NIT Bracketology & word on Coach Moser's future

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

Nebraska won big time in the nit last year. Saved hoiberg his job. Just saying.

Nebraska won the Crown last year. It's a post-season tournament Fox created for its schools in the Big Ten, Big East, and I think Big 12. It's at about the same level as the current NIT.

The NIT is a shadow of its former self. It's now owned by the NCAA, and the semifinals and finals are no longer in New York but in Indianapolis. It's a collection of strong midmajors and weak power conference teams.

 

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

Playing in the NIT is like playing in a minor college football game. It's great if you have a solid percentage of your team returning the next season. Otherwise, it amounts to "playing for pride". For OU, it helped once in football and once in basketball. After OU won the National Championship in the 2000 season, Bob Stoops gave credit to sneaking into the Independence Bowl the prior season saying that the extra month of practice and preparation really was a springboard for the next season. As for hoops, 1982 was the big year. It was Billy's second season and they just came off a 9-18 record in his first year. That team surprised many just to make it to the NIT, and proceeded to make it all the way to NYC. They featured four guys who would complement some guy named Wayman Tisdale the following season and went on a glorious 8-year run where they were listed among the national powers.

I don't see much use playing in the NIT this year unless the few guys we have who aren't seniors decide they want to band together and lead next year's team (not happening).

That 1982 NIT run was fun. The year before, Nolan Richardson won it at Tulsa with a bunch of guys he coached in junior college.

With that said, that 1982 OU team would have made a 64 team NCAA bracket.

There is no comparison between that NIT and the current one.

 

[MJSooner]

That 1982 NIT run was fun. The year before, Nolan Richardson won it at Tulsa with a bunch of guys he coached in junior college.

With that said, that 1982 OU team would have made a 64 team NCAA bracket.

There is no comparison between that NIT and the current one.

I remember those days as a kid. And remember that NIT run, and once again in 1991 when Billy got ejected in the CCG.

And to go WAY back, the NIT was once considered more prestigious than the NCAA. That changed when the NCAA began requiring conference champions to play in the NCAA.

But the biggest downfall of the NIT was the expansion of the NCAA. First to 48 teams, then 64 and 68. The NIL and transfer portal almost knocked it out completely. And now, like smaller bowl games, the better teams that might have once played are now opting out.

They did revampit in 2023, and again last year, to make it more competitive with a stronger field of available teams. They have worked in the top power conference teams, and set a minimum NET ranking for mid-major conference champions. Although they did move away from the exclusive MSG location for the semis and CCG, they are going back to MSG next year on an alternating-year basis.

Overall, they're trying. But competition from the Crown Tournament, the expanded NCAA field (and probable future expansion), and the TV interest in both the NCAA men's and women's tournaments have made the NIT a HUGE afterthought. And almost a slap in the face for P4 teams.

Always love to watch an OU basketball game. But don't care one way or the other if we go to the NIT, and it shouldn't be a factor in PM's job status either.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Nebraska won the Crown last year. It's a post-season tournament Fox created for its schools in the Big Ten, Big East, and I think Big 12. It's at about the same level as the current NIT.

The NIT is a shadow of its former self. It's now owned by the NCAA, and the semifinals and finals are no longer in New York but in Indianapolis. It's a collection of strong midmajors and weak power conference teams.

Never even heard of the Crown until this thread

 

[MJSooner]

Never even heard of the Crown until this thread

Conceptualized in 2024 and first played last year with a huge promotion and contract from Fox Sports. Played in Vegas. Played the week between the Elite 8 and the CCG. 16-team tourney over one week with two auto bids from Big XII and B1G. They had 8 of the 16 teams. Teams mostly P4 conference "names". Nebraska beat UCF in CCG.

Interesting concept, and they promote the crap out of it. A lot of TV dollars in this one but I just don't know how it survives with limited attendance. Like 25K TOTAL last year.

 

[Eielson]

Anyone with half a brain knows that Moser’s future has more to do with his buyout than anything. Is the university willing to shell out the five million to get rid of him or do they want to save it? No “strong finish” wipes away the awful taste of this awful season.

Yeah, outside of not wanting to pay the buyout, I can't really see a situation Moser stays outside of winning the SEC tournament. Even then, it makes sense to move on, but hard to imagine firing an NCAA tourney given how far the program has fallen since Sampson left 20 years ago.