Nit?

[GoMuskies]

With an 88 RPI (just looking at ESPN.com - they could certainly have the wrong numbers), how do we think we're looking for an NIT bid should things not work out in Brooklyn?

As much as the NIT sucks, it still beats having the season end.

[ballyhoohoo]

The NIT tries to find teams that just missed the tourney, but most important can sell tickets at home and draw ratings. Hence a lot of lower tier big six teams.

[blueblob06]

Yep, the NIT would be much better than nothing. It means more time for the under-classmen to improve their game.

[muskiefan82]

Let's see...... Xavier is a power program with a brand name AND they will bring in fans away or at home.

Sounds like a no-brainer to me, but it is ESPN.

[Xavier]

Good for the team but I wouldn't watch it and wouldn't care about the outcome. Would you buy an NIT championship shirt?

[GoMuskies]

Would you buy an NIT championship shirt?

No, but I'd watch the games. Why wouldn't you? Xavier basketball is sure as hell better than no Xavier basketball. Are you going to fire up the Bachelor instead?

[WalterXU]

What's this NIT you speak of?

[MD Muskie]

With an 88 RPI (just looking at ESPN.com - they could certainly have the wrong numbers), how do we think we're looking for an NIT bid should things not work out in Brooklyn?

As much as the NIT sucks, it still beats having the season end.

I thought ESPN cared only about their newly created measuring stick, the BPI? Isn't that the stat that only matters?

Kidding aside, I think this team should absolutely accept an invitation from the NIT if invited. This isn't a year where the expectations were so high that they failed to meet them and thus would be disappointed in going to the NIT. In fact i would say we are pretty happy with what this team has shown us and playing in more games can only benefit the guys returning next year. And secondly, we can say when we have a done year we still impress, we still beat ranked teams, and we still play March basketball.

[GoMuskies]

I'm certain Xavier would accept an NIT invite. My question is more along the lines of whether we're in line to get one.

[MD Muskie]

really the only teams that are in line to get one are the teams that finish in first place in the regular season but lose out on the automatic bid in the tournamanets. After that the NIT, as said above, is going to invite teams that will sell and travel. We should be one of those.

Still "JUST WIN BROOKLYN!"

[powerofX]

Good for the team but I wouldn't watch it and wouldn't care about the outcome. Would you buy an NIT championship shirt?

I know times have changed in terms of our expectations, but that NIT vs. Princeton in '99 or 2000? was one of the most fun times I've had at a game. The Gardens wasn't a sell out because it was NIT, but it was super rowdy because all of the fans there were hard core. And while I wouldnt buy an NIT tshirt, it would help the team to play tournament type games...and get the extra practice.

[DC Muskie]

I didn't watch any of that '99 NIT run because I was so pissed we missed the tournament.

I think this would be the only year I would watch and be interested in how we did in the NIT.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

Pass on the nit

[danaandvictory]

You don't pass on the NIT. The NCAA runs it and it's on ESPN. No brainer. I hope X makes it. There used to be a site called NITology that projected the field but they haven't updated since last March.

[Fireball]

We had no idea what to expect from this year's team when we came into the season. While I'm not satisfied with an NIT bid, I do not believe that this team has underachieved to the point where an NIT bid is an unacceptable result to the season. Based on what the team has lost, and that includes injuries and difficulties during the season, I will be proud to support the team in an NCAA tournament run. This team has worked its ass off to get where they are, and that's in solid position for a postseason bid with an outside shot to get into the NCAA tournament.

I won't celebrate an NIT championship (because this program is beyond that), but I will absolutely support this team in a postseason tournament run, and that involves buying tickets and watching games on TV.

[danaandvictory]

I'm pretty high on the guys we have coming in next year, and I love the way Philmore has eased into a big time role. Even big James gave some decent minutes last night.

An NIT run would be a great appetizer for next year. A lot of teams have used it as a springboard to success the following season (Not Dayton).

Obviously my preference would be a run in the A-10 Tournament but a couple of NIT home games against decent teams would be far from a disaster.

