Vegas 16

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Hearing that it may be dropping down to 8 teams due to lack of interest, or canceled all together. Oops.

[RushmoreAcademy]

I totally understand, but as a fan that's too bad.  I would like to see another tournament get a little play, for teams were good but maybe don't get in based on NIT auto bids.  I feel that way completely aside from MU's position, but just at how hungry I am to see as much college bball as humanly possible in March.

[damuts222]

Anything beyond the NIT is not worth it in my mind. Also, I don't see how it is worth it monetarily for whomever is running the Vegas tourney. The teams in it are Northern Illinois, Boise State, UCSB, Oakland, Towson, ODU, ETSU and La. Tech. Not sure how playing these teams in this tourney would have helped us next year, so it was a good decision.

[SuddenSam]

This would have to get legs under it before brand schools such as MU would participate.  And by then hopefully we are off and running in a better place.  Wouldn't have an issue if MU played in an event that had some quality college Bball teams who happen to be in a down yr.  Seems like all the auto bids in NCAA and NIT open the door for this type of event.  But maybe not, we'll see.

[MerrittsMustache]

My assumption is that the creators of the Vegas 16 felt confident that they'd be able to "steal" some bigger name schools from the NIT to play in their flashy, new tournament instead. Obviously, that plan bombed.

In no particular order...
LSU
Florida
Ohio State
Florida State
South Carolina
St. Mary's
Princeton
Marquette
Georgia
Alabama
BYU
Washington
Ole Miss
Northwestern
Clemson
Memphis

...could have made for an interesting tournament, but had no chance of materializing.

[Litehouse]

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.

[brewcity77]

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.

My guess is no one wanted to be first. That Marquette waited two hours to announce they wouldn't be participating tells me they were playing the wait and see game. Had MU and K-State (among others) made the jump, my guess is others would have followed, but no one wanted to go and risk playing mediocre competition.

Still disappointed personally.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

The two week wait couldn't have helped.

[Pakuni]

Probably a good thing MU isn't going to Vegas. Not exactly a who's who.

[RushmoreAcademy]

Not winning that tournament would have been a big disappointment with that field.

[MU82]

Beyond glad we're not a part of that travesty.

[Herman Cain]

It was a bad deal to begin with. I would have told them the deal should have been they pay us $50,000 AND comped hotels and airfare plus double elimination tournament. 

[Litehouse]

Seems like a chicken or egg thing.  With it's current field, I'm glad MU isn't in it.  If all the other big conference teams like MU would have gone, it could have been interesting with...

Kansas State
LSU
Ole Miss
Arizona State
UCLA
Georgetown
Marquette
Northwestern
Penn State
Richmond
NC State
Clemson
Arkansas
Memphis
Tennessee
Illinois

[brewcity77]

Amazed they didn't get more play considering the price. $50k for the tournament is cheap compared to the $50k per game the CBI charges.

[SaveOD238]

...UCSB...

Playing in the UCSB band in the NCAA tournament was one of my best Marquette memories.  They had finals during tournament week so they needed 10-15 to fill out the band.  UCSB emailed MU and about 10 MU bandos filled in the rest of Gaucho band.  We got to watch two tourney games (for free) and they even paid us a stipend.

Oh, and the whole Gaucho band was plastered at game time, which was pretty amusing.

[We R Final Four]

Playing in the UCSB band in the NCAA tournament was one of my best Marquette memories.  They had finals during tournament week so they needed 10-15 to fill out the band.  UCSB emailed MU and about 10 MU bandos filled in the rest of Gaucho band.  We got to watch two tourney games (for free) and they even paid us a stipend.

Oh, and the whole Gaucho band was plastered at game time, which was pretty amusing.

That's very cool--that last sentence was not what I thought that you were going to say.
Did you teach them 'you can call me Al'?

[SaveOD238]

Did you teach them 'you can call me Al'?

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

[MU82]

Playing in the UCSB band in the NCAA tournament was one of my best Marquette memories.  They had finals during tournament week so they needed 10-15 to fill out the band.  UCSB emailed MU and about 10 MU bandos filled in the rest of Gaucho band.  We got to watch two tourney games (for free) and they even paid us a stipend.

Oh, and the whole Gaucho band was plastered at game time, which was pretty amusing.

And then what happened at band camp?

(Sorry ... couldn't resist.)

[Mr. Nielsen]

Amazed they didn't get more play considering the price. $50k for the tournament is cheap compared to the $50k per game the CBI charges.

Plus, hosting a CBI game you have to hope to sell enough tickets. Hiring security, staff to host a game.

[oldwarrior81]

I think the CBI is $50,000 for each home game in the opening rounds.  Then $75,000 per home game once in the semi-finals.
Looking at their attendance figures from last year, there were as many games with crowds less than 1,000, than there were with 3,000+

[Tommy Brice for Coach]

Playing in the UCSB band in the NCAA tournament was one of my best Marquette memories.  They had finals during tournament week so they needed 10-15 to fill out the band.  UCSB emailed MU and about 10 MU bandos filled in the rest of Gaucho band.  We got to watch two tourney games (for free) and they even paid us a stipend.

Oh, and the whole Gaucho band was plastered at game time, which was pretty amusing.

I totally remember that game, as I dropped in on it. UCSB vs. Ohio State. Wasn't pretty for the Gauchos, but their mascot was pretty hilarious if I remember correctly.

[Benny B]

Amazed they didn't get more play considering the price. $50k for the tournament is cheap compared to the $50k per game the CBI charges.

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.

[Jay Bee]

peace to Northern Illinois and the god Marshawn Wilson

[GooooMarquette]

Probably a good thing MU isn't going to Vegas. Not exactly a who's who.

Looking like the Great Alaska Shootout in recent years....

[MarquetteDano]

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.