Post-season Tournaments- CBI & Basketball Classic

[LittleBrave]

BU will not be playing in any post season tournaments.

Kind of disappointing to hear. But if they use this time to get better and work on recruiting a couple key additions for next season, all the better.
I guess we already know that BU should take care of bizness on their home court, so they have nothing to prove.

I'd like to see them with the CIT championship - for the loyal fans more than anything.

[egib52]

Kind of disappointing to hear. But if they use this time to get better and work on recruiting a couple key additions for next season, all the better.
I guess we already know that BU should take care of bizness on their home court, so they have nothing to prove.

I'd like to see them with the CIT championship - for the loyal fans more than anything.

Maybe I'm misremembering, but don't these tournaments require either a buy in or some financial guarantee. Might be more of a money thing.

[Da Coach]

Yes, these tournaments are in it to make money. But that isn't the main reason Bradley opted not to play.

[BUfan14]

Yes, these tournaments are in it to make money. But that isn't the main reason Bradley opted not to play.

Is it an NCAA/NIT or bust type mentality of the program? I don’t know what else it would be if it’s not money. Experience isn’t a bad thing.

[Da Coach]

I don't know that answer in Bradley's case, but there must be a lot of other reasons. Many teams have turned down the CBI, CIT, Vegas Tournament, and now the Basketball Classic.
They do not carry a lot of prestige.

[Braves2006]

BW has said in the past that there are only 2 tournaments… and I agree with him.

[Tommy]

Is it an NCAA/NIT or bust type mentality of the program? I don’t know what else it would be if it’s not money. Experience isn’t a bad thing.

I agree with that sentiment, and I'd guess playing a post season tournament that nobody cares about and risking injury to some of your players isn't worth the risk when you're shelling out your own cash instead of getting money for going.

[BUfan14]

I wonder if some players treat these tournaments like college bowl games and sit out. For example, would Ari have played if we were in one of these? Doesn’t seem like it’d be worth it for him personally given the risk.

I certainly think the NCAA/NIT or bust mentality is admirable and I hope someday we are in them most years as that should be the goal. It’s just a interesting decision, as it was a few years ago, for a program in our position where experience could help. Especially road experience in our case.

Now, next year I really feel the expectation should be NCAA/NIT or bust. So maybe we’re just preparing ourselves for those high expectations. No more underdog mentality, lets do what we are capable of doing.

[Da Coach]

Article with comment from Chris Reynolds about Bradley and the other tournaments

https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/college/basketball/bradley-hoops/2022/03/11/bradley-mens-basketball-has-decided-postseason-tournament-options/9434296002/

[MacabreMob]

Article with comment from Chris Reynolds about Bradley and the other tournaments
https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...ns/9434296002/

Gotta love the dig on Jim Les - must be the main thing Les brags about during his stay on the Hilltop... getting into small postseason tourneys so he can get to 20+ wins.

[Da Coach]

The Basketball Classic has not released their complete field yet.

In the CBI-
Drake accepts invitation to the CBI as a #1 seed and they will play IPFW Saturday at 12 noon.
https://twitter.com/DrakeBulldogsMB/...86411465453569

Here is the 16-team field for the CBI. The first 2 rounds are streamed on FloHoops.com, and the semifinals and final are on ESPN2-

https://www.gazellegroup.com/main/cbi/schedule-2/

[Tommy]

The Basketball Classic has not released their complete field yet.

In the CBI-
Drake accepts invitation to the CBI as a #1 seed and they will play IPFW Saturday at 12 noon.
https://twitter.com/DrakeBulldogsMB/...86411465453569

Here is the 16-team field for the CBI. The first 2 rounds are streamed on FloHoops.com, and the semifinals and final are on ESPN2-

https://www.gazellegroup.com/main/cbi/schedule-2/

I don't know much about the other teams in that bracket, but I've got to assume from the names that Drake has a great opportunity to win that thing.

[basketball nut]

I don't know much about the other teams in that bracket, but I've got to assume from the names that Drake has a great opportunity to win that thing.

I would agree that Drake should run away with that tournament. I would take BU over the field.

[Da Coach]

The Basketball Classic participating teams-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_The_Basketball_Classic#Participating_teams

Schedule-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_The_Basketball_Classic#Schedule

One game was played tonight-

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401422722

There are no MVC teams playing in this tournament, there are multiple teams with losing records, and a bunch of teams with 200+ and even 300+ NET rankings.
I just can't see any interesting teams or matchups in this tournament. Plus, there is too much social justice virtue signaling for me to develop any interest. So I probably won't be commenting on any further games.

[bigjimmy]

I'm glad to see Drake being able to extend their season. Most of those guys have been together for so long so hopefully6 they can finish their careers with a championship. The other tournament has one local connection, Western Illinois, and they play a team BU beat this past season, UTEP.