumes............maybe that happened last night.

[MassMan06]

I suppose I should just re-read The Rise of UMass Basketball, but could briefly someone explain why the Siena game was so huge and how that turned the tide?

[Old Cage]

The Siena game equals last night's game in that our win put Cal on the national stage for the first time - at MSG in the NIT Final Four.

The Siena announcer was explaining to their fans how to get bus tickets for New York when Tony Barbee hit what many folks consider the most important basket in UMass history. We won in overtime.

I don't remember if Lou Roe had committed before that game or not, but Dingle, Bright, Camby, Mike Williams, Weeks, Travieso and Padilla were the result.

Now it is TF's turn.

[pacman327]

I think being on ESPN this often really really helps make recruiting easier for Ford. He talked about recruiting being easier in a radio show earlier this year.