Would Minnesota accept an NIT bid?

Donate To GopherHole
G

Gopherfan1000

Active member
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
200
Reaction score
137
Points
43
Frankly, they have work to do to be considered for the NIT, but let's say they finish at .500 or one game above. Hypothetically, that would get them a spot in the NIT. Would the team even accept? I'd figure Oturu would opt not to play. I wouldn't be all that excited to watch, but it might be okay to watch the Freshman get a chance to play in the Postseason....
 






Yes. However, if the intention of Coyle is to fire Pitino, then I would do it right after the BTT and let an assistant coach the team in the NIT. I want to know the direction of the program two Sundays from now. If it is Pitino fine, if not let's get on with finding the next guy.
 

Would be great chance to play our freshman. Were not at the level of were too good to accept an NIT bid.
 

bga1 said:
Yes. However, if the intention of Coyle is to fire Pitino, then I would do it right after the BTT and let an assistant coach the team in the NIT. I want to know the direction of the program two Sundays from now. If it is Pitino fine, if not let's get on with finding the next guy.
Click to expand...

This is why I posted this. Assuming if they fire Pitino at that timeframe. Would the team just pack it in for next year...I would also be enthused to watch the Freshman play as some have also pointed out. It would be great experience for them to learn.
 

Gopherfan1000 said:
This is why I posted this. Assuming if they fire Pitino at that timeframe. Would the team just pack it in for next year...I would also be enthused to watch the Freshman play as some have also pointed out. It would be great experience for them to learn.
Click to expand...

I believe teams have gone to the NIT without their former head coaches before. Certainly this practice is common in football where head coaches accept offers from another school, leave, and assistants take over those duties for the bowl game. About 6 or 7 years ago, Illinois and UCLA met in a bowl game and both had fired their head coaches after the regular season. One publication touted the bowl game as "a matchup between the mediocre and uncoached."
 



The gophers are in position for an NIT bid. You no longer have to be above .500 to qualify so if they beat Nebraska I'd think they get a bid. Agree that you let Pitino go after the BTT. This is coming up quick, tournament already next weekend.
 

bga1 said:
Yes. However, if the intention of Coyle is to fire Pitino, then I would do it right after the BTT and let an assistant coach the team in the NIT. I want to know the direction of the program two Sundays from now. If it is Pitino fine, if not let's get on with finding the next guy.
Click to expand...
Agreed. What Nebraska did to Tim Miles last year was not cool. "Go coach the NIT, we'll be in Lincoln interviewing your replacement."
 

If we're .500 or above accept a bid. If we're below, turn it down.
 





Bad Gopher said:
Why does this get asked all the time? Of course we would.
Click to expand...

Because there are some people who still believe that going to the NIT isn't manly enough and express that opinion frequently enough to give the impression that accepting a bid isn't a no brainer.
 

skiumah1 said:
The gophers are in position for an NIT bid. You no longer have to be above .500 to qualify so if they beat Nebraska I'd think they get a bid. Agree that you let Pitino go after the BTT. This is coming up quick, tournament already next weekend.
Click to expand...

I have never seen a team make the NIT with a sub-.500 record and I have seen only a couple make it with a .500 record. If we finished the season 15-15 and went 2-1 in the Big Ten tournament I guess there is a reasonable chance. A not-so-great Iowa team made it with a 17-16 record in 2012.
 


Minnesota is the best program in the NIT over the past 27 years. 3* titles and and a title game loss.

Of course the Gophers are going, and of course they would be invited.
 




cjbfbp said:
I have never seen a team make the NIT with a sub-.500 record and I have seen only a couple make it with a .500 record. If we finished the season 15-15 and went 2-1 in the Big Ten tournament I guess there is a reasonable chance. A not-so-great Iowa team made it with a 17-16 record in 2012.
Click to expand...
I'm fine with sittin it out this year ha
 

cjbfbp said:
I have never seen a team make the NIT with a sub-.500 record and I have seen only a couple make it with a .500 record. If we finished the season 15-15 and went 2-1 in the Big Ten tournament I guess there is a reasonable chance. A not-so-great Iowa team made it with a 17-16 record in 2012.
Click to expand...

And, they're now 13-16. They'd need to beat NEB (which should happen) and at least win 2 in the BTT. Probably 3 because we'll open with NW. This team is defeated. I am now on board with sitting it out. Canning Pitino and starting over.
 


Gopherfan1000 said:
And, they're now 13-16. They'd need to beat NEB (which should happen) and at least win 2 in the BTT. Probably 3 because we'll open with NW. This team is defeated. I am now on board with sitting it out. Canning Pitino and starting over.
Click to expand...
We'd need to win 4 to end up .500. I don't see that happening. If we are below .500 they should not invite us and if they do, we should decline.
 

cjbfbp said:
Because there are some people who still believe that going to the NIT isn't manly enough and express that opinion frequently enough to give the impression that accepting a bid isn't a no brainer.
Click to expand...
I have no issue with going to the NIT. But if you are a Power 6 team and not above .500 you should not play in the post-season. Period. It's more pathetic than going to a Bowl Game at 5-7.
 

There's no reason to not accept the NIT bid. They would win the whole damn thing, easy.
 

howeda7 said:
I have no issue with going to the NIT. But if you are a Power 6 team and not above .500 you should not play in the post-season. Period. It's more pathetic than going to a Bowl Game at 5-7.
Click to expand...

I agree with that but I don't believe they would be offered an NIT slot if they don't finish at least .500 and likely not if they don't finish above .500. So, unless they beat Nebraska and go 3-1 in the Big Ten tournament the question of whether they would accept an NIT bid probably is a moot one.
 


RogueGopher said:
There's no reason to not accept the NIT bid. They would win the whole damn thing, easy.
Click to expand...

I don't agree with that. I think they'd be lucky to win 2 games in that tournament. We played 4 possible NIT teams (Clemson, OK, OK St., and Utah) in nonconference and another team that likely isn't (DePaul) and we went 2-3 in those games.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom