what do you think?

[nikebasketball]

I know not making the NCAA is usually a failure on the season but with the young team we will have next year,the NIT would be better then no post season at all if we miss the NCAA.It will get our young team a few more games that will benefit our young players for there GREAT years in 2015 and 2016.i know Buddy Hornbeak cousins Spangler all have played in the NCAA tourney before but the NIT would just give them more experience. I hope we make the NCAA again though!!

 

[CoachTalk]

Yeah. If you miss the NCAA's. NIT is next best, CBI, CIT...

But since school just got out for the players. Lets still think NCAA TOP 68 team...

Hard work pays off.

 

[nikebasketball]

Yeah. If you miss the NCAA's. NIT is next best, CBI, CIT...

But since school just got out for the players. Lets still think NCAA TOP 68 team...

Hard work pays off.

Hard work does pay off coach!! and yes i believe any kind of post season will be good for our young tem but some of our posters would us rather go home and not play in the NIT CBI if we miss the NCAA

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Over 30 years, Billy and Kelvin built a winning tradition. Obviously, neither Billy nor Kelvin made the Big Dance 100% of the time, but they established the foundation whereby the OU basketball program should have the expectation of making the NCAA tournament every year. Given the youthful guards and the large number of new and untested bigs, that expectation may be a stretch in 2013-14; however, if the current coaching staff is as good as I think it is, then it is doable.

If the 2013-14 season ends in a trip to the NIT, then that does not necessarily make it a "failure." Certainly it would be a disappointment. For me, the keys to success will be:

> Do individual players show continuous improvement through the course of the season?
> Does the team show continuous improvement on offense and defense through the season?
> Does the team play hard and compete with extreme effort?

There are only two seniors on this team (Cam Clark and Tyler Neal), so almost everyone will be back. At this time next year (May 2014), I want to be able to have legitimate optimism that OU will once again be a Top-25 team in 2014-15, and beyond. I want to have legitimate reasons to be excited that the sophomore class of Buddy, Hornbeak, Cousins and Spangler still have two years left to play, and that Woodard and Booker have three. I want to be happy about the players in the recruiting pipeline. In other words, in May 2014 I want to KNOW that the Sooners will be in the Big Dance at the end of the 2014-15 season. If that includes a deep run in the 2013-14 NIT, then so be it.

 

[nikebasketball]

Over 30 years, Billy and Kelvin built a winning tradition. Obviously, neither Billy nor Kelvin made the Big Dance 100% of the time, but they established the foundation whereby the OU basketball program should have the expectation of making the NCAA tournament every year. Given the youthful guards and the large number of new and untested bigs, that expectation may be a stretch in 2013-14; however, if the current coaching staff is as good as I think it is, then it is doable.

If the 2013-14 season ends in a trip to the NIT, then that does not necessarily make it a "failure." Certainly it would be a disappointment. For me, the keys to success will be:

> Do individual players show continuous improvement through the course of the season?
> Does the team show continuous improvement on offense and defense through the season?
> Does the team play hard and compete with extreme effort?

There are only two seniors on this team (Cam Clark and Tyler Neal), so almost everyone will be back. At this time next year (May 2014), I want to be able to have legitimate optimism that OU will once again be a Top-25 team in 2014-15, and beyond. I want to have legitimate reasons to be excited that the sophomore class of Buddy, Hornbeak, Cousins and Spangler still have two years left to play, and that Woodard and Booker have three. I want to be happy about the players in the recruiting pipeline. In other words, in May 2014 I want to KNOW that the Sooners will be in the Big Dance at the end of the 2014-15 season. If that includes a deep run in the 2013-14 NIT, then so be it.

i think we will be a top 25 team in 2015

 

[hoopsaustin]

anytime we dont make the NCAA's its a failure.

 

[nikebasketball]

anytime we dont make the NCAA's its a failure.

It might be a failure but not this year our young team needs all the games they can get!!!

