Kudos to Gary Barta

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olivecourt

Well-Known Member
How about a thread of appreciation for a guy that everyone ragged on for the last 36 hours? There is no way that the last or second-to-last team in the field gets a home game without a lot of politicking. Preemptively turning down the CBI was probably a big part of that. If I'm the NIT, I take notice when programs/conferences stay away from a rival tournament.

I think the players earned their way in, and weighing Iowa vs. Illinois or Pittsburgh shouldn't have even been a question. But it doesn't hurt to have an AD who knows how to work the right people.
 
I Think he knew the bid was secure and was told so during his talks w/committee. He then said we would not be accepting CBI.
 
Probably had to dish some money to get into the NIT....

He really didn't have to do a lot of politicking to get a home game since Dayton couldn't host the game due to the NCAA tourney.
 
CWooD4 said:
Probably had to dish some money to get into the NIT....

He really didn't have to do a lot of politicking to get a home game since Dayton couldn't host the game due to the NCAA tourney.
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You didn't really think your comment through, did you, cwood4. If Dayton couldn't host a game and they didn't want Iowa to host one they could have just paired the two teams up with other opponents.

You sound like someone who doesn't want to give credit to an AD they don't care for. What other motive would there be when everyone commenting on these boards thought he was blowing it for us to get a post season bid?

I am willing to bet that you would also be the person that doesn't give any credit to an AD that raised money for basketball facilities renovations while the country was going through a deep recession and the Iowa basketball program was in maybe an even deeper valley of its own.

Oh, wait, anyone should have been able to raise that money. He didn't do anything that you couldn't have done if you had his job. It would have been a piece of cake, right?

Now, maybe you aren't that guy, and maybe it is unfair of me to make these comments towards you. But there is someone, probably more than one person, who is thinking just that. But you really don't seem to want to give him credit for having accomplished anything, so I think I have ample reason to point out you might be that guy.

If you aren't then I apologize in advance.
 
Barta getting into the NIT was the greatest thing ever Accomplished in Iowa athletics, and if he would of passed on CBI it would of been the worst thing. This totally makes up for the Lickliter hirer, but if Ferentz ever leaves we still don't want him to make the hire.
 
Props to Barta and to McCaffrey. I highly doubt Iowa bribed their way into the NIT based on what CM Newton said on ESPN regarding the selection process being very similar to the NCAA. Iowa is a great story and will sell some tickets (maybe the U guaranteed $X in ticket sales. Iowa has a winning record, beat 4 top 25 teams and yes, IL fired Weber and declined. Probably a perfect storm for Iowa.
 
As the Illini AD Thomas made clear, they would and could not decline an invite since it is part of the deal as an NCAA team,invited to an NCAA tourny. Now, I do think that the Illini players voting to opt out might have helped grease the wheels for no invitation from the NIT. Bottom line, NIT did not invite the Illini or they would be participating.

As for Barta, I did express concern about the ''damage the brand'' concept because I opined that his hire of Lick damaged the brand far more than any tourny. Also was concerned that Fran and him might not be on the same page with Fran indicating that he was up for any tourny in the past.

OK, Gary redeemed himself with this invite to the NIT. He used his only mulligan on the Lick hire,and redeemed himself with the Fran hire. Kudos to him,job well done.
 
I never thought it was Barta saying no, but the big ten. When they say "brand" they mean dollars and NIT games are carried on ESPN (a friend of the big ten) and CBI games are on HD Net.

Agree with JHHAWK that simply having Lickliter sitting on the bench with his head in his hands night after night damaged the brand far more than any postseason tournament could.
 
hawkIhoops said:
Props to Barta and to McCaffrey. I highly doubt Iowa bribed their way into the NIT based on what CM Newton said on ESPN regarding the selection process being very similar to the NCAA. Iowa is a great story and will sell some tickets (maybe the U guaranteed $X in ticket sales. Iowa has a winning record, beat 4 top 25 teams and yes, IL fired Weber and declined. Probably a perfect storm for Iowa.
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Thing is, in reality, at 15 per seat and some at 5, the avg ticket price will be around 12. 10000 seats equals only 120k. Add in concession sales of maybe avg of maybe 6-10 per, call it 8, you get a total gross of $200,000. Not much left when you take out expenses.

Not saying you were saying they may be paying some coin to get the bid, but some others have. Bottom line is the tv revenue to espn from sponsors, and they just want enthusiastic bodies in the seats.
 
I didn't rag on him, I said he was bringing it all on himself though ... if we didn't get an NIT bid, he'd be the one that f'd up
 
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