NIT update (if Gophers fall short of winning BTT)

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SelectionSunday

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Up to 9 of the 32 NIT bids have been gobbled up by regular-season champions who failed to win their conference tournament. So as of Friday morning we're looking at anywhere from about 23-27 bids being available for the NIT.

Certainly Northwestern will get a bid, and I'd guess Iowa and the Gophers would be next in line from the B1G (ahead of Illinois). Will the NIT take more than 2 teams from the B1G? That's the question?

NIT Automatics (will be in NIT, no chance for at-large)
1. Bucknell (Patriot)
2. Middle Tennessee State (Sun Belt)
3. Savannah State (MEAC)
4. Texas-Arlington (Southland)
5. Valpo (Horizon)

In NIT (if they don't receive at-large)
1. Drexel (CAA)
2. Iona (MAAC)
3. Oral Roberts (Summit)
4. Washington (Pac 12)
 

I really don't see what NW is a "lock" for the NIT and on the "last 4 out" for the big dance. Look at the #'s, which team do you think should be ahead of the other?


TEAM A = RPI = 86. 19-13 overall. SOS = 42. 4 - 9 (vs top50) 2 - 2 (vs 51-100) 5 - 2 (vs 101-150) 3 - 0 (vs 151-200) 5 - 0 (vs 201+)

TEAM B = RPI = 57. 18-13 overall. SOS = 14. 1-10 (vs top50) 4-3 (vs 51-100) 5-0 (vs 101-150) 4-0 (vs 151-200) 4-0 (vs 201+)

Keep in mind, team A owns the head to head 2-1
 

SelectionSunday said:
Up to 9 of the 32 NIT bids have been gobbled up by regular-season champions who failed to win their conference tournament.
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Right now vs. Big Ten comp. they are 7-12. If they won the next three they would be 10-12 (22-13) going into the championship game. Would that think put us back on the bubble? I think that would at least put us in the last four in category prior to playing the championship game.[/QUOTE]

Thoughts?

I think we are going to have a hell of a time winning today's game, let alone 2 more after that, but I'm just not convinced we couldn't still make the dance without winning the tourney.
 

I'd take team B. They had a harder conference schedule and won 2 more games in it.
 

sidefx182 said:
I really don't see what NW is a "lock" for the NIT and on the "last 4 out" for the big dance. Look at the #'s, which team do you think should be ahead of the other?


TEAM A = RPI = 86. 19-13 overall. SOS = 42. 4 - 9 (vs top50) 2 - 2 (vs 51-100) 5 - 2 (vs 101-150) 3 - 0 (vs 151-200) 5 - 0 (vs 201+)

TEAM B = RPI = 57. 18-13 overall. SOS = 14. 1-10 (vs top50) 4-3 (vs 51-100) 5-0 (vs 101-150) 4-0 (vs 151-200) 4-0 (vs 201+)

Keep in mind, team A owns the head to head 2-1
Click to expand...

To be fair, according to this: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/team-comparison/NW/MN

Team A is 2-8 (vs top 50), 4-3 (vs 51-100), 3-2 (vs 101-150), 5-0 (vs 151-200), 5-0 (vs 201+)
Team B is 1-10 (vs top 50), 4-3 (vs 51-100), 5-0 (vs 101-150), 4-0 (vs 151-200), 4-0 (vs 201+)

The losses against Iowa make our resume look worse, unfortunately. Though, that doesn't mean either of these teams is tearing it up. Northwestern was a feel-good story that needed some help. Their one saving grace is that they didn't lose to any "bad" teams. We did .. twice.
 


And actually, you could make the case that, more than anything else that happened, those two losses doomed our chances. Flip those to wins, we're in (essentially) the same position as Northwestern yesterday, and that win could've been the clincher.

Ifs and buts ...
 

Yeah, the stats and what not changed this morning. The ones I posted were from last night and look a lot better.

Also, are the Iowa L's really that bad anymore? I mean, they have beat some good teams and are playing hard right now. I wouldn't be at all shocked if they go on an win again today.
 

Lets just say that for us to have post-season expectations versus aspirations...we need to win tonight and Ia needs to win today. Nothing could help us more than IA climbing into top 100 API and making the dance...except us winning out...which is just as unlikely. So I am rooting for IA, IN, MN and OSU (since I hate purdue)...it this plays out, it guarantees that the IA/IN winner helps our RPI or Bad Loss stat and if we beat scUM, then that helps our RPI and good win stat.

We still don't have a chance in hell of making NCAA without winning the BTT no matter what happens...our conference record is too bad (IA losses kill us...even a split would have been huge!)...so I am looking for a home game in NIT as a victory for this team in post season.

Go Gophers!
 

sidefx182 said:
Yeah, the stats and what not changed this morning. The ones I posted were from last night and look a lot better.

Also, are the Iowa L's really that bad anymore? I mean, they have beat some good teams and are playing hard right now. I wouldn't be at all shocked if they go on an win again today.
Click to expand...

I also wonder how the committee would look at a loss to Iowa. Iowa went 4-4 against the RPI top 25, so they've shown the can compete with the best, but their non-conference schedule was none too kind to them. They had a conference RPI of 50 and a non-conference RPI of 253.
 



Iowa would have to make the championship game just to crack the RPI top 100.
 

Back to the original point of the thread. ...

Despite another punch-to-the-gut loss yesterday, I think we'll see the Gophers in the NIT along with Northwestern and (probably) Iowa. It would be very beneficial to this group of players, even moreso since our only senior is unavailable.

Let's cross our fingers that this group gets to play at least 1 more game (probably on the road). Maybe somewhere along the line in the NIT we'll figure out a way to close out a game or 2. I'd prefer this season not end with yesterday as my last impression. ... play so well for such a large stretch against a quality opponent, yet once again in the end find a way to lose. Wouldn't mind getting to see Andre, Austin & EE continue their development, either.
 


The NIT would be a great opportunity for this team to continue it's development. I think it took nearly all season - youth,injuries,etc - for this team to begin to mature and develop some chemistry and it appears they are almost there. As much as I appreciate Ralph's dedication, I'd like to see EE play until he drops. I'll take good defense, good passing, double-digit rebounds (offensive,too!) and a few points from that position anytime.
 



CollegeBBallFan said:
The NIT would be a great opportunity for this team to continue it's development. I think it took nearly all season - youth,injuries,etc - for this team to begin to mature and develop some chemistry and it appears they are almost there. As much as I appreciate Ralph's dedication, I'd like to see EE play until he drops. I'll take good defense, good passing, double-digit rebounds (offensive,too!) and a few points from that position anytime.
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+1
 

Dumb question: Would the Gophers consider playing in the CBI?

FWIW: I pick team A because I like the Gophers.
 


Goldy Gopher said:
Arizona or Colorado will get in the big dance since they play for the Pac 12 Championship, he has them both in so thats another spot.
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Washington might end up in the NIT though.
 

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