View Full Version : Would you rather be in the NIT and still playing?
This is strictly for discussion purposes, and absolutely does not reflect my opinion at all. Let's just throw that out there now.
That being said, would you rather be in the NIT and still playing right now, or where we are, not playing and in the NCAA?
Let me just say that I can see both sides of the discussion. On one hand, being in the NCAA tourney, even for just one game, is a magical event for these players and coaches, and the fans as well. Just to have the sheer opportunity of being able to be one of the 64 teams that have a shot at the championship is special.
But then I look at a team like Florida or Arizona State, who just missed out on the tourney, probably wouldn't have gotten close to the NCAA title game anyway, and are still playing. As a fan, it's cool to still be able to watch your team play (even though it's the NIT), while others from the big dance are already sitting at home not playing anymore.
For Kentucky this is a taboo topic, I know. But I still think it's an interesting topic to think about.
POEKLM
03-24-2008, 01:32 PM
No. jmho
UFWildcat
03-24-2008, 01:33 PM
Not for me man. I'd rather have our one shot than play in the NIT. Even all the UF fans around here are disgusted with the NIT. "Sure, we'll be the 66th best team in the country if we win it."
Yeah, it would be cool to still see Joe and Ramel still playing but they went out like men. I'm sure if you asked them if they wanted to play in the NIT or get a chance at the Big Dance they would have said the latter.
The NIT is for the birds, not UK.
lighthouse
03-24-2008, 01:36 PM
Me too. I'm glad we got our game in the big dance.
DCWildcat
03-24-2008, 01:36 PM
It's worthy of debate, but no. I think it'd make for too much negative press.
UKBOO
03-24-2008, 01:40 PM
No
I would rather dance and fall, then to not dance at all...
UKBoo 3/24/08
JWORLD
03-24-2008, 01:43 PM
Absolutely not............
bluegrassking
03-24-2008, 01:46 PM
No way. We got our shot and a draw we could play on through, in other words we had a chance. I'd rather have the opportunity and come up short than no chance at all.
Littlemeyer
03-24-2008, 01:47 PM
I would rather dance and fall, then to not dance at all...
UKBoo 3/24/08
:icon_lol: :thumbup:
UKcat
03-24-2008, 02:01 PM
NIT means "not in the tournament". It means you were not good enough to make it to the dance. I pray that we never get there.:shrug1:
Matt Dillon
03-24-2008, 02:04 PM
Any other season, I'd say yes for the additional on court experience if nothing else. Not so this season what with our being so exhausted and beat up.
JOHN BLUEBLOOD
03-24-2008, 02:05 PM
Nope
ukwebfan
03-24-2008, 02:06 PM
I'd rather keep the NCAA streak intact. The experience can't do anything but help our young players.
Realist
03-24-2008, 02:09 PM
If you had a young team and needed more games to prepare for next year then yes. Given how much this team needs to rest and how much they depended on the seniors I'd say no. They just need to heal up and regroup. You can usually consider the NIT as the equivalent of the extra practice football teams get when they get a bowl bid, it just lets you keep practicing and playing longer.
wildcat537
03-24-2008, 02:10 PM
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wildcat74
03-24-2008, 02:11 PM
no
DerbyCityGlobetrotter
03-24-2008, 02:13 PM
Absolutely not............
Definitely NOT
Will Lavender
03-24-2008, 02:34 PM
No way.
I would rather be blown out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament than win an NIT championship.
Apparently this wasn't that interesting at all. :icon_lol::icon_lol:
wildcatsundance
03-24-2008, 02:39 PM
Only if you wanted to give the Seniors a chance to go out as a Champion, and play in the Garden in NYC... Only if you believed the extra practice and game time would have helped prepare the Underclassmen for next season... Probably a bad idea though, as reading this thread, none of the "Fans" would have attended, watched, or listened to the games... :shrug1:
UKBOO
03-24-2008, 02:42 PM
^^
I would have watched and supported the Cats in any game they played, NIT included.
RxRusty
03-24-2008, 02:43 PM
I have to agree with all the "no" answers. Given all the injuries, I'm REALLY celebrating the fact that we got into the Big Dance. The streak continues and I'd guess that is a great recruiting tool.
Matt Dillon
03-24-2008, 02:46 PM
Only if you wanted to give the Seniors a chance to go out as a Champion, and play in the Garden in NYC... Only if you believed the extra practice and game time would have helped prepare the Underclassmen for next season... Probably a bad idea though, as reading this thread, none of the "Fans" would have attended, watched, or listened to the games... :shrug1:
If UK was in the NIT, and playing in Rupp, it wouldn't surprise me to see a full house.
