Postseason Tournament

[Bravesfan]

I agree. I also wonder what the love affair is with the NIT. Isn't there only ONE national championship tournament? All others are "meaningless".

I really think the "goals" of the season should be (A) win the MVC regular season, (B) win the MVC tournament, and/or (C) make the NCAA field. Isn't there something wrong if we have "make the NIT field" as part of our "goals". I don't see how that is much different than any other tournament that doesn't involve the national championship.

Well the NIT has much more tradition involved with it, and it has recently become a truly "best of the rest" tournament. The CBI and CIT are basically just leftovers outside of those few deserving 20+ win low major teams that would not have a prayer for any post season outside of the NIT. So there is a difference in "stature" between these tournaments, but I agree that the NIT should not be our ultimate goal either. It's just that the NIT does contain some stronger BCS and mid-major bubble teams, many of whom would have been capable for a win or two in the NCAA Tournament had they been invited. It also has much more visability as a good majority of their games are televised. So the NIT is a good consolation prize.

But the way things may ultimately shake out, the CBI and CIT could very well develop into some decent tournaments as well, if they already haven't.

[Bravesfan]

One good thing about playing in a tournament other than NIT/NCAA is for the players to show us that they have pride and will play hard no matter who they're up against.
AW has proven to be focused and competitive vs. the better teams, but he seems unprepared and lacks intensity & focus vs. mediocre competition.

This team needs to put together 2 straight games of intensity, focus, and good execution. If it comes at the end of the season, that could be a building block for next season. I think the only back-to-back games this season where we accomplished this was vs. MSU and @ SIU in the first half of the Valley season.
Hopefully we'll see it over the next 2 games at least, but maybe I'm expecting too much...again.

Well we badly need to win these next two home games to reestablish our home court advantage for next year. Beating UNI was a good start. Now we need to show we can win three in a row at home against three very good teams.