Gophers need two wins for an NIT bid

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I'm not quite sure I'm buying it, but who am I to argue I guess:

The Gophers probably need to reach the Big Ten tournament semifinals to make the national tournament - the National Invitation Tournament.

"Tubby's in the same situation as Illinois, Iowa and some other teams," said NIT Chairman C.M. Newton, Tubby Smith's former athletics director at Kentucky. "They have to win a couple more games."

That means Smith will need to coach 10th-seeded University of Minnesota (18-13, 6-12) past seventh-seeded Northwestern (18-12, 8-10) in today's opening round in Indianapolis, then upset second-seeded and co-Big Ten champion Michigan (23-8, 13-5) on Friday.

"They're under .500 in their league," Newton said of the Gophers. "My advice to Minnesota and Illinois or anybody else who wants to get into the (NIT) is to just keep winning and make a deep run into the tournament. If they get to the finals of their tournament, and get on an uptick there, obviously that would help them."
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http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_20124767/gophers-basketball-needs-2-wins-help-secure-nit
 


mattw1067 said:
Yeah, I disagree as well. I think they're in if they beat NW. I don't know how many auto-bids might get taken by teams who didn't win their conference tournament though.
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Sad part is that we are bubble watching- two years running- for the NIT. I hope we get in, we need the games, but man....
 

bga1 said:
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Sad part is that we are bubble watching- two years running- for the NIT. I hope we get in, we need the games, but man....
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Have to agree with this.

Sure hope we do make it though.
 

I feel that it is a gross understatement to say that it would obviously help them to get into the NIT if they got into the conference tourney final. Heck just win one more and throw up the bird to the NIT.
 


I don't really care if they play in the NIT or not, but it's not surprising that they may need two more wins. They missed it last year despite a lot better non conference resume (wins over UNC, WVU, etc) and identical conference record. It's so pathetic that we are reduced to talking about the NIT with the current state of the NCAA tournament.
 

EG#9 said:
I don't really care if they play in the NIT or not, but it's not surprising that they may need two more wins. They missed it last year despite a lot better non conference resume (wins over UNC, WVU, etc) and identical conference record. It's so pathetic that we are reduced to talking about the NIT with the current state of the NCAA tournament.
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I believe the two times the Gophers won the NIT they came back and won the B1G the next year. When the Beast went down, I would have been very happy with an NIT bid. No better place for a young team to learn how to win than a tourney.
 

EG#9 said:
I don't really care if they play in the NIT or not, but it's not surprising that they may need two more wins. They missed it last year despite a lot better non conference resume (wins over UNC, WVU, etc) and identical conference record. It's so pathetic that we are reduced to talking about the NIT with the current state of the NCAA tournament.
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I've got a different definition of pathetic.
 




Thought .500 in the conference would get us into the NCAA tournament. Now it only gets us into the NIT? Harsh.
 


Certainly don't believe that Minnesota necessarily needs two wins to reach the NIT. Too many variables to say what they need.
 






Gold Vision said:
I've got a different definition of pathetic.
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10th place in your own conference, winning 33% of your conference games, losing 7 of your final 9 games, losing all 4 games to border schools...doesn't qualify as pathetic in your world? It didn't take much to make the NCAA tournament this year: Iona? BYU? CSU? Cal? Very soft bubble...again. If the Gophers simply didn't lose so many games they were favored to win (without Mbakwe), they would be in the tournament.
 

This seeding makes absolutely no sense how did La Salle get a 3 seed?
 

EG#9 said:
10th place in your own conference, winning 33% of your conference games, losing 7 of your final 9 games, losing all 4 games to border schools...doesn't qualify as pathetic in your world? It didn't take much to make the NCAA tournament this year: Iona? BYU? CSU? Cal? Very soft bubble...again. If the Gophers simply didn't lose so many games they were favored to win (without Mbakwe), they would be in the tournament.
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Not in my world either. Those of us who have followed the program loyally all these years knew losing the Beast spelled doom. The sophomore class to be showed us glimpses, and then finally showed us the bright future our beloved program has. Some of us are simply more patient and have more insight than others. Screaming for the coaches head is always the easy answer, but seldom achieves the expected result.
 

howieramone said:
Not in my world either. Those of us who have followed the program loyally all these years knew losing the Beast spelled doom. The sophomore class to be showed us glimpses, and then finally showed us the bright future our beloved program has. Some of us are simply more patient and have more insight than others. Screaming for the coaches head is always the easy answer, but seldom achieves the expected result.
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Again, the Gophers will be picked in the bottom half of the conference next year. What was different about the end of the year compared to the start of the Big Ten season? We played Michigan tough on their home court in the 2nd conference game of the year, and then played them tough again on a neutral court to end the year. The Gophers have lost 7 of 9, with their wins coming against Nebraska and Northwestern, what did they finally show?
If you have read any of my posts, and I know you have, you know that I've consistently said Tubby Smith should coach next year. I am not screaming for the coaches head, I am just pointing out what should be obvious...this was an AWFUL season. I would put my insight up against yours any day of the week, so I am not sure where you are going with that line. Again, the Gophers were favored in many games without Trevor Mbakwe and lost them, so losing the "Beast" did not spell doom. What it did was end any chance of Tubby getting his first top 4 finish in his 5 years at the school. There were plenty of opportunities for a 10-8/9-9 type season. If you think it's acceptable for a coach to lose one player and fall to 6-12 in his conference in a year where Iowa can go 8-10, then we simply have different standards.

As for patience, how has that worked out for Minnesota? Giving Glen Mason 10 years? Giving Dan Monson 8 years? Minnesota has ALWAYS chosen to show patience (except with Tim Brewster) and it has NEVER achieved the expected result. For somoene who claims to follow the program more loyally than I do, it's surprising you missed that. I can already tell you are going to be one of those guys who, when Tubby fails to be above .500 next year, will be claiming that he should get yet another year. I want Tubby to succeed and find the term "Tubby hater" to be ridiculous. He seems like a nice guy, he's done a lot of charity work, and there's no reason to dislike the man. I, along with many, simply dislike the results. I'd like nothing better than for Tubby to get a break and get Mbakwe back for a 6th year and/or find the rare impact player still available in the Spring and do enough to get some momentum back in this program.
 

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