DCWildcat
03-24-2008, 02:47 PM
Only if you wanted to give the Seniors a chance to go out as a Champion, and play in the Garden in NYC... Only if you believed the extra practice and game time would have helped prepare the Underclassmen for next season...
You make good points, by why post them with a pretentious tone self-obviousness? That kind of stuff only makes people angry, and rightfully so.
Probably a bad idea though, as reading this thread, none of the "Fans" would have attended, watched, or listened to the games... :shrug1:
Nobody even remotely suggested that in this thread. How'd you come to that conclusion? I suggest you reread the posts in this thread.
Just because you have different opinions than many others doesn't mean you have to go out of your way to act like a jerk to everyone else.
Will Lavender
03-24-2008, 02:52 PM
Only if you wanted to give the Seniors a chance to go out as a Champion, and play in the Garden in NYC... Only if you believed the extra practice and game time would have helped prepare the Underclassmen for next season... Probably a bad idea though, as reading this thread, none of the "Fans" would have attended, watched, or listened to the games... :shrug1:
Who said any of that?
The extra practice time thing doesn't fly. These guys are playing year round. Much of it is done with coaches at least giving semi-tacit instruction. It's not like these kids disband and stop playing basketball until October 15th.
Of course everyone on this board would have watched UK in the NIT. But it is, and will always be, the NIT. Dave Odom couldn't even get his university president to send the cheerleaders to Madison Square Garden, and that's South Carolina. It's a useless tournament that has no purpose except for its corporate sponsors and to fill time on ESPN before the start of Major League Baseball.
wildcatsundance
03-24-2008, 03:02 PM
You make good points, by why post them with a pretentious tone self-obviousness? That kind of stuff only makes people angry, and rightfully so.
Nobody even remotely suggested that in this thread. How'd you come to that conclusion? I suggest you reread the posts in this thread.
Just because you have different opinions than many others doesn't mean you have to go out of your way to act like a jerk to everyone else.
I had already talked about this last week, and get rolled over the coals over it.. Thanks for the correction though....
NashvilleUK
03-24-2008, 03:14 PM
Nope.
Winning the NIT is like winning the special olympics in my opinion. I know it's a crass, rude statement, but there's nothing like saying "You're the 66th best team in the land! Congrats!" and not having a smile on your face because you know you're just having another "Salad Bowl" game.
Look, nothing against the NIT, but there are 65 teams that a selection committee thinks are the best 65 in the land. If we don't make that, I don't want to be crowned "King of the Less than Best 65". I, personally, would rather play and lose in the first round of the NCAA than win the entire NIT. Maybe for some mid-majors out there or lesser major teams, that's a great thing. But if you're going to sit here and tell me the Georgia Bulldogs would have rather taken the NIT bid over the NCAA, I'd say you're crazy.
Nobody grows up dreaming of the silver medal. Nobody knows who finished 2nd place in the ________________ olympics sporting event (insert your own). Nobody wants to be the World Series Losers, or the 2nd best team in any sport. If you're coming to play, you play to win the game. I could toss up more Herm Edwards quotes or Vince Lombardi quotes, but to play in the NIT is like someone slapping you in the face and saying "You suck too much for the NCAA, but you're just lousy enough for the NIT."
That's my 2 cents at least.
And, to further my article, I present you an article from ESPN.com:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney08/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3308586&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1
The first few sentences of the article represents my sentiment towards the NIT versus the NCAA. Coach Horn of Western basically says you dream of the NCAAs. Your nightmares involve the NIT.
BigBlue75
03-24-2008, 03:14 PM
No.
catszoom54
03-24-2008, 03:15 PM
No, Its not the big dance
I knew this question would get asked sooner or later. Without reading the rest of the posts I will answer.
No and to take it a step further I'd rather bow out of the first round of the NCAA than win the whole NIT.
TrueblueCATfan
03-24-2008, 04:00 PM
I am not sure how to answer.....we could have easliy got beat in the first round of the NIT too...So I would rather get beat in the NCAA than the NIT
crazzedcats22
03-24-2008, 04:15 PM
nope, doesn't benefit anybody to still be playing in the NIT.
Start recruiting and get healthy and be ready for next year.
billoliver40
03-24-2008, 04:19 PM
I would rather play in the NCAA. If that had NOT happened, I would have
yelled my head off for the team in the NIT.
