xubrew
03-18-2013, 12:23 AM
I actually like this tournament. It's run by College Basketball Insiders, and is geared toward the lower conferences. It's at 32 teams for the first time this year. Here's the field so far....
Chicago State, Boston University, Bradley, Canisius, East Carolina, Elon, Fairfield, Gardner-Webb, Green Bay, Hartford, Illinois-Chicago, Kent State, Loyola, Oakland, Oral Roberts, Rider, Savannah State, South Alabama, Tennessee State, Texas-Arlington, Tulane, UC-Irvine, Youngstown State.
They need nine more.
Chicago State won the Great West Tournament. It was the final year for the conference, and it never met the criteria for being an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. I believe this is Chicago State's first postseason tournament of any kind.
Boston U didn't get to play in the America East Tournament because they're leaving for the Patriot League. They did finish third in the league, which was ahead of Albany, who won the automatic bid.
Canisius, as some of you may recall, actually beat Temple this year.
Gardner Webb looked to be the best team in the Big South, but lost to Liberty in the conference tournament.
Savannah State has done well. They've gone from being the worst team in the nation, to being one of the better teams in the MEAC. Seriously. They were 7-79 in their first four seasons as a div1 program after transitioning up, so they really have improved.
Obviously, this is not the tournament for Xavier. I doubt they'd want to invite an Atlantic Ten team. Truth be told, they invited Conference USA teams, and that league is a little above where they usually look. I do like the concept of this tournament, though. It gives some meaning to the regular season for the lower level conference teams. You can have a good year, and not have it entirely wiped out if you fail to win the conference tournament like Gardner Webb did. I also think it helps these teams heading into the next season. Most people probably don't care. I get that. I do like to watch all levels of div1 basketball, though, and I for one like that this tournament exists.
Chicago State, Boston University, Bradley, Canisius, East Carolina, Elon, Fairfield, Gardner-Webb, Green Bay, Hartford, Illinois-Chicago, Kent State, Loyola, Oakland, Oral Roberts, Rider, Savannah State, South Alabama, Tennessee State, Texas-Arlington, Tulane, UC-Irvine, Youngstown State.
They need nine more.
Chicago State won the Great West Tournament. It was the final year for the conference, and it never met the criteria for being an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. I believe this is Chicago State's first postseason tournament of any kind.
Boston U didn't get to play in the America East Tournament because they're leaving for the Patriot League. They did finish third in the league, which was ahead of Albany, who won the automatic bid.
Canisius, as some of you may recall, actually beat Temple this year.
Gardner Webb looked to be the best team in the Big South, but lost to Liberty in the conference tournament.
Savannah State has done well. They've gone from being the worst team in the nation, to being one of the better teams in the MEAC. Seriously. They were 7-79 in their first four seasons as a div1 program after transitioning up, so they really have improved.
Obviously, this is not the tournament for Xavier. I doubt they'd want to invite an Atlantic Ten team. Truth be told, they invited Conference USA teams, and that league is a little above where they usually look. I do like the concept of this tournament, though. It gives some meaning to the regular season for the lower level conference teams. You can have a good year, and not have it entirely wiped out if you fail to win the conference tournament like Gardner Webb did. I also think it helps these teams heading into the next season. Most people probably don't care. I get that. I do like to watch all levels of div1 basketball, though, and I for one like that this tournament exists.