 

[garyeb2]

It might be a failure but not this year our young team needs all the games they can get!!!

Over the next 10 months our players will have participated in countless hours of conditioning workouts, skill drills, and formal practices. They will play at least a half dozen exhibition games. Most of them against international competition. They will have played in at least 12 non-conference and 18 conference games. Then they will participate in the Big 12 tourney.

At the end of all that, they will no longer be a young team. They will be a seasoned and experienced team. They will return the next year almost intact. Tacking on a few meaningless exhibition games at the end of a long grind can't possibly have any useful function.

The NIT is a property of the NCAA. It is a made for TV event. It is for the benefit of the NCAA, a handful of coaches that can pickup a little change by hitting the post season bonus clause in their contracts, and may or may not produce a little income for the participating institutions.

OU is not ORU or Tulsa. For schools like them and others that have slim shots at the NCAA every year, the NIT could be a bit of a bump. For OU, going to the NIT is akin to the youth league soccer mentality of rewarding underachievement.

 

[nikebasketball]

Over the next 10 months our players will have participated in countless hours of conditioning workouts, skill drills, and formal practices. They will play at least a half dozen exhibition games. Most of them against international competition. They will have played in at least 12 non-conference and 18 conference games. Then they will participate in the Big 12 tourney.

At the end of all that, they will no longer be a young team. They will be a seasoned and experienced team. They will return the next year almost intact. Tacking on a few meaningless exhibition games at the end of a long grind can't possibly have any useful function.

The NIT is a property of the NCAA. It is a made for TV event. It is for the benefit of the NCAA, a handful of coaches that can pickup a little change by hitting the post season bonus clause in their contracts, and may or may not produce a little income for the participating institutions.

OU is not ORU or Tulsa. For schools like them and others that have slim shots at the NCAA every year, the NIT could be a bit of a bump. For OU, going to the NIT is akin to the youth league soccer mentality of rewarding underachievement.

SO If we finish 17 and 13 miss the ncaa you wouldnt want us to take the nit games?

 

[garyeb2]

SO If we finish 17 and 13 miss the ncaa you wouldnt want us to take the nit games?

As a fan, I like to watch may team play. I would see every minute of every game and root for them to win. It is no skin off my nose if Kruger picks up a little bonus money. The institution could probably use a little extra TV money.

I don't get a vote. But, if I did, how could I be more clear. No. The NIT serves no useful purpose for the players or the prospects for the team going forward. The teams participation in the NIT is for the benefit of others.

It is one thing if a team with tourney expectations suffers consequences out of their control. Something like injuries or unexpected defections could derail a promising season. In situations like that, the NIT for OU might be appropriate. Going to the NIT for no other reason than we weren't good enough to make the NCAA is a really bad idea.

How can you possibly be in favor of setting the bar low? When has that ever worked out? Low expectations were the culprit in this last seasons late tailspin. We had a group of seniors that thought 20 wins was good enough and if not the NCAA, the NIT was good enough. Two different reporters wrote about it and Grooms said it in an interview.

I'm an Okie. But, this dust bowl mentality wears me out. This coming season, more than any in recent memory, would be the perfect time for Kruger to tell the team, No NIT. It will have to be the NCAA or nothing. This it is OK to lose mindset has gone on too long.

 

[WTSooner]

I'll leave it up to LK.

There are some scenarios with next season where some NIT games might be beneficial. There are also some scenarios with next season where the NIT might not be helpful at all, and an end to the season might be best.

I trust that between Joe C., LK, and possibly the team itself, the right decision will be reached. There is no singular right/wrong answer.

 

[nikebasketball]

As a fan, I like to watch may team play. I would see every minute of every game and root for them to win. It is no skin off my nose if Kruger picks up a little bonus money. The institution could probably use a little extra TV money.

I don't get a vote. But, if I did, how could I be more clear. No. The NIT serves no useful purpose for the players or the prospects for the team going forward. The teams participation in the NIT is for the benefit of others.