[American X]

But only if we win the whole thing, have a parade through Norwood, and the Ohio state senate passes a resolution commending Xavier for its monumental accomplishment.

[MADXSTER]

IMO if Xavier wins out but loses in the finals, I think they will be a bubble team for the NCAA's.

[GoMuskies]

IMO if Xavier wins out but loses in the finals, I think they will be a bubble team for the NCAA's.

That's quite a large if.

[MADXSTER]

That's quite a large if.

True, absolutely agree. But until last night, Xavier never really gave us much of a reason to " what if ".

It's been a long time since we've watched the bigs carry the team. Brings a completely different dimension to the team. Also makes it much tougher for other teams to prepare for them.

[RealDeal]

You don't pass on the NIT. The NCAA runs it and it's on ESPN. No brainer. I hope X makes it. There used to be a site called NITology that projected the field but they haven't updated since last March.

Agree.

[xu95]

I have already reserved my tickets for the NIT if it happens. I won't go to Cintas to see a CBI or CIT game, but I will absolutely go see the NIT with the expectations of this team coming into the year.

[XU '11]

IMO if Xavier wins out but loses in the finals, I think they will be a bubble team for the NCAA's.

I think Xavier is comfortably into the field in that scenario. X's RPI would likely climb into the top 50 and we'd have 7 or 8 top 50 wins. We'd have won 6 of our last 7, including 4 wins against ranked teams.

No chance we don't get in with that resume.

[DC Muskie]

A lot of teams have used it as a springboard to success the following season.

This is the biggest misconception in college basketball.

I'm not sure how playing an extra game or two in March springboards you towards success the following season. Wouldn't the same be true if we have played in the NCAA? If so, give me the NCAA tournament.

There might be a few teams here and there who have young rosters who experience some success in NIT, and are able to add more pieces the following year, and then experience success in the Dance. But that's not the norm. Especially if the theory is, get into the NIT, play some games because that will help you the following year.

It's silly.

Let's say we make the NIT and play two games. Win one, lose the next. Next season our team is going to want to play in the Dance, not be motivated by the prize of moving further in the NIT. A motivation they would already have by missing the Dance, so the motivation factor is moot. Following an NIT loss, we will get better next year because we will have more depth, have better new additions, different pieces, and an entire off season where guys will get better.

Like I said, this year if we end up in the NIT, I will take it as a bonus. But please can we stop the justification that there are plenty of teams who use it as a springboard to success?

Look at the champs and runner ups form the last ten years or so.

Stanford won last year and now sits 6-7 in the PAC12
Alabama has been runner up twice in the last 12 years.
Dayton.
UMass
South Carolina won back to back titles. Awesome. They were so springboardy, they springboarded right back to where they were the previous year.
Michigan won it in 2004 then took five years to get back to the Dance. It looks like Dayton wants to follow that model.

Sorry DV, don't mean to pick on ya.

[GoMuskies]

Hey, the Shockers were champs just two years ago. They were so proud. You could get a credit card from the local bank celebrating Wichita State's "championship season". They've been a lot better the next two years, but I don't think it has anything to do with winning the NIT and being "springboarded" anywhere. Well, I was springboarded to embarrassment for their fans. I mean, last year's intro video to fire up the crowd prior to the starting lineup intros crescendoed with the unfurling of the NIT championship banner. Yes, that actually got them fired up and did not cause them to hang their heads in shame.

[Fireball]

I don't know that I would call it a "springboard", but the fact a young team to get to play some games in a postseason environment can't be anything but good.

It's not the NCAA tournament, but it's valuable experience that Semaj, Dee, Philmore, and players who have not really been much of a part of Xavier's NCAA tournament runs can build off of.

[MADXSTER]

If you are going to use the tournament to help your team going into the following year, then don't play your seniors. Otherwise it's all the same.

[DC Muskie]

I don't know that I would call it a "springboard", but the fact a young team to get to play some games in a postseason environment can't be anything but good.

It's not the NCAA tournament, but it's valuable experience that Semaj, Dee, Philmore, and players who have not really been much of a part of Xavier's NCAA tournament runs can build off of.

