Can We Turn the NIT Down?

[Dawson Rental]

Wrong.

Because it is a tournament that does little for us. It's the Participation Trophy of College Basketball. It's not stupid to walk away from something that rewards mediocrity.

Why reward mediocrity?

As for me, Gang, after the DePaul game, I moved on. It was time for next year. As you who read knew, when everyone said we needed a win against Villanova, I said, no way. It's baseball time.

P.S. -- Good luck to Villanova, Creighton, Xavier, Butler, Seton Hall and Providence in the tournament.

Yet, here you are.

[WarriorDad]

We should not be playing for NIT bids at MU..better be the LAST NIT berth for a VERY long time

Or what, you will show them who is boss? 

[fjm]

What the actual unnatural carnal knowledge.


Let's also not play next year. That way we can't play in any tournament and be disappointed.

[Dr. Blackheart]

SLU here we come...

[muguru]

Or what, you will show them who is boss?

Tired of the underachievement, tired of this program being irrelevant, tired of the constant excuses from everyone. If the NIT excites people here...good for you..Mike Deane used to say MU should be happy with NIT berths, is that where we are again??

[fjm]

Tired of the underachievement, tired of this program being irrelevant, tired of the constant excuses from everyone. If the NIT excites people here...good for you..Mike Deane used to say MU should be happy with NIT berths, is that where we are again??

Would you say the NIT in 1977 excited you? Or no.

[WarriorDad]

SLU here we come...

They beat Virginia Tech and Coach Williams this year, apparently that is what matters to some of our fans.

[muguru]

Would you say the NIT in 1977 excited you? Or no.

The NIT was a much different tournament back then, and MU won the National championship in '77

[WarriorDad]

Tired of the underachievement, tired of this program being irrelevant, tired of the constant excuses from everyone. If the NIT excites people here...good for you..Mike Deane used to say MU should be happy with NIT berths, is that where we are again??

We under achieved this year? 

Wojo has never said NIT is what we should be happy with, but in some years it will be based on personnel, experience, injuries.  We did not under achieve this year.  The last year we truly under achieved was Coach Williams last season here when we were picked to win the Big East and finished 6th. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Tired of the underachievement, tired of this program being irrelevant, tired of the constant excuses from everyone. If the NIT excites people here...good for you..Mike Deane used to say MU should be happy with NIT berths, is that where we are again??

If you're so tired of the program and everyone here then why do you even bother posting anymore?

[GGGG]

Yeah the progress isn't as fast as most have hoped, but we didn't underachieve this year.  In fact I think the Scoop collective pretty much nailed the season's results right?

[Lennys Tap]

Would you say the NIT in 1977 excited you? Or no.

No -we were winning the NCAA that year so the NIT excited me not at all.

I was a senior in 1970 when Al turned down the NCAA and won the NIT and quite frankly that didn't excite me much either. I'm a huge McGuire fan, but that was him at his most stubborn (i.e., his worst). Even though the NIT was a much, much better tournament then, I would have preferred our Warriors take out their anger/frustration on whatever opponents the committee pitted us against by kicking ass and going to the FF.

[Pakuni]

A very young team and coaching staff should skip opportunities to keep playing because some fans' feels are hurt.
Makes a lot of sense

[muguru]

We under achieved this year? 

Wojo has never said NIT is what we should be happy with, but in some years it will be based on personnel, experience, injuries.  We did not under achieve this year.  The last year we truly under achieved was Coach Williams last season here when we were picked to win the Big East and finished 6th.

Kentucky was the youngest team in the country this year...did they ever play the "we're young card"?? A #5 seed in the dance. Soooo Wojo always used the "we're young" narrative..well, as kentucky showed, and other schools have shown through the years, that is NOT an excuse.

[MUfan12]

Kentucky was the youngest team in the country this year...did they ever play the "we're young card"?? A #5 seed in the dance. Soooo Wojo always used the "we're young" narrative..well, as kentucky showed, and other schools have shown through the years, that is NOT an excuse.

If you can't tell the difference between Duke and UK loading up McD All Americans and MU's youth...

[dgies9156]

Would you say the NIT in 1977 excited you? Or no.

In 1970, when we won the NIT, there were 24 teams in the NCAA tournament against probably 250 members playing basketball.

If you didn't win your conference, you did not go to the NCAA. The only exception was major independents and we had to play an extra NCAA game because we did not win a conference. Al turned down the NCAA and the NIT probably had every bit as much talent then as the NCAA did.

I would have gone then because there was money in it, we played major competition and a trophy was not a participation trophy.

