Yes, we heard about the NCAA Transformation Committee’s recommendations. Yes, we heard they want one quarter of Division I teams to make each sport’s NCAA-preferred national postseason tournament. No, we’re unbothered. The NIT remains strong.
First of all, this is a recommendation. This committee has no power to enact change. Secondly, this recommendation reportedly includes some caveating about finding the best fit for each sport. (Again, the best fit as the NCAA sees it—not the best fit in the eyes of God. If it were the latter, we would be an NIT nation, and it is important we remember that.) Thirdly, the NCA* *********t was going to expand anyway? It always expands. That’s what it’s done throughout its history. That’s the entire problem. It expanded from zero teams to eight teams, and it hasn’t stopped since, fueled by a scheme in which the NCAA somehow convinces advertisers to pay CBS (and TruTV, if TruTV gets to have its own bank account) for commercial time during events we can only hope nobody watches.
Even if the NCA* *********t does rapidly, dramatically expand, it’s only strengthening our arguments. If 32 is better than 68, 32’s a hell of a lot better than 90, and if these idiots say the NIT’s so undesirable, why would the NCAA try to take all the NIT’s at-large bid teams and make them its own? Most importantly, the essence of the NIT would be unaffected. It would still, as it’s been since the beginning of recorded history, be one hell of a basketball tournament. (It would also—thank you Derek for pointing this out, I’m sorry your Albuquerque trip got messed up but I hope it was still great—make it even harder to make the near-impossible-to-qualify-for NIT, especially if the unwritten .500 rule persists.)
Should Purdue Try Something Different?
Purdue lost to Rutgers last night by one possession while undefeated and ranked first in the country by the deluded Associated Press. It’s the second time this has happened in the last two years, but this time, it happened at home, making it even worse. Next year, the loss will come by half a point, and it will be on Matt Painter’s driveway. After that, we can only imagine how embarrassing the tradition will become. Will they play basketball in Robbie Hummel’s underpants? If they do, remember us.
The only solution here, if you’re Purdue and you see where this all is going, is to change your direction as a program. For decades, Purdue has tried to win the NCA* *********t, failing every single time. Maybe try to win the NIT more? You’ve already won it once.
Purdue, most famously, put a man on the moon. Purdue, second-most famously, has a lot of dudes who go there and not a lot of girls, meaning there’s probably a lot of free time spent in dorky ways. Purdue, third-most famously, is harboring the most terrifying mascot who ever lived. Purdue, fourth-most famously, has frozen in-state tuition for ten straight years.
You’re telling me these guys can’t figure out how to optimize their basketball program to win a bunch of NIT’s?
I know it’s hard being Purdue. IU has a cool reputation and Purdue does not. But the one thing Purdue has hanging over IU is that right now, the Indiana Hoosiers are routinely disappointing at basketball, and they have been for about twenty years. Would winning the NIT over and over again rub that in? Yes! