CBI & CIT mentioned on Fox Sports

[Bravesfan]

Just watching the end of the Oregon/Oregon St game on Fox Sports Midwest. The announcers just mentioned how the bowl "mentality" is beginning to creep into college hoops and how participating in either the CBI or the other newer tournament is equal to participating in a college bowl game.

The point I'm making though is how ESPN STILL does not allow their announcers to mention the CBI and CIT by name, which I think is extraordinarily immature of them! I know ESPN has a stake in the NIT, but they can't run away from the fact that there are other postseason tournaments out there now.

And ESPN wonders why their revenues are going down!

[BradleyBrave]

ESPN is a fraud. They don't care about being a sports news network. All they care about is advertising what they broadcast, so inherently there is a conflict of interest and a lack of objectivity. That's why generally I refuse to watch the network and be told what to think and what to like.

ESPN is also creating a website for Chicago/Illinois-only sports so they don't have to waste time on it on their flagship site. To me, that's finally admitting that they don't care about anything outside of the eastern seaboard.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/technology/chi-thu-tech-buzz-espn-feb19,0,3005851.column

[MacabreMob]

ESPN is a fraud. They don't care about being a sports news network. All they care about is advertising what they broadcast, so inherently there is a conflict of interest and a lack of objectivity. That's why generally I refuse to watch the network and be told what to think and what to like.

ESPN is also creating a website for Chicago/Illinois-only sports so they don't have to waste time on it on their flagship site. To me, that's finally admitting that they don't care about anything outside of the eastern seaboard.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...3005851.column

Wow - I'm with ya DoubleB. That's why I don't watch ESPN (unless a game is on but I mute the audio), don't read the local rag (aka the PJStar), etc... When are these fruitcakes gonna wake up? Til they do - fark 'em.

[Murph]

ESPN is a fraud.

As is the CBI and the CIT.

[Indy_BB]

ESPN is a fraud. They don't care about being a sports news network. All they care about is advertising what they broadcast, so inherently there is a conflict of interest and a lack of objectivity.

This is what drives me crazy about people who actually cite Joe Lunardi. If you really must use a projection use the Bracket Matrix or maybe even Jerry Palm, but Lunardi's work has got ESPN covered in it.

[numbr_9]

As is the CBI and the CIT.

don't agree with you there. Obviously, the NCAA tournament is the big goal, and the NIT is the consolation prize. But these lesser tournaments do offer a young team the chance to get more experience and practice time.

You, of course, are welcome to show your feelings by not attending.

[thefish7]

Yeah, not sure CBI or CIT can be called "frauds..." In what way have they befrauded anyone? Did they call their winner a national champion last season or something?

[Murph]

Yeah, not sure CBI or CIT can be called "frauds..." In what way have they befrauded anyone?

No, they called them post season tournaments....

[thefish7]

Alright. Seems to be kind of exactly what they are.

[Murph]

Alright. Seems to be kind of exactly what they are.

I guess the real fraud would be a fan, team or coach claiming these as post season play.

Lets win 3 in St. Louis so we don't have to worry or even talk about the losers tournaments.

[thefish7]

Agreed on matter of degree tourney-wise and need to take care of 3 in StL to get to the Big Dance.

[Da Coach]

I guess the real fraud would be a fan, team or coach claiming these as post season play.

Lets win 3 in St. Louis so we don't have to worry or even talk about the losers tournaments.

You can call it whatever you want, but they are postseason games in postseason tournaments.
Unlike tournaments played earlier in the season, not every team qualifies for the post season tournaments. And like the NCAA or NIT, their selection is based on a teams performance in that season- only teams with winning records qualify. It's acknowledged by everyone that the caliber of teams is mostly lower (there are always some "dogs" that get into the NCAA or NIT tournaments that are worse than most of the teams in the CBI were last year).
People may not like them, but there is nothing fraudulant about them.

[TheAsianSensation]

This is what drives me crazy about people who actually cite Joe Lunardi. If you really must use a projection use the Bracket Matrix or maybe even Jerry Palm, but Lunardi's work has got ESPN covered in it.

As I usually say, Lunardi is useful. The time to pay attention to him is in January, and to a lesser extent, February. Come March though, he's no longer of major usefulness.

[leebiddlecome]

And like the NCAA or NIT, their selection is based on a teams performance in that season- only teams with winning records qualify. It's acknowledged by everyone that the caliber of teams is mostly lower (there are always some "dogs" that get into the NCAA or NIT tournaments that are worse than most of the teams in the CBI were last year).
People may not like them, but there is nothing fraudulant about them.

Not entirely true. The willingness to pay money has quite a bit to do with it. The CBI isn't an invite only event. You either paid money to host games or got money to go on the road. That's not the same as the NCAA and NIT.

[Da Coach]

Again, you are missing the point I made. I never said anything about money.
Point- Selection to these these tournament are not like in-season tournaments, where a team's record has nothing to do with it. Those tournament selections are made well before the season begins. It is based on performance during the season.

Of course money is the other major factor, as it always was with the NIT, too, until last year. Nobody denies that. But money cannot buy you a slot in those tournaments if you have a losing record.

Other than the Big East representative, all the teams invited to the CBI had winning records, and the CollegeInsider.com release said they also will invite only winning teams.