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March Madness Equals NIT Nausea
Published: 2/25/2011 1:20 PM
Last Modified: 2/25/2011 1:23 PM

What's a team to think when it comes to going to the NIT?

Depends, doesn't it.

For the most part, going to anything but the main tournament is an embarrassment. Remember when TU went to the ultimate in losers tourneys? We said it was humiliating. TU fans said no, no, it was a springboard toward success. Yeah, well, not quite.

For OSU, the NIT will trigger mixed emotions. It will be lucky to get in the tournament for dogs, and will get drilled in a road game in front of 4,350 bored spectators, mostly students.

For TU, hard as it is to believe, it is an uphill battle to get into the meatball tourney! It needs to win out or come close! Unbelievable.

For OU, the NIT is a lofty pipe-dream, it is played on Fantasy Island.
Does the athletic director have a comment?

For ORU, the NIT would probably be better than winning its conference and being blasted by a one seed.

On the whole, the NIT is like a cheesy college football bowl, a glorious opportunity for a nobody, a sad commentary on a somebody.




Reader Comments 13 Total
Loki (last year)
The NIT serves the same noble purpose as the NCAA Tournament, somebody makes money.

Oddly, even with the seeding advantages for the top teams in the "Big Dance", drama occasionally ensues.
Loki (last year)
Seems Tulsa once hosted a parade (without reference to a deity) when TU bested Syracuse for an NIT Championship. (It was a gentler, Norman Rockwell time)
LaffALot (last year)
Who can’t wait for the Nat’l Insignificant Tourney?

When TU won its 1st NIT title in 1981,
the NCAA Tourney consisted of only 32 teams,
so the NIT Tourney was a “decent” Tourney back then.

Are there any fans who are “fired’ up in seeing their favorite team garnish a NIT bid?
hoss cartwright (last year)
Oh, sitler's going to get you. You said something about Castiglione. Remember he's the only one who's friends with Stoops & Joe C.
wgspost (last year)
Bus Capel's squad to OKC...stop at any high school outdoor basketball court...have 'em engage in a pickup game with the guys just hanging out...and the line would be pick 'em. My money would probably be on the high schoolers.
wgspost (last year)
In terms of significance, does anyone notice a resemblance between the NIT and the BCS bowl system?
wgspost (last year)
bgb...Let ME guess...you have trouble with long division. Am I close?
MexiMike (last year)
bgb, last I checked OU lost to a Division 2 team on a nuetral court.

Maybe your team should schedule a rematch with Chaminade before you start trash talking the other in-state schools.
Glenn616 (last year)
bgb is partly correct. OU could beat the other 3 teams on a neutral floor. Key word: Could. They already beat ORU in Norman and only lost to OSU by 5 in Stillwater. They could also beat TU on a neutral court. However, they could lose to all three teams as well, depending on how well they shoot the jump shot in a given game. It is a sad state of affairs for basketball in this state when a 12-16 team can beat the other 3 state teams.
Glenn616 (last year)
bgb is partly correct. OU could beat the other 3 teams on a neutral floor. Key word: Could. They already beat ORU in Norman and only lost to OSU by 6 in Stillwater. They could also beat TU on a neutral court. However, they could lose to all three teams as well, depending on how well they shoot the jump shot in a given game. It is a sad state of affairs for basketball in this state when a 12-16 team can beat the other 3 state teams.
Glenn616 (last year)
In regards to the NIT, who cares? If you don't get into the NCAA Tournament, it doesn't really matter. As a person who has attended every single OU Men's Basketball regular season home game this season, OU's coach has zero charisma and little coaching ability. Making the NIT would take a miracle for this team. Even if they make the NIT, I won't watch the game, since it has no meaning at all. If they make the Collegeinsider dot com or CBI tourneys, I won't watch those games, either.
MexiMike (last year)
Glenn, maybe you should watch so that you continue to show support for your team?

Call me crazy, but regardless of which tournament OSU gets into, I'll be watching and cheering them on.
foulshot (last year)
geez pik, lay off of the NIT.Only about 20% of college teams make the NCAA, so a second tourney is ok for the 32 that make the NIT.
In football about 50% of the teams make a bowl.

It is ok for college players to get to go to a post season tournament. The NIT is not as bad as you say. Yes, it's not the NCAA but it is ok. I wish Wojo's teams would at least make this tourney and not be a one and done team.
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The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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