BUT, I would not have turned down an NCAA berth, but, then, I'm not Al. You go to the NCAA when invited and kick the c*ap out of Adolph "the bigot" Rupp. Father Raynor thought the same way but deferred to Al (for the last time).

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Nah don't skip it, as annoyed as I am with the slow progress of this team under Wojo, NIT games are a golden opportunity for the young guys to get more experience against some quality competition before next season when the expectations will be high. I would love to watch a few more MU games before baseball season starts. If they weren't in the NIT (which they will be) then I would say screw it. Likes Buzz's last season here

[Windyplayer]

I can remember feeling a little envious of NIT teams in year's past when we've been bumped from the NCAA in the first round and they play multiple more games thereafter. Bring on the NIT and undeniably valuable experience!

[nyg]

Kentucky was the youngest team in the country this year...did they ever play the "we're young card"?? A #5 seed in the dance. Soooo Wojo always used the "we're young" narrative..well, as kentucky showed, and other schools have shown through the years, that is NOT an excuse.

Agree the inexperienced excuse, but you cannot compare with Kentucky.  Believe they had 4 Top 15 recruits this year and between the freshmen and sophs, they have like 10 Burger Boys. 

[WarriorDad]

Kentucky was the youngest team in the country this year...did they ever play the "we're young card"?? A #5 seed in the dance. Soooo Wojo always used the "we're young" narrative..well, as kentucky showed, and other schools have shown through the years, that is NOT an excuse.

You are comparing Kentucky and their 5 star one-and-dones to Marquette?   I think we've identified the problem and news for you, find another team to cheer for because your frustration will never end if that is your barometer.  MU is not landing 4 or 5 players of that nature nor are they going to sell their soul to do it. 

[NorthernDancerColt]

Tired of the underachievement, tired of this program being irrelevant, tired of the constant excuses from everyone. If the NIT excites people here...good for you..Mike Deane used to say MU should be happy with NIT berths, is that where we are again??

Greg Elliott: precocious, but injured, slender FRESHMAN.
Jamal Cain: precocious, but slender, FRESHMAN.
Theo John: "green" FRESHMAN, still learning how to play big-time D1 post ball, who missed key practice time and games due to illness.
Sam Hauser: injury-slowed Sophomore.
Markus Howard: Sophomore, healthy most of the year, slowed by injury when the season meant the most.
You cannot compare our youth to Kentucky's. Thought that was a given. Been stated here multiple times by multiple posters.
If you think these guys plus a lone senior "gunner" underachieved, you are either crazy or lacking in patience. Hate to sound like Dodds on the other board, but you seriously think adding Joey, Ed Morrow, Brendan Bailey to a young, potentially muscled-up 9-9 BEast squad ( league RPI #2) won't significantly improve us in 2018-19?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Tired of the underachievement, tired of this program being irrelevant, tired of the constant excuses from everyone. If the NIT excites people here...good for you..Mike Deane used to say MU should be happy with NIT berths, is that where we are again??

So because some people don't freak out constantly like you do that equates to being excited about the NIT and satisfied about missing the tourney?  It doesn't work that way.

It is possible to have high expectations and perspective. You sorely need some of the latter.

[whitykj]

Tired of the underachievement, tired of this program being irrelevant, tired of the constant excuses from everyone. If the NIT excites people here...good for you..Mike Deane used to say MU should be happy with NIT berths, is that where we are again??

Go root for Duke

[4everwarriors]

In 1970, when we won the NIT, there were 24 teams in the NCAA tournament against probably 250 members playing basketball.

If you didn't win your conference, you did not go to the NCAA. The only exception was major independents and we had to play an extra NCAA game because we did not win a conference. Al turned down the NCAA and the NIT probably had every bit as much talent then as the NCAA did.

I would have gone then because there was money in it, we played major competition and a trophy was not a participation trophy.

BUT, I would not have turned down an NCAA berth, but, then, I'm not Al. You go to the NCAA when invited and kick the c*ap out of Adolph "the bigot" Rupp. Father Raynor thought the same way but deferred to Al (for the last time).

Don't believe this is accurate. 32 teams in the Tourney. No extra games needed or allowed. We lost  to ND and Austin Carr in South Bend. Therefore, the Irish got the Mideast berth and we were sent to the Midwest, which I believe was held that year in Texas. Al got pissed and said he'd take the team to the NIT and win it. 

[MomofMUltiples]

Kentucky was the youngest team in the country this year...did they ever play the "we're young card"?? A #5 seed in the dance. Soooo Wojo always used the "we're young" narrative..well, as kentucky showed, and other schools have shown through the years, that is NOT an excuse.

This is hilarious, because I literally saw John Calipari in an ESPN interview yesterday saying his team was all freshman - the youngest team in the country.