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If there is even a chance for us getting into the NCAA tournament then tonight is a massive game. The NCAA tournament should be our teams only goal and they should not settle for anything less. If they fail, the program itself should turn down any bid to the NIT. The NIT is worthless and a lot of you know this too. It is not the same tournament that it once was and support for it is beginning to waiver. My university is on a upswing with recruiting, scheduling, and facilities for our athletes. It is only a matter of time before Bradley is a year in and year out pick to win the valley. It is only a matter a time before we pop on sportscenter, instead of the local news, to get our Bradley highlights. Folks, do not settle for this NIT crap. Put the pressure on the program to succeed. Boo them when they are down 17-3. Cheer them when they comeback. Win tonight!!!
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Re: It all comes down to tonight.
NIT games are not worthless, they provide more games, more practice time and national exposure,Originally posted by abraveforlife
I do not want an NIT bid either but they are not worthless.
Also, a win tonight is a nice step but there is way to much ahead to determine any game is a must win etc. -
If it is not possible for us to make the NCAA, then I would settle for the NIT, but only for the more national exposure and games for the team it would bring.
I still would prefer to be in NCAA tourney, because that is what it is all about... Go BravesComment
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I want the NCAA, but the NIT is still definately worth going to if we didn't make the NCAA field. More tough games against good opponents and some national exposure.Comment
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Its ISU....
I mean, c'mon.....we all know we're going to wreck them.Comment
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I also have a problem with the "boo them while they are down" comment, thats not the way to encourage them to pick it back up.Comment
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Originally posted by thefish7
No...it was a huge game. If they would of lost, the season is basically over and you would of been able to get ready for your third rate NIT tournament.Comment
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If the NIT is 3rd rate, what is 2nd rate?Originally posted by abraveforlifeOnward and Upward!
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good point!Originally posted by BradleyBrave"There are thing known and unknown and in between are the Doors"Comment
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You are certainly entitled to your opinion as to the NIT being 'worthless' and a '3rd rate tournament'. However, based on what this team lost from last year...making the NIT would be a great accomplishment for this team, this coaching staff, and this program. Do I hope we make the NCAA Tournament? Of course. But if we "only" make the NIT this year, I think that is a fantastic thing for this program to hang its hat on...It was important, I think, that this program didn't come out this year and completely fall off of the national map after our Sweet 16 run last year...and if we can approach the 20 win mark and finish top 5 or 6 in the Valley with a post-season tournamnet bid of some sort, I think we have succeeded in avoiding that fate...And for the individuals, it gives the seniors from this team an opportunity to play some additional meaningful games in the middle of March for the second year in a row...It's not the NCAA Tournament, but I sincerely doubt that anyone on this team would want to skip the NIT if that is where we ended up for the postseason...Comment
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First, I am not saying these guys do not deserve a post-season bid, but I think you guys are letting this NIT thing look a bit too dreamy. First, Nevada and Gonzaga; given that their conferences are not as tough as the Valley, seem to drive themselves into the tournament year in and year out. Im sure that these teams would not settle for anything less. Secondly, South Carolina has been the recking machines of the NIT it has done nothing for their program. Third, I look at our own Valley tournament as 2nd rate compared to NCAA tournament making the NIT a THIRD RATE TOURNAMENT.Originally posted by ER3Comment
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AB4L - your opinion is without base.
I'm all for not settling...but lets be real here. A team that lost 95% of its production making any kind of postseason (The Valley Tourney doesn't count - each of the MVC teams gets a shot) is quite an accomplishment.
I'll take a shot at a championship game at MSG over sittin' at home watchin' the dance on CBS.'Tis far better to have failed at Bradley than to have graduated from Illinois State!Comment
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I would agree with you that I don't think we would want to make the NIT our goal year in and year out...And I don't think that making the NIT every year is going to help build any type of national momentum for a program...but...I'm just looking at this year...and the fact that we lost 3/4 of our scoring from last year....and that we were picked 8th or 9th in the Valley...that we had major issues with our frontcourt depth staring us in the face...With all of those things working against us, making any type of postseason tournament is a huge, huge accomplishment. Because it shows that we are building the type of program and we have the coaching staff in place that can overachieve and still make a postseason tournament of some sort in the 'down years'...like SIU does, like Creighton does...and that is where we need to get to...to the point where our 'down years', the years where we are picked to be 9th in the Valley, end up producing an 18 to 20 win season and an NIT bid...Originally posted by abraveforlifeComment
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You can't cross the ocean until you build a ship. Good recruits, 20 win seasons, national exposure, post-season bids on a year to year basis(be it NCAA or NIT) are the "pieces" to Bradley's ship. When we get all these pieces in place we will set sail as an elite program.DUBL R 1
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It is not without base and my opinion is not crap just like your opinion. This is a forum. Stick to arguing the issue.Originally posted by GObravesGO1981
After the Creighton game, a whole bunch of Bradley fans were beginning to warm up the NIT bus. I thought that this was nonsense. That is why I started up this post. Hey, playing in Madison Square Garden would be gold, but taking that over us playing in the NCAA Tournament....I would have to choose one game in the NCAA tournament. Just look at Missouri State last year...they were pissed they missed out on the NCAA Tournament. They did not want to go to the NIT. If we make to MSG and play for a championship after losing 95% of our scoring from last year then WOW.
When I purchased my season tickets in 2000, my hope was to see a program get back on track and it happened. I thought Les could evaluate talent and recruit as well. He is succeeding in doing both. Last year, we got our names out there and more people know about Bradley basketball. If we can hop into the tournament this year and maybe for just one game, I would take it because we our settling for the best not mediocre results. That is how you really build a program.
Yes, I know everybody goes to the Valley tournament, but it is still a tournament. Everybody and their mom is invited to the NIT.Comment
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