Vegas 16

[phoenixphan87]

They need to go with Vegas '16 this year and take advantage of the calendar year

[MarquetteDano]

They need to go with Vegas '16 this year and take advantage of the calendar year

Yeah. Worked out nicely this year.

[brewcity77]

I'm not sold on the $50k being the "all-inclusive" cost everyone thinks it is... thankfully, all 8 teams are from public universities, so eight FOIA requests (one request, actually, and seven copies) should tell us the answer a couple months from now.

Place your bets.

Even if it's not, my guess is it isn't near as expensive as the CBI. Loyola spent $250,000 to play in the CBI last year. But as they would probably be paying for coach airfare and standard rooms (likely at a nice discount) I can see that amount covering all costs for an event lasting less than a week.

Vegas is relatively cheap to get to. They make all their money on the casino floor.

[NorthernDancerColt]

They didn't even need to steal teams from the NIT, there were plenty of teams left-over that would have made it an interesting event.  But all the big conference teams decided they didn't want to play in this for whatever reason.  Oh well.

This explanation is a little "out there", and may show up on the AlexJones network, but could the lack of big-name school participation (and they were clearly available) have something to do with the same reason there is no NBA or NFL franchise in Vegas? These leagues, as hypocritical as it is, don't want to admit the huge gambling sums involved with their games. March Madness is the most gambled-on of all. And we know the NCAA is " Hypocrisy " defined. Did the NCAA wish this Vegas tournament didn't exist? And, powerless to stop it, did it instruct "name" programs to steer clear?

Just sayin'.

[Jet915]

Funny seeing that Vegas 16 Logo with eight teams.  Need to hire the Big Ten's graphic designers to make it look like an eight.

They just need to change it to Vegas '16.  I think the tournament is a good idea, too bad it didn't get traction cause I think it's a better option than CBI/CIT.  Has anyone seen their brackets?  Complete garbage.

[WarriorFan]

I'm disappointed a couple power schools like MU couldn't convince 6 others to join and make it a good tournament.  Very disappointed in fact.  The CBI and CIT are crap, and the NIT is less and less relevant... had it been properly organized, this could have been the #2 tournament. 

Too many folks saying anything other than the NCAA is "beneath us".  What about the players, the experience, developing the coaching staff, playing in a "win or go home" environment.  What about that is beneath us?

[rocky_warrior]

I don't disagree the Vegas 16 could be fun for fans.  But...are schools really going to be interested to play in a post season tournament that you'd be embarrassed to hang banners for -- because winning it means you're roughly the #100 team in the country?

Seems pretty clear all the major basketball schools are giving the middle finger to all the pay-to-play tourneys.

[Litehouse]

This explanation is a little "out there", and may show up on the AlexJones network, but could the lack of big-name school participation (and they were clearly available) have something to do with the same reason there is no NBA or NFL franchise in Vegas? These leagues, as hypocritical as it is, don't want to admit the huge gambling sums involved with their games. March Madness is the most gambled-on of all. And we know the NCAA is " Hypocrisy " defined. Did the NCAA wish this Vegas tournament didn't exist? And, powerless to stop it, did it instruct "name" programs to steer clear?

Just sayin'.

I doubt it's the gambling.  The big conference schools play in the preseason tournaments, and the MWC and Pac-14 just held their conference tournaments in Vegas.  It may be because the NCAA doesn't want this to challenge the NIT as the best alternative.

[Benny B]

Too many folks saying anything other than the NCAA is "beneath us".  What about the players, the experience, developing the coaching staff, playing in a "win or go home" environment.  What about that is beneath us?

A major college hoops program doesn't participate in mid- and low-major tournaments.

Listen, there's nothing wrong with deciding you want to be a true competitor and participate in every event you can... but most able-bodied competitors are going to draw a line well before they're caught sneaking into the Special Olympics.

[ATLmarquettefan]

No, we only played the music they had in their folders, most of which wasn't very good

You're really going to critique their music? Our music isn't much better. I've been hearing the same rotation of songs for the last 10 years. I think it wasn't until last year when they finally added Mark Ronson. I think it's time we move on from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones

[SaveOD238]

You're really going to critique their music? Our music isn't much better. I've been hearing the same rotation of songs for the last 10 years. I think it wasn't until last year when they finally added Mark Ronson. I think it's time we move on from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones

The band adds 6-7 new songs every year to a library of 100+.  Sometimes the arrangements suck, so we don't end up using them (the arrangement we had of seven nation army was AWFUL).

UCSB had like 10 songs, total.

Ps...show up for pregame to hear more band variety

[Litehouse]

A major college hoops program doesn't participate in mid- and low-major tournaments.