Wherever you are, there you go.
countrycat
03-24-2008, 05:30 PM
NO!!
FCFS82
03-24-2008, 06:34 PM
Only if you wanted to give the Seniors a chance to go out as a Champion, and play in the Garden in NYC... Only if you believed the extra practice and game time would have helped prepare the Underclassmen for next season... Probably a bad idea though, as reading this thread, none of the "Fans" would have attended, watched, or listened to the games... :shrug1:
The UKAA made the right decision and accepted the bid from the NCAA and played in their tournament rather than take the bid from the NIT. Since they are the ones actually in charge with the goings-on in the department and in touch with coaches, fans, and support systems required by the team, I will applaud them for their insightful decision to choose the NCAA's.
I am also, as a fan, proud that these guys worked their tails off to keep one of the more impressive streaks going in the country as the Cats have not missed an NCAA Tournament since 1992. Only Arizona has a longer streak.
I guess as a fan I also feel as though the team is happier to have achieved this goal and proceeded to the Big Dance. But then again, I guess I am guilty of taking the TEAM's wishes too much to heart.
KYISSUPREME
03-24-2008, 07:08 PM
nooooo.
colonelcatfan
03-24-2008, 07:13 PM
No
I would rather dance and fall, then to not dance at all...
UKBoo 3/24/08
Profound quote, I like it!
CatFanInTheBathtub
03-24-2008, 10:00 PM
I'll go back and look, but I'm not going to read any other responses before answering.
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY IN HELL WOULD I RATHER BE EVEN THE NIT CHAMPS THAN PLAY IN THE NCAAS. There was already a thread about this and I got pretty steamed. steamed that any UK "fan" would even be able to see ANY advantage/benefit out of playing in the nit.
we had a 16 YEAR ncaa streak going, good for third on the current list. if undeserving arizona had been left out as they should have, we'd be 2nd on the current list behind kansas. we've now gone to 17 tournaments in a row and I wouldn't give that up to be nit champs, have BG be the supreme nit coach, Coury be the nit final four mvp, and have Dwight Perry hit a half-court buzzer beater to complete a 33 point comeback over florida and billy donovan got kicked out. wouldn't trade it for the world.
furthermore the more game experience/momentum into next year theory is completely bunk. we're talking about Razor, PS, Coury, and Porter here. what...two extra games are going to turn them into the harlem globetrotters ? and how many nit champs have you seen come blazing into the next season and done significantly more ? these guys are going to play ball all summer so I just don't see trading a shot...any shot at a title, a final four, an elite eight, or even just a sweet sixteen for a couple more games.
CatFanInTheBathtub
03-24-2008, 10:16 PM
Look, nothing against the NIT, but there are 65 teams that a selection committee thinks are the best 65 in the land. If we don't make that, I don't want to be crowned "King of the Less than Best 65".
well, obviously, I wouldn't want to be in the nit.
but to say the the nit champ is only the 66th best team shows a misunderstanding of the selection process. The committee doesn't pick 65 teams, they pick 34 teams. the other 31 teams are either conference regular season or tourney champs, regardless of how "crappy" they are. every single year, there are PLENTY of nit bound teams that are much better than several teams that made the ncaa's by winning their conference.
I'd say that the nit winner, after all is said and done, is probably the 25th to 40th best team in the land
catdmd
03-25-2008, 01:30 PM
No. I'm glad we didn't have to decide whether or not to go there.
SBCatMan
03-25-2008, 02:18 PM
NO.
This team was just way too beat up at the end. I would rather have the players getting healthy and BCG out recruiting than messing around in the NIT.
poodoo
03-25-2008, 02:42 PM
NO.
This team was just way too beat up at the end. I would rather have the players getting healthy and BCG out recruiting than messing around in the NIT.
Good answer, SBCatMan.
Also, while I am one who would have wanted us to accept an NIT bid IF the players had wanted to do so, I am SO THANKFUL that these seniors were rewarded for their fight and are not known as being the team that broke our NCAA Tourney streak. I think that would have been SO hurtful to them, even more than their loss to Marquette. I'm not sure they could have gotten physically and mentally ready enough to win an NIT championship, which would have been the only way they could end their senior seasons with any type of championshiip.
Too, as it is, we know that those two young men left as CHAMPIONS. As one of them said himself through tears, they were able to feel PRIDE.
My answer is NO.
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