Maybe the Crown is the canary in the coal mine. The DOA Crown is a warning that the system is eating itself alive.
I am not certain the point you are making.
Most teams in years past would play in the NIT if invited. Most would even hang a banner for it in their gym.
Back in the days when the player-employees were chattel told what to do by their employer. And then, coaches salaries went up and up and up. And more assistant coaches and more administrators. And then the CBI tournament. And yet more television.
I would've played basketball for a free education. The Big Ten teams started paying stipends, too, so don't pretend that there was never any reform. It beats digging ditches over the summer. There are professional basketball leagues for those not interested in the free education.
I always hated this argument of I’d play for the free college. People said that to me many decades ago. My response was “Then why didn’t you” ? It really easy to say this and I am sure it’s true of most students. I would have loved to replace Bill Wyman on bass for the Rolling Stones and would have done it for expenses. Thing is no one ever wanted to see me up on stage with Mick and Keith.
For many they used success in the NIT to jumpstart their following year, I can think of a few champions that did well the next year in the Dance. There was some status to it but when you then add Crown it makes everything but the dance somewhat irrelevant. To think that the NIT was once the BIg Dog.
