Six Ways To Save Marquette's Season

[chapman]

I'd take a throttling in the first NCAA game over an NIT championship, but it's a moot point because we're not getting to the NCAA this year.  Make the best of it by making the NIT and showing up for it.

[GGGG]

Exactly. No one cares about or watches the NIT. I am a pretty die hard CBB fan and watch a ton of it.  I may flip on a few NIT games since it is only CBB on at the time (midweek), but it is a totally meaningless tournament outside of gaining experience for the returning players.

Who cares who watches it?  It's about my team playing more games for my benefit and the player's experience. 

[The Equalizer]

If I were given a choice between a one and done NCAA bid, and an NIT Final Four run, I would take the latter with a young team.

Well, hello there Coach Deane! Welcome back to MU.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Who cares who watches it?  It's about my team playing more games for my benefit and the player's experience.

Just another point that The NIT is irrelevant.

Again, if Marquette lands in the NIT, I hope they win it and I'll be cheering like crazy like i do every game.

But for like the 5th time, you take the NCAAs every time. This program badly needs to get back there. If you can't see that, well I don't know what to tell you.


But then again, I gather you're an older guy who has seen MU go thru plenty of poor seasons. I've been an MU fan for 8 seasons, and to me, missing the tournament is a colossal failure. I became an MU fan watching winning teams that played in meaningful games in March. Not friendship games.

[GGGG]

Just another point that The NIT is irrelevant.

Again, if Marquette lands in the NIT, I hope they win it and I'll be cheering like crazy like i do every game.

But for like the 5th time, you take the NCAAs every time. This program badly needs to get back there. If you can't see that, well I don't know what to tell you.


But then again, I gather you're an older guy who has seen MU go thru plenty of poor seasons. I've been an MU fan for 8 seasons, and to me, missing the tournament is a colossal failure. I became an MU fan watching winning teams that played in meaningful games in March. Not friendship games.

Yes, I have lived through my share of Marquette basketball.  I know that it isn't a "colossal failure" to miss the tournament as long as the journey continues toward a return trip in the near future.  I feel like we are on that journey.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Yes, I have lived through my share of Marquette basketball.  I know that it isn't a "colossal failure" to miss the tournament as long as the journey continues toward a return trip in the near future.  I feel like we are on that journey.

Touché. It ain't over yet, man!

[brewcity77]

For a team made up mostly of freshman and sophomores, having tourney success could pay larger dividends in the coming years. I'd love a deep NIT run this year and getting used to winning in March may be more valuable than being blown out in the Big Dance.

[BM1090]

Exactly. No one cares about or watches the NIT. I am a pretty die hard CBB fan and watch a ton of it.  I may flip on a few NIT games since it is only CBB on at the time (midweek), but it is a totally meaningless tournament outside of gaining experience for the returning players.

I'm with you, I prefer the NCAA tournament bid and first round loss.

However, I would definitely watch Marquette with great interest should they make the NIT this year.

[PGsHeroes32]

I don't agree with this at all.  If I were given a choice between a one and done NCAA bid, and an NIT Final Four run, I would take the latter with a young team.

Sorry but no way. Tourney at least generates excitement and exposure as well as some big time experience.

As a mere gopher supporter the NIT means nothing. You can win that whole thing, return basically everyone and still manage to suck.

[brewcity77]

However, I would definitely watch Marquette with great interest should they make the NIT this year.

I agree that nothing would give me more joy than watching us be the surprise NCAA team, but a NIT title would be really cool. First, the connection to Al, but also because it'd be one of those things that the diehard fans works really enjoy, even if passive fans were unaware it was happening.

[dgies9156]

I don't agree with this at all.  If I were given a choice between a one and done NCAA bid, and an NIT Final Four run, I would take the latter with a young team.

No F*in way!

Warriors Play for the NCAA.

I'll fly across the country on a moment's notice to watch the Warriors in the NCAA.

I generally won't waste my time and won't go to Milwaukee for an NIT game.

Call me a fair weather fan if you like. But the NCAA is the real thing.

Warriors play to win. Going to the NCAA is winning. Going to the NIT isn't.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Yea, this ain't the NIT of the 70s and 80s. The NIT doesn't matter. NCAA tourney or bust.

[Nukem2]

Yea, this ain't the NIT of the 70s and 80s. The NIT doesn't matter. NCAA tourney or bust.

NCAA's are just a pipe dream at the moment.  Now, if we get to the NCAAs, a lot will have gone right.  If not, the NIT would be a very nice opportunity for this young team.

[GGGG]

The NIT does matter.  More practice time.  More games.  More chances for me to watch my team.  It certainly can't hurt the team heading into next year.

You guys are acting as if I said that going to the NIT is better than the NCAA.

[PGsHeroes32]

The NIT does matter.  More practice time.  More games.  More chances for me to watch my team.  It certainly can't hurt the team heading into next year.

You guys are acting as if I said that going to the NIT is better than the NCAA.

