What will it take for X to make the NIT

[OTRMUSKIE]

It’s been over a decade since I have ever used those words but making THE NIT isnt a given based on 500 record and name. I’m still holding out hope that this team can put together 4 great days in a row like UCONN did when they win 5. However I have an awful feeling this team is going to get an NIT bid and play VD at home. Would 500 record get us an NIT bid? Do we even want one?

[GoMuskies]

Its been less than a decade. The year after the Dez affair we weren't good enough to make the NIT.

[Porkopolis]

Would 500 record get us an NIT bid? Do we even want one?

I think .500 would put us on the bubble. Do we want it? It is a lot better than not going anywhere (or playing in one of the made up tournaments). For a team that is clearly in transition it equals extra practice and extra games against decent opponents.

[XU 23]

According to this site, we’re a projected 7 seed in the NIT as of January 23:

https://www.dratings.com/predictor/bracketology/

[SemajParlor]

Its been less than a decade. The year after the Dez affair we weren't good enough to make the NIT.

I've often wondered "what if" had Lyons not been essentially forced out and we all know what happened with Dez. Everyone has an opinion on Lyons but he was a flat out great player, and had a terrific year for Arizona. Not the most overly talented group of guys ever but Semaj, Lyons, and Dez are as talented of a backcourt as they come.

Semaj
Lyons
Dez
Robinson
Travis Taylor

Dee Davis
Justin Martin
Philmore
Redford
James Farr
Stenger

[SemajParlor]

Semaj
Lyons
Dez
Robinson
Travis Taylor

Dee Davis
Justin Martin
Philmore
Redford
James Farr
Stenger

Yes I'm quoting my own post. It's hard to believe this was only 6 years ago.

[whopper]

I would love to see it especially for the grad transfers..sad to see that we won't be making the NCAA. That said we could jet for MSG but it would be outright win or nothing to make NCAA. I saw us play Depaul Wednesday in 2017 and JP hit a 40 footer to put us DOWN 3 at the half.

[GIMMFD]

I've often wondered "what if" had Lyons not been essentially forced out and we all know what happened with Dez. Everyone has an opinion on Lyons but he was a flat out great player, and had a terrific year for Arizona. Not the most overly talented group of guys ever but Semaj, Lyons, and Dez are as talented of a backcourt as they come.

Semaj
Lyons
Dez
Robinson
Travis Taylor

Dee Davis
Justin Martin
Philmore
Redford
James Farr
Stenger

But if Dez was still around (I love the guy, I'm actually good friends with him), we probably wouldn't have had Blueitt come to X, so as awesome as that line-up was, would you trade Lyons and Dez for Blueitt and Macura I guess is what it boils down to.. Totally agree though, feels like ages ago, seriously only 6 years ago, man, time flies.

As for the original question, we have 10 games left, I think we'd make it on a .500 record, but I'd love to see these guys get at least 6-7 wins over the next 10, I think it's possible, but then again this team has just been down right confusing this year. Shouldn't have lost the last two games, and that would have made a world of difference. I kind of wish we'd just like Scruggs be our go to option, as mentioned in the game thread post, it's mind boggling we let him go 10 minutes without putting up a shot when he was scoring at a high clip. I don't know, this year has been something.

[mid major]

A 5-13 conference record won't get us into the NIT. The way this team is performing I don't see a .500 record in the BE. The remaining 9 BE teams are more talented than us.

[Muskie]

Remind me of how Mark Lyons was forced out?
I think if X doesn't make the NCAA Tournament they will take an NIT Bid. If they do, I would advocate the staff playing more of the bench so they can get some looks at some of these guys before they finalize the recruiting class.

[xu koop scoop]

It will take a winning record. 8-5 out of conference. 8-10 in BE. Puts us 16-15. Might need 1 win in BE Tourney. Since we are 11-10 now we need to go
5-5 in remaining BE games. Since Marquette is done & Nova left at home, that might be doable. Win our 2nd NIT 60 years after the 1st. I would be happy

[drudy23]

We're winning the Big East tourney. NIT threads don't deserve spots on this site.

[OTRMUSKIE]

As of today we are out of the NIT. https://www.dratings.com/predictor/bracketology/

[XUFan09]

Remind me of how Mark Lyons was forced out?

