20 wins just might be possible

[CABUFan]

I think 20 wins is doable. There isn't a game left on the schedule that isn't winnable, and only 2-3 where I think we are really an underdog. Considering our RPI, we're unlikely to get a very tough bracketbuster opponent.

Three wins in St. Louis is what I really want though. That's what its going to take to make the tourney (unless maybe we win at least 11 of the next 12 before losing in the finals) and I just can't get to excited about the NIT (let alone the new tournament).

[SFP]

I just want us to not play in the play in game in St. Louis and then win the Tourney. Any other additional wins would just be great. I wonder what our RPI would be if we won out from here or just lose 2 more?

[Chico]

Must have missed something. What is the new tournament?

[Braves4Life]

Cbi

Must have missed something. What is the new tournament?

Here's the link that explains this new CBI Tournament Chico............................

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3110361

[Bravesfan]

I see this new tourney as a direct attempt at killing the NIT.

NC St was a 6 seed on the road last year.... this tourney takes them from the field. Providence woulda opted for the new tourney rather than playing as a 5 seed at Bradley.

Pretty soon, the NIT will be nothing but mid-majors.

The new tourney will be nothing but BCS schools that did not make the NCAA.

Mission accomplished.

NIT dead.

Seperation.

I can't wait to see Kentucky in a down year at like 14-17 playing against Duke in a down year at like 15-16 in the championship of this tournament..... because the perception is that these teams are better than any midmajors.

Perception = Reality

????

NOT!!!!!!

But just the same ole extension from the drive-by media mentality.

Just curious. Why would it not be the other way around. The CBI becoming the new "mid-major" postseason tournament, while the NIT gets all of the BCS "leftovers"? Either way, one tournament will probably take a decidedly more "mid-major" turn than the other. Hopefully this doesn't lead into the talk of a split into two divisions like we see in football.

[squirrel]

I will admit that I am probably not as well versed on the new CBI tournament as you or squirrel, but let me throw this in.

Why would the NCAA spend approximately $50 million to buy the NIT?
It would seem to me that the NCAA which ultimately controls everything would want to look out for themselves after taking the trouble to purchase the NIT.

The last article that I read about the CBI mentioned that the CBI did not have a tv deal. I am sure this will change, but aside from alumni and fans, who will want to watch the CBI in March while the NCAA and to a lesser extent the NIT are in progress?

65 teams in the NCAA...32 or so teams in the NIT... 16 remaining teams for the CBI... It doesnt sound too interesting considering that a lot of teams are not too enthused to play in the NIT. Look at the December College Football Bowl games. It used to be a big deal for a school to go to a bowl game. Not anymore. (unless you are talking about the major bowls)

My take on the potential of the CBI (and I am probably wrong) is that the investors of the CBI are hoping that the NCAA expands the field for either the NCAA or NIT thus allowing for the investors in the CBI to turn a nice profit when the NCAA has to knock on the door to buy them out.

They bought the NIT out because they were going to lose their anti-trust case against the NIT.

[MacabreMob]

Just curious. Why would it not be the other way around. The CBI becoming the new "mid-major" postseason tournament, while the NIT gets all of the BCS "leftovers"? Either way, one tournament will probably take a decidedly more "mid-major" turn than the other. Hopefully this doesn't lead into the talk of a split into two divisions like we see in football.

The NIT (currently) HAS to give bids to teams that win conferences but don't win their conference tourney. And just in case one gets a #3 or #4 seed, a bottom-finisher in a BCS conference may not want to be the #5 or #6 seed that has to play on the road... so they will go for the new tourney (IMO).

IMO, the new tourney is gonna invite teams with a much more biased vew than the NIT.

But that's just me.

[squirrel]

But teams have to accept NIT bids if extended currently, I think Macabre.

Gary Williams tried to get out of it, but couldn't.

I do look for teams to shop for the better offer though if possible. BU is in a position to do so, IMO. We probably could've gotten a 1 or 2 seed last year and home court nearly all the way.

[Chico]

I don't know about now, but teams used to be able to, and did, turn down NIT bids. Bradley included

[BradleyBrave]

Just another reason to keep mid-majors out of the BCS basketball tournament. If it was a level playing field, I would be all about this tournament and the competition it may bring. However, it's not a level playing field, and this is just more ammunition to leave mids out and take the 18-14 Kentucky team that only played 10 of 32 games on the road.