You said that you would take NIT FF over Tourney first game loss though. That's where I simply disagree.

If we go to the NIT do be it.

But it is never more beneficial. Just simply isn't.

You think Duane is going to be flexing his muscles next year because he scored 23 pts in a NIT home win over Toledo or some garbage like that? I hope not.

[GGGG]

You said that you would take NIT FF over Tourney first game loss though. That's where I simply disagree.

If we go to the NIT do be it.

But it is never more beneficial. Just simply isn't.

You think Duane is going to be flexing his muscles next year because he scored 23 pts in a NIT home win over Toledo or some garbage like that? I hope not.

Nobody can give me a substantive basketball reason why it would be more beneficial to lose in the first round. 

[1SE]

Nobody can give me a substantive basketball reason why it would be more beneficial to lose in the first round. 

I'd say many 18 year old recruits care a lot more that you've been to the NCAA recently than the FF of the NIT.  Also the same with the more -"casual" STH

[1SE]

I'd say many 18 year old recruits care a lot more that you've been to the NCAA recently than the FF of the NIT.  Also the same with the more -"casual" STH

Although I should clarify that the "first four" still isn't the NCAA.  Worst thing to happen to CBB ever.  Rather have a NIT FF than a NCAA first four loss...

Being one of the Thursday or Friday games is awesome.  The best two days in all of sport.

[PGsHeroes32]

Nobody can give me a substantive basketball reason why it would be more beneficial to lose in the first round.

Haha easy.

The exposure to the biggest stage. You've proven to yourselves you are good enough to get their. Now you know what it's gonna require to actually win. A measuring stick against the best. Confidence that as a team your capable of making it to the Big dance.

Seriously what's a substantial basketball reason for the NIT? Say "o yay, we proved we could beat a couple of fellow bad teams". All the NIT tells you is where you stack up against other poor teams.

This really shouldn't be a debate. Maybe you personally would prefer to watch that option. But it's not better for the team lol.

[GGGG]

Haha easy.

The exposure to the biggest stage. You've proven to yourselves you are good enough to get their. Now you know what it's gonna require to actually win. A measuring stick against the best. Confidence that as a team your capable of making it to the Big dance.

Seriously what's a substantial basketball reason for the NIT? Say "o yay, we proved we could beat a couple of fellow bad teams". All the NIT tells you is where you stack up against other poor teams.

This really shouldn't be a debate. Maybe you personally would prefer to watch that option. But it's not better for the team lol.

Actually I would prefer to watch the NCAA.

[MU_Beav]

Not really.

Actually, I think that the cache that comes with NCAA appearances is huge, as opposed to the folly that is the NIT, even an NIT championship.  The Big Dance is called the Big Dance for a reason. Recruits and fans of opposing teams take notice of this...

[PGsHeroes32]

Although I should clarify that the "first four" still isn't the NCAA.  Worst thing to happen to CBB ever.  Rather have a NIT FF than a NCAA first four loss...

Being one of the Thursday or Friday games is awesome.  The best two days in all of sport.

Yeah that's a solid case.

It's just nonsensical to prefer NIT FF over a Thursday/Friday game though. All eyes on you. Even casual fans know you've made it.

Before our 16,16,8 success when we kept losing 1st or second round. Everyone in my personal life had a higher perception of us then ud think. Because we're constantly being seen. They don't know about the heartbreakers. The MSU debacle. They just know they routinely saw MARQUETTE

Think I'm 2010 it would have been better to go to NIT???

[BrewCity83]

Another "basketball benefit" of going to the NCAAs, even if getting blown out in the first game, is that the young players get a taste of the tourney.  The big stage, the jitters.  Get tthat out of the way this year if we can.

[GGGG]

Yeah that's a solid case.

It's just nonsensical to prefer NIT FF over a Thursday/Friday game though. All eyes on you. Even casual fans know you've made it.

Before our 16,16,8 success when we kept losing 1st or second round. Everyone in my personal life had a higher perception of us then ud think. Because we're constantly being seen. They don't know about the heartbreakers. The MSU debacle. They just know they routinely saw MARQUETTE

Think I'm 2010 it would have been better to go to NIT???

Not really comparable.  In 2010 we were an experienced team and a #6 seed. 

I would like to remind people of my POV.  If I were told beforehand that we would lose in the first round of the NCAAs, OR Final Four of the NIT, I would choose the NIT.  But since we don't know beforehand, I would take the NCAA tournament every single time.

[Jay Bee]

Having experienced the NIT up close many times in the past (including '93 with Minnesota over Georgetown and while in school with MU vs. Ace Custis) and recent years (including Minnesota's lost to Stanford in the 2012 finals and their championship in 2014), the NIT ride can be very fun to watch.

However... does it help a ton? Ehh.. depends on the team makeup and a bunch of other variables. Last year's champion Stanford looks like they may finish under .500 this year.. 2014's champ Minnesota returned to teh court in 2014-15 with a veteran team that failed to make any postseason tourney.

For every Wichita St... there is a Penn St.