Xavier snubbed from NIT

[xman]

Kinda sucks but oh well. Hopefully we get confirmation on the Big East soon.

1.The NIT selection committee snubbed Xavier despite quality the Musketeers' wins over Temple, Butler, La Salle, Memphis and Saint Louis. Xavier coach Chris Mack and outgoing athletic director Mike Bobinski were expecting to get an NIT bid. When one didn’t come Sunday night they both agreed not to pursue the CBI. So, Xavier’s season is over and likely its longtime history in the A-10 has come to a close as well. The Musketeers are expected to be announced, according to multiple sources, with Butler and Creighton, as a member of the new Big East later this week.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... s-nit-snub

[Hoops]

Since selection is done, and I realize the CBI is not the popular tournament I contend it has merit and value especially if a team is younger. The extended season for the younger players is the main beneift from the CBI who'd otherwise be done and packing it up for the season and putting the independant conditioning programs together. For a senior dominated team, not so much value as the older kids just want it over since they are not coming back but the older kids can be valuable by pushing the younger players at this time.

A few years ago during the first year after Oregon had hired long-time CU Coach Dana Altman and CU had just replaced him by hiring Gregg McDermott, both teams played in the CBI. Both teams were young and had new coaches, and it the extended seasons for both. Ironically, CU and Oregon ended up playing each other in a 3 game championship series but not so ironic, both teams were much improved the following year and even now afterwards.

So not arguing the prestige, money or recognition of not being in the other tournaments, afterall its everyone's goal to get there, but rather the value this type of tourney has to extend the season for a young team and the future benefits it can bring in many ways is pretty solid, as i have seen.

[DeltaV]

Anyone know where to get tickets for NIT games? I wouldn't mind trying to check out St Joes St Johns, but I can't find info anywhere...

[Hoops]

Early round NIT games are typically at the local venues to the highest seed (if the venue's available). Tickets are sold by each institution and the ticket office.. probably also a ticketmaster or stub-hub.

The final four of the post-season NIT is in MSG (of course..)

Looks as though St Joe's at Home against St Johns the game is played at Hagen 7pm est Tuesday.