Our young players will create their own postseason success. They will do that by playing in the tournament themselves.

Tu never had to experience the NIT in order to be prepared for the NCAA. I don't think playing in the NIT will help Semaj gain "valuable" experience.

How do you measure the value of playing in Ames, Iowa on March 19, 2013 where you lose by 20?

If we get into the NIT, I'd like to see how the guys finish the season. I expect them to get back to the dance next year, but it has nothing to do with the fact that they played in the NIT the year before.

[XUFan09]

I think Xavier is comfortably into the field in that scenario. X's RPI would likely climb into the top 50 and we'd have 7 or 8 top 50 wins. We'd have won 6 of our last 7, including 4 wins against ranked teams.

No chance we don't get in with that resume.

Xavier will be 1-4 against 51-100 though in that scenario, along with having 4 bad losses and one really bad loss. They also are 83rd by the Kenpom rankings and in a similar place with the other efficiency ranking systems, which the Committee uses now in its deliberations. As people have said in another thread, it gets them put among the blind resumes, which means there's definitely a chance they don't get in.

Now, if Xavier wins the A10 tournament, obviously they get the auto-bid, but I bet at that point they get a 12 or 13 seed next to the last at-large teams.

[danaandvictory]

This is the biggest misconception in college basketball.

That's a colossal reach. There are much bigger misconceptions. "Bill Self's wig is not constituted entirely from a muskrat pelt" for example.

Yeah, additional game time is valuable whether in the NIT or the NCAAs. X is not going to the NCAAs this year barring a big run, so let's go do well in the NIT and get Semaj and Dee some more time. Tha'ts all I'm saying.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

For all of those on here who are saying they wouldn't go see XU in some of the post season tourneys, I will say I am extremely jealous you guys get to go at all. If I lived in Cincy I would be at every home game no matter the tourney. Just like I was when I attended the University.

That said, I think this team meets the litmus test for an NIT invite, not an NCAA with it's bad losses, however, this team is more than capable of winning 4 in Brooklyn.

[coasterville95]

Considering the ticket office is already taking seat reservations from full plan season ticket holders "in the event we are selected to host an NIT game" I think our schools intentions regarding what we do if the NIT invites us are declared.

CBI/CIT are different stories - That would be one where I'm not sure what the school would do. Getting our fresh young team an extra game or more could be good, but at what expense. I hear the host school loses money on the game, there is the negative stigma attached to those two tournaments, at what point is it better to pack it away till October? (Recall when UC was tabbed for the CBI and they actually DECLINED to host and preferred a road game (which they lost), and said the decision came down entirely on they couldn't make the numbers work financially to host a game.)

Also doesn't CIT practically come right out and brand itself as a mid-major (or worse) level tournament, we want no association with that level ball.


ETA: That said, if Xavier hosts ANY post season game in Cincinnati (NCAA,NIT,CBI,CIT) at any venue (CIntas, US Bank, The Gardens, Schmidt, BoK Center, 5/3rd Arena, Elder's Gym) you can bet I will be there as long as tickets are available. Also, aren't premium seat holders required to purchase tickets to any Xavier Men's Basketball game played at Cintas, or did they reduce that to merely requiring purchase of the season ticket package.

[SixFig]

I always wonder (paranoid though I am) if Semaj tears an ACL or a similar yearlong injury in the NIT how we would react.

[GoMuskies]

I always wonder (paranoid though I am) if Semaj tears an ACL or a similar yearlong injury in the NIT how we would react.

Same way we'd react if he tore an ACL in a pick-up game, I suppose.

[smileyy]

No, but I'd watch the games. Why wouldn't you? Xavier basketball is sure as hell better than no Xavier basketball. Are you going to fire up the Bachelor instead?

Public reps

[Masterofreality]

I can't believe I'm posting this in the middle of Clanton freaking Alabama.

Xavier has an NIT Championship banner hanging from the rafters in Cintas. Why would it be up there if it didn't mean something?

Yes, I'd take the invite and would personally try to go to the games, either at home or on the road. I'd definitely watch. WTF else is there to watch than Xavier basketball.