Listen, there's nothing wrong with deciding you want to be a true competitor and participate in every event you can... but most able-bodied competitors are going to draw a line well before they're caught sneaking into the Special Olympics.

If all the big conference teams decided to play would it still be a mid-major event?

[GooooMarquette]

If all the big conference teams decided to play would it still be a mid-major event?

IMHO, it would have been interesting if MU and 7 other majors all played.  But if it was MU and 7 of the 8 currently scheduled, it would have been painful.  Win - people say "so what?"  Lose - Hiroshima.

[keefe]

they finally added Mark Ronson.

Don't know about Mark Ronson but the world was a lesser place when this guy left it

[keefe]

...show up for pregame to hear more band variety

Questions never asked:


"Should we hit the Lanche or get to the Arena early to listen to the pep band?"

[Benny B]

If all the big conference teams decided to play would it still be a mid-major event?

No, it wouldn't.  But the fact that no major school decided to play makes it a mid-major event (at best).

The Great Alaska Shootout used to be a major event, but now that the majors stopped going there, it's been a mid-major tournament the past 5 years.

[bradley center bat]

They just need to change it to Vegas '16.  I think the tournament is a good idea, too bad it didn't get traction cause I think it's a better option than CBI/CIT.  Has anyone seen their brackets?  Complete garbage.

I wouldn't say garbage. 

[Groin_pull]

The band adds 6-7 new songs every year to a library of 100+.  Sometimes the arrangements suck, so we don't end up using them (the arrangement we had of seven nation army was AWFUL).

UCSB had like 10 songs, total.

Ps...show up for pregame to hear more band variety

That's classic. MU ripping on another school about their band. Does MU still have Elvira in heavy rotation???

[martyconlonontherun]

I don't disagree the Vegas 16 could be fun for fans.  But...are schools really going to be interested to play in a post season tournament that you'd be embarrassed to hang banners for -- because winning it means you're roughly the #100 team in the country?

Seems pretty clear all the major basketball schools are giving the middle finger to all the pay-to-play tourneys.

I don't see the downside. $50K and you get to reward the kids with a trip to Vegas. I think teams are scared to lose or be associated with a low-level tournament. That's kind of backwards thinking. It isn't that you are playing in the tournament, but rather you aren't good enough for the NIT/NCAA is the problem. No one will know or care whether you play or don't play in these tourneys.

[Benny B]

I don't see the downside. $50K and you get to reward the kids with a trip to Vegas. I think teams are scared to lose or be associated with a low-level tournament. That's kind of backwards thinking. It isn't that you are playing in the tournament, but rather you aren't good enough for the NIT/NCAA is the problem. No one will know or care whether you play or don't play in these tourneys.

Doug Gottlieb will know, and if MU was the giant amongst dwarfs at this year's Vegas 16, I'm sure he - and others - would be reminding their audiences next year at any opportunity they could get.


Bottom line... the Vegas 16 is the girl across the bar that seems like a great idea at 2:25a, but when you wake up the next morning, you're really going to regret it, and if your friends catch you with her, you'll never hear the end of it.

[GGGG]

I've changed my mind on it.

A week ago, I thought the Vegas 16 sounded like a good idea.  Now that the conference tournament is over, with the inevitable let down that occurs, I see no reason to extend the season.  Marquette shouldn't have to pay to be part of a tournament.  I don't care if donor money would be used - a waste of money is a waste of money.  Little value in preparing for next year.  Let's just move on and start working on next year.

[Nukem2]

I've changed my mind on it.

A week ago, I thought the Vegas 16 sounded like a good idea.  Now that the conference tournament is over, with the inevitable let down that occurs, I see no reason to extend the season.  Marquette shouldn't have to pay to be part of a tournament.  I don't care if donor money would be used - a waste of money is a waste of money.  Little value in preparing for next year.  Let's just move on and start working on next year.

I'm in the same frame of mind now as well.  Unless there is interest from the power BB leagues, this thing is going nowhere.  Also, even if interest comes, the time frame is so far out.  Should schedule it in between the. NCAA 2nd Round and the Regionals.  In the meantime, forget it.

[UticaBusBarn]

Questions never asked:


"Should we hit the Lanche or get to the Arena early to listen to the pep band?"

Well played by a keen mind, reflecting the profound analytical skills, only a Jesuit school of higher learning can provide 

[VegasWarrior77]

The Vegas16 has the highest average power rating of the three non-NCAA supported tournaments:

Vegas 16 adds up to being a better tournament than we thought
http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/columns-blogs/ron-kantowski/vegas-16-adds-being-better-tournament-we-thought

[GGGG]

So it's better than the CBI and CIT.   Yay?