It is one thing if a team with tourney expectations suffers consequences out of their control. Something like injuries or unexpected defections could derail a promising season. In situations like that, the NIT for OU might be appropriate. Going to the NIT for no other reason than we weren't good enough to make the NCAA is a really bad idea.

How can you possibly be in favor of setting the bar low? When has that ever worked out? Low expectations were the culprit in this last seasons late tailspin. We had a group of seniors that thought 20 wins was good enough and if not the NCAA, the NIT was good enough. Two different reporters wrote about it and Grooms said it in an interview.

I'm an Okie. But, this dust bowl mentality wears me out. This coming season, more than any in recent memory, would be the perfect time for Kruger to tell the team, No NIT. It will have to be the NCAA or nothing. This it is OK to lose mindset has gone on too long.

i disagree in 2007 capels first year we went 16-15 barley nissed the nit krugers first year 2012 15-16 barley missed it again I wan to make NCAA every year but NIT is better then nunthing

 

[garyeb2]

i disagree in 2007 capels first year we went 16-15 barley nissed the nit krugers first year 2012 15-16 barley missed it again I wan to make NCAA every year but NIT is better then nunthing

You disagree? Fine, it is a free country.

 

[bocabull]

There is no more meaningless "accomplishment" than a program like OU "making" the NCAA tournament and getting thumped in the 1st round.

I would much rather make a run in the NIT like we did with Brent Price. Turning down a bid to the NIT would be idiotic.

 

[garyeb2]

There is no more meaningless "accomplishment" than a program like OU "making" the NCAA tournament and getting thumped in the 1st round.

I would much rather make a run in the NIT like we did with Brent Price. Turning down a bid to the NIT would be idiotic.

One half of them teams that make the NCAA tournament lose in the 1st round. They accomplished more than any team that doesn't make the tournament.

Wanting to be the tallest midget instead of a short giant is more dust bowl mentality. To think otherwise, would of course, be idiotic.

Take Baylor for example. In order to put themselves in a position to make their nice NIT run, they had to have a miserable regular season. They couldn't beat anyone good and lost to OU twice. As an OU fan would you like to trade Baylor's entire season for ours. Does anyone really think what Baylor did in the NIT in any way compensates or makes up for their 4 month long mediocre season.

To qualify for the NIT a team must establish themselves to be mediocre in every way. Once that fact has been established, there is nothing a team can do to make up for or change it.

 

[WTSooner]

There is no more meaningless "accomplishment" than a program like OU "making" the NCAA tournament and getting thumped in the 1st round.

I would much rather make a run in the NIT like we did with Brent Price. Turning down a bid to the NIT would be idiotic.

That is crazy talk.

 

[bocabull]

OU accomplished nothing last season. It looked like we were going to and we fell flat our our face.

Baylor at least won something. Yes, I would absolutely rather win the NIT than get stomped in the first round of the NCAA.

Kruger is a top 15 paid coach. If he doesn't get out of the first round most every season and to the sweet 16 every other season OU got a bad deal.

 

[garyeb2]

OU accomplished nothing last season. It looked like we were going to and we fell flat our our face.

Baylor at least won something. Yes, I would absolutely rather win the NIT than get stomped in the first round of the NCAA.

Kruger is a top 15 paid coach. If he doesn't get out of the first round most every season and to the sweet 16 every other season OU got a bad deal.

So, the coach's salary and where it ranks is the dominate factor in deciding the fate and finish of the team. If that is true, let's give Kruger a big raise and be national champs.

 

[WTSooner]

If getting bounced in the 1st round is a bad season, OU has had A LOT of bad seasons, and we aren't nearly the program that a) our fans think we are, and b) most outside sources that ranked us as a top 10-15 program think we are.

 

[garyeb2]

If Kruger comes up with a mediocre team one of these years and wants to take them to the NIT. It will certainly be OK with me. I'll watch every game and hope that they put on a good show. But, I'll still be embarrassed for them.