Would the NIT be a Disappointing Finish?

ssckelley

ssckelley

Well-Known Member
All the NCAA tournament talk has this forum excited, heck it has me excited. For me growing up through the Lute Olson, Raveling, and Tom Davis years it is great to see Iowa being competitive once again. Coming into this season most of us were wanting to see progress and a lot of us were saying NIT likely but outside chance at NCAA. Here we are 26 games into the season and that is exactly where Iowa sits. We all knew the OOC was soft but understood it was probably best for a young team, now it could potentially cost them a NCAA bid.

But seeing all the NCAA talk I am wondering if we have raised our expectation for this team or are we still going to be alright if we see Iowa on the bubble but end up in the NIT? More than likely Iowa will get to 20 wins, something we have not seen for a while, but I remember seeing previous 20 win teams under Tom Davis get left out of the tournament and this year 21 may not get the job done. This years team has suffered some tough losses, if we flip 1 or 2 of those close games into wins and Iowa is almost a lock for the tournament. That proves Iowa has the talent to play with the top teams but is not experienced enough to finish. To me the basketball program is exactly who we thought they would be, even if they end up in the NIT I am still excited for the future of this program.

How do the rest of you feel?

<No trolling please>
 


If they end up in the NIT, I won't be disapointed. If they were to lose early I would be. If they fall into the NIT, I would expect them to make a run.
 




I would be disappointed, only because it has been sooooooo long since we have been to the Dance. Yet my expectations were for the NIT at the beginning of the year, with an outside hope at the NCAA....which is right where we still stand 26 games in.
 


If they ended up in the NIT and went far in the NIT (perhaps winning it), I would feel pretty good about it. I think this team has improved and has been so close in some tough games against better teams. They really should've swept either Becky Badger or the Goofs. I'm proud of them, and I think they'll carry any momentum forward to next year.
 


If we go 10-8 and win 1 in the BTT I will be disappointed...with the Selection Committee not the team. I will still get pumped up for the NIT games and watch them and enjoy them and expect to win some...possibly the whole thing. We would be very very tough in any home games awarded.

At this time next year I expect to be in the top 4 or 5 in the conference (possibly ranked) and arguing about our potential NCAA seed. I will be disappointed if the NIT is a possibility...would still watch but be disappointed.

Side Note - I think we should go undefeated at home next year...always have to allow for 1 upset though (see Wisconsin at Indiana). I don't know our conference schedule but believe we could win any road game not played in Michigan...assuming Zeller and Oladipo leave for the NBA. I'm not saying we will win them all but that we could win any of those mentioned. Michigan State is my preseason number 1 without a doubt.
 
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I would of course be slightly disappointed that they didn't make the tournament, but that would be only from looking at it in the short term. When I look at the program as a whole, I have been exteremly encouraged by this season. We've seen the team improve immensly on defense and rebounding while losing our best player from last year and playing three freshman major minutes. I see no reason not to expect an upper division B10 finish next year and to be back in the top 25 at some point in the season.
 






hmmmm, I have not given any thought to any kind of run Iowa would need to make in the NIT. More than likely Iowa will get at least 1 home game, probably 2. I remember a team back in the 90s that had 2 NBA players on it (Ricky Davis and Ryan Bowen) that lost at home in the first round. But I remember how disappointed everyone was to be in the NIT, hardly anyone went to the game (the team did not show up). I would hope this years team would play in the NIT with a chip on their shoulder if they got left out of the NCAA.
 


I would be disappointed if we don't make the NCAA tourney. I think you are supposed to be disappointed when your team does not make the tourney. I wont be upset with Fran or the players, but an NIT birth should always be disappointing.
 




BrotherHawkeye2 said:
I don't think so. The NIT is gaining lots of prestige... I think it'll soon overtake the NCAA for most prestigious postseason tourney
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I don't think the NIT is gaining any prestige, but I wouldn't be disappointed. If they didn't even make the NIT then yes I would be extremely disappointed. However, if they don't make the NCAA tourney next season and end up in the NIT for the 3rd straight year, then I might be disappointed.
 


sioux34 said:
I would be disappointed if we don't make the NCAA tourney. I think you are supposed to be disappointed when your team does not make the tourney. I wont be upset with Fran or the players, but an NIT birth should always be disappointing.
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I get that and I would be to but that is not what I am after here, perhaps I did not ask it in the right way. Basically if Iowa ends up in the NIT do you still see progress or are your expectations to high now that it is NCAA or bust?
 








ssckelley said:
I asked for no trolling in this thread.
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ssckelley said:
hmmmm, I have not given any thought to any kind of run Iowa would need to make in the NIT. More than likely Iowa will get at least 1 home game, probably 2. I remember a team back in the 90s that had 2 NBA players on it (Ricky Davis and Ryan Bowen) that lost at home in the first round. But I remember how disappointed everyone was to be in the NIT, hardly anyone went to the game (the team did not show up). I would hope this years team would play in the NIT with a chip on their shoulder if they got left out of the NCAA.
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But only a few years before that a team with Settles, Kingsbury and Woolridge went on a run in the NIT and the team and fans both showed up for that. Winning in the NIT has a lot to do with who wants to be there, if you're a senior laden team that is used to playing in the NCAA's and you make the NIT, you probably aren't going to be real excited. If you're a young team like Iowa and it's obvious you're on your way up then I think the NIT is a great opportunity. I know we made the NIT last year too, but we barely snuck in, going from that to a 1 or 2 seed in the NIT shows continued growth in the program, plus going on a run to MSG would be fun too.
 




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