new postseason tourney

[Secho99]

Since we're fading from the NIT picture, I think the new Vegas 16 tournament might be an interesting possibility for us in the postseason. Instead of a hosting format, it's a 16-team tournament held entirely in Vegas (at Mandalay Bay) over a 5-day period in late March. All games from the quarterfinals on will be on CBS Sports Network. Sounds like it wouldn't cost the school much and would give fans a reason to go to Vegas for a few days. I think it sounds like a way better option than the CBI, and it's reasonable to think we'd get an invite.

What do folks here think?

 

[NJCat83588]

Since we're fading from the NIT picture, I think the new Vegas 16 tournament might be an interesting possibility for us in the postseason. Instead of a hosting format, it's a 16-team tournament held entirely in Vegas (at Mandalay Bay) over a 5-day period in late March. All games from the quarterfinals on will be on CBS Sports Network. Sounds like it wouldn't cost the school much and would give fans a reason to go to Vegas for a few days. I think it sounds like a way better option than the CBI, and it's reasonable to think we'd get an invite.

What do folks here think?

Why not? Assuming the team is healthy enough, would be a nice vacation for the kids.

 

[Catreporter]

Why not? Assuming the team is healthy enough, would be a nice vacation for the kids.

I'm all for it and the timing is perfect because it would come after exam week, I believe, and during the spring break.

 

[julescat]

Bottom Feeders Invitational?

 

[Gladeskat]

How about the Profundal Invitational?

We're playing in a zone right now! The Profundal zone.

 

[lunker35]

Are there any tourneys out there where the games are 30 minutes? We would demolish everyone.

 

[CappyNU]

Are there any tourneys out there where the games are 30 minutes? We would demolish everyone.

If games were 30 minutes long, our B1G record this season would be 4-10-1...

 

[Noah121]

If games were 30 minutes long, our B1G record this season would be 4-10-1...

The women, on the other hand, would have a significantly better record with 30 minute games.

 

[olshin]

Since we're fading from the NIT picture, I think the new Vegas 16 tournament might be an interesting possibility for us in the postseason. Instead of a hosting format, it's a 16-team tournament held entirely in Vegas (at Mandalay Bay) over a 5-day period in late March. All games from the quarterfinals on will be on CBS Sports Network. Sounds like it wouldn't cost the school much and would give fans a reason to go to Vegas for a few days. I think it sounds like a way better option than the CBI, and it's reasonable to think we'd get an invite.

What do folks here think?

I don't see how the CBI will survive? I would have to think this gets the best teams that don't make the NIT. I think it's a fascinating format -- basically a bowl week for mediocre college basketball. If we don't make the NIT, I'd hope Phillips pushes very hard for this actually. It just seems fun with 2 extra weeks of practice time.

 

[Bradleywildcatsfan]

I don't see how the CBI will survive? I would have to think this gets the best teams that don't make the NIT. I think it's a fascinating format -- basically a bowl week for mediocre college basketball. If we don't make the NIT, I'd hope Phillips pushes very hard for this actually. It just seems fun with 2 extra weeks of practice time.

The fact that there is little if any cost for this tournament (plus the locale) might make this the true "best of the rest" tournament after the NIT. The problem with the CBI is too many teams skip this because they don't want to reward their team with a mediocre season, and the $60,000 buy in to even have a chance to host some games. And with the CIT (which Northwestern would not be eligible for anyway since it's a mid-major only tournament), you basically get some decent but not great low and mid-major teams whose average RPI is about 180 or so. Perhaps if they made this a mandatory tournament like the NIT, this would get even more creditability.

But why get ahead of ourselves yet. I still don't think the NIT is out of the question for Northwestern, but it has to start with a win Thursday night in Happy Valley. Then we can worry about getting to that 20th win Sunday as a possible NIT clincher.

 

[olshin]

The fact that there is little if any cost for this tournament (plus the locale) might make this the true "best of the rest" tournament after the NIT. The problem with the CBI is too many teams skip this because they don't want to reward their team with a mediocre season, and the $60,000 buy in to even have a chance to host some games. And with the CIT (which Northwestern would not be eligible for anyway since it's a mid-major only tournament), you basically get some decent but not great low and mid-major teams whose average RPI is about 180 or so. Perhaps if they made this a mandatory tournament like the NIT, this would get even more creditability.

But why get ahead of ourselves yet. I still don't think the NIT is out of the question for Northwestern, but it has to start with a win Thursday night in Happy Valley. Then we can worry about getting to that 20th win Sunday as a possible NIT clincher.

Agreed -- I think the NIT is definitely realistic if we play well.
I was just saying I would push for the Vegas Tournament over the CBI -- if it ever came to that, any year.