I think it was a situation where the staff told Lyons what they needed out of him as a senior, and it was set up in such a way that they knew he wasn't likely to accept the responsibilities involved, but including for his own behavior.

I'm betting the staff would have handled things differently if Dez was already gone.

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[Muskie]

I think it was a situation where the staff told Lyons what they needed out of him as a senior, and it was set up in such a way that they knew he wasn't likely to accept the responsibilities involved, but including for his own behavior.

I'm betting the staff would have handled things differently if Dez was already gone.

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I think X was probably ready to move on from Lyons, but I seem to remember that he wanted to get more time at the point, and X wasn't interested in playing him there? I could totally be misremembering it.

[XUFan09]

I think X was probably ready to move on from Lyons, but I seem to remember that he wanted to get more time at the point, and X wasn't interested in playing him there? I could totally be misremembering it.That's the story he gave because it made him look better. And it's not like it was completely absent as a motivation for his decision, but the fuller story includes something akin to, "We need you to be a bit less of an asshole."

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[GoMuskies]

the fuller story includes something akin to, "We need you to be a bit less of an asshole."


It's kind of amusing that was a dealbreaker for him. :)

[XUFan09]

It's kind of amusing that was a dealbreaker for him. :)Ha, seriously!

I can't imagine the personnel nightmare of being a first year head coach with Mark Lyons and Jordan Crawford on your team. Tu Holloway wasn't exactly an easy person to deal with either, and then you have Kenny Frease just being a fool at times.

Then on the other side, you have Jason Love and Dante Jackson lol.

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[GIMMFD]

Ha, seriously!

I can't imagine the personnel nightmare of being a first year head coach with Mark Lyons and Jordan Crawford on your team. Tu Holloway wasn't exactly an easy person to deal with either, and then you have Kenny Frease just being a fool at times.

Then on the other side, you have Jason Love and Dante Jackson lol.

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I met Mark Lyons a couple time, one time I was at a room in Buenger, Mark Lyons walks in, "House Party by Meek Mill" was blaring on his phone as he was rapping it as he entered the door, he dapped me up, and I had never been more scared in my life. He was nice enough, conversed well, I had lunch with him and Dez once, but god bless that guy frightened the living shit out of me. Kenny Frease was great, the night of the brawl, he walks into the party we're at with a 30 rack of Natty Light on his shoulder and just screams "Let's FUCKING GO!" Tu was more reserved, I only had one interaction with him, and that was when I was walking by Cintas and he was coming out of the aux gym and complemented me on my bright pink Nike indoor soccer shoes and asked where I got them. He told me they were "cold," and in that moment as a Freshman I felt cool. Anyways, I digress...

It's not really a requirement to be .500 to get into the NIT, but would probably be better, our resume isn't that great, we have 5 wins that we just let slip from our hands, and it's frustrating knowing we should have a much better record. I do think we could end up winning 17-18 games with the Big East Tournament, which would be good enough for a spot. We need these extra practices and to figure out what we're going to do with our roster moving forward, I think we're going to see some transfers out this year, and possibly a couple grad transfers in again.

[whopper]

Marquette went to NIT last year and went far..it did not seem to hurt them.. Georgetown was lights out today from 3 AT St Johns..ominous. Providence ground out home win v Depaul and PC will make some noise. I hope we are ready for G Town with McLung healthy

[AviatorX]

Marquette went to NIT last year and went far..it did not seem to hurt them.. Georgetown was lights out today from 3 AT St Johns..ominous. Providence ground out home win v Depaul and PC will make some noise. I hope we are ready for G Town with McLung healthy

Meh...I think the entire league is pretty mediocre this year. Nova is the only team I think has a shot to make the second weekend, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they don't.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Agree!!! Marquette is good but WOJO is an awful coach. The talent he has they should be unbelievable. Now don’t get me wrong they are very good but they are not going far unless they are hitting. If they arnt hitting from
Deep that team has no chance.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I dont think we have much of a chance to make even the NIT unless we go on a little run. There are usually enough teams that win their regular season that lose in conference tourney that take spots. That means you have to be at least somewhat on the bubble or close to it to make the NCAA tourney to make the NIT and I dont think we will be close to the bubble.

Maybe I am wrong and some truly not even close to consideration NCAA tourney teams get into the NIT, but I know that has at least been decreased with the auto bids going to reg season champs who dont make tourney.