NIT or is season over?

[LittleBrave]

Add the insult of the new NIT rules that PC schools get auto home games and higher seeds course.

Tommy I missed the new rules, but trying to get the scoop now on Google. It sounds to me that BU is an "exempt" team that is guaranteed a home game since they are in the top 12 conferences and are the top team from the MVC that isn't in the NCAA tourney. I doubt we get 2 home games b/c you know the seeding will be crap, tho last season I thought the 3-seed was legit. We'll get a 4 this year and have to play the 1-seed at their place...should we even accept NIT.

[LittleBrave]

Heck - we have upper-classmen who barely played who supported the senior starters and team for years. I think Coach W should make the decision, with the benefit in mind of the younger guys to have post-season experience...if the starting seniors don't want to play, have the bench seniors play, who supposedly worked as hard as anyone else. Those guys and the fans are at least deserving of an opportunity to have the season continue.

Coach Wardle needs to stand up and say, "Hey we're puttin' on the Bradley unis one more time and if you don't want to have another chance, then you can just watch, and let that Drake game be your last ever in college."

[MacabreMob]

Maybe, just maybe (and I type this mostly with doubt), we will shockingly get an At-Large as we did in 2006 when we didn't really expect that.

Not sure what you remember Little Brave, but in 2006 there were many of us that expected an at-large bid in 2006. Digger Phelps and his ilk were more surprised we got a bid and the MVC got 4 bids that year (the same for the ACC that year I believe). Now... back in '06, much of the traffic went thru a different message board and many there didn't think Bradley would get a bid - but that place was full of fans of other teams that were also a bunch of gas-lighters.

[yoda]

Note that there is a new rule - LINK

The new NIT selection rules say the top team not selected for the NCAA tourney from each of the top 12 conferences
will get an “exempt bid” and at least one home game. Drake would have qualified and gotten that bid unless they got an NCAA bid based on the Quad-1 wins.

[LittleBrave]

Not sure what you remember Little Brave, but in 2006 there were many of us that expected an at-large bid in 2006. Digger Phelps and his ilk were more surprised we got a bid and the MVC got 4 bids that year (the same for the ACC that year I believe). Now... back in '06, much of the traffic went thru a different message board and many there didn't think Bradley would get a bid - but that place was full of fans of other teams that were also a bunch of gas-lighters.

I didn't know any Braves fans at the time, living in SW Florida and had never visited a sports message board in my life. It was probably just my perception, but I did not at all expect us to get in, especially after not playing SIU close in the championship game. We got really hot the last 10 games much like last year, and I knew that 3 teams would get in already and we didn't even finish in the Top 3 in the league. Didn't expect so much love for the Valley.

[LittleBrave]

Note that there is a new rule - LINK

The new NIT selection rules say the top team not selected for the NCAA tourney from each of the top 12 conferences
will get an “exempt bid” and at least one home game. Drake would have qualified and gotten that bid unless they got an NCAA bid based on the Quad-1 wins.

Does "not selected" mean an At-Large? Or could be that or Auto-bid?

That would be insane if BU didn't get a home game, as they have to be one of the best 8 teams invited this season based on their resume, but it could happen. smh

[bradleyfan124]

Does "not selected" mean an At-Large? Or could be that or Auto-bid?

The top 12 conferences would include MVC

[yoda]

it is effectively an autobid altho it has to be earned by the criteria described.

[Da Coach]

As many will remember, the Missouri Valley Conference has a great history with the NIT. Unfortunately, under their new format for bids, none of the history, nor how well the fans support the team matter any more. Bradley has won the NIT 4 times (1957, 1960, 1964, and 1982), and they finished runner-up twice (1950 and 1959). Three other MVC teams have won the NIT (Wichita State 2011, Tulsa 1981, St. Louis 1948 ), and current member, SIU won it in 1967 before they joined the MVC. And last year, Indiana State beat SMU, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Utah, before losing a close 79-77 game to Seton Hall in the 2024 NIT Championship game.
Wouldn't it be great if Bradley can reproduce some of that success with this year's team.

[LukeBob]

NIT Stu has us projected to play Colorado St. If we can't get a P6 draw, CSU is probably the next best possibility. Exciting young team.

[ollienanyes]

https://x.com/TheRealCSD/status/1899199807123558474

This has BU seeded 15'th with a home game. By the seeding (sum of both seeds = 33 rule) BU would host Florida State. But if they take regions into account, could be a rematch with Loyola or maybe even with Butler, SLU or UNI

[bradleyfan124]

https://x.com/TheRealCSD/status/1899199807123558474

This has BU seeded 15'th with a home game. By the seeding (sum of both seeds = 33 rule) BU would host Florida State. But if they take regions into account, could be a rematch with Loyola or maybe even with Butler, SLU or UNI

I hope it is not UNI. I don't want to go to tournament and play someone in your own conference

[egib52]

I hope it is not UNI. I don't want to go to tournament and play someone in your own conference

I would imagine that like the NCAA tournament, they try to avoid that for the first couple rounds.

[Southside]

I guess I'm in the minority. If the team's heart isn't going to be into playing in the NIT, then don't play. I don't want to see a half-ass effort and a 20 point loss. If the team can regroup and put their efforts into making a run in the NIT, then I'm all for it.

[BRADLEY FAN 49]

Amen to that - would be a shame to have the season end on such a sour note.
Not sure the incentive to win NIT games outweighs the chance to get to play with each other and for Braves’ fans one more time…or more

If they don't want to play in the NIT I guess it would show how much they appreciated the fans cheering for them this year!!!