If the team wants to continue playing, I want to continue watching.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I can't believe I'm posting this in the middle of Clanton freaking Alabama.

Xavier has an NIT Championship banner hanging from the rafters in Cintas. Why would it be up there if it didn't mean something?

Yes, I'd take the invite and would personally try to go to the games, either at home or on the road. I'd definitely watch. WTF else is there to watch than Xavier basketball.

If the team wants to continue playing, I want to continue watching.

Back when we won that the NIT was much bigger than it is today. More top teams played in the NIT than in the NCAA.

[GoMuskies]

Back when we won that the NIT was much bigger than it is today. More top teams played in the NIT than in the NCAA.

Your first sentence is true. Your second is not.

[Masterofreality]

Back when we won that the NIT was much bigger than it is today. More top teams played in the NIT than in the NCAA.

Well, then. if now it means nothing, take the banner down. No other school does though.

[GIMMFD]

Go, absolutely, hell supply the student section with alcohol and let them get rowdy. It'll be fun! It's more basketball, it's a longer season, that's what as fans is what we should want.

[XUFan09]

For what it's worth, a few thoughts (http://fromstaaktomack.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/a-few-thoughts-after-the-memphis-game/) on the remainder of the season after the Memphis win.

[Xavier]

Well, then. if now it means nothing, take the banner down. No other school does though.

At that time, it was a big thing for Xavier. Now, if you asked before the season, the majority of Xavier fans would consider winning the NIT a bad year. IMO, at least.

[Xavier]

Xavier will be 1-4 against 51-100 though in that scenario, along with having 4 bad losses and one really bad loss. They also are 83rd by the Kenpom rankings and in a similar place with the other efficiency ranking systems, which the Committee uses now in its deliberations. As people have said in another thread, it gets them put among the blind resumes, which means there's definitely a chance they don't get in.

Now, if Xavier wins the A10 tournament, obviously they get the auto-bid, but I bet at that point they get a 12 or 13 seed next to the last at-large teams.

Is this a new thing the committee looks at? I usually see it broken down as record against RPI top 50 and then RPI top 100. I could be wrong, though. Regardless, 1-4 wouldn't really be bad considering the amount of top 50 wins. That wouldn't hold X back...what holds X back is the bad losses. I think under hs scenario X would still be a bubble team but it could go either way.

[XUFan09]

Is this a new thing the committee looks at? I usually see it broken down as record against RPI top 50 and then RPI top 100. I could be wrong, though. Regardless, 1-4 wouldn't really be bad considering the amount of top 50 wins. That wouldn't hold X back...what holds X back is the bad losses. I think under hs scenario X would still be a bubble team but it could go either way.
I think I remember reading it last year. I should have emphasized the bad losses more, but the record versus okay teams is the additional weight that pulls down the resume.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I agree with others who are saying they are watching Xavier basketball no matter what tournament it is. If it is in cincy I am going. I go to the exhibitions I will go to any postseason tournament that is at the Cintas as well. If Xavier is playing I am interested.

[Juice]

I agree with others who are saying they are watching Xavier basketball no matter what tournament it is. If it is in cincy I am going. I go to the exhibitions I will go to any postseason tournament that is at the Cintas as well. If Xavier is playing I am interested.

I agree. Plus, what the hell else is anyone going to watch? NCAA and NBA basketball are the only sports going.

[PMI]

I agree. Plus, what the hell else is anyone going to watch? NCAA and NBA basketball are the only sports going.

Uh, meaningful hockey with playoff implications?!? Golf!?!? If Xavier is on in the CBI or CIT during a Caps home game, I am going to the Verizon Center without looking back. Of course, I'll still DVR the X game and bitch about the fact that we're in that tourney the whole time I watch...

[Xavier]

Uh, meaningful hockey with playoff implications?!? Golf!?!? If Xavier is on in the CBI or CIT during a Caps home game, I am going to the Verizon Center without looking back. Of course, I'll still DVR the X game and bitch about the fact that we're in that tourney the whole time I watch...

Well, this year you won't have to worry about that.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Well, this year you won't have to worry about that.

Do they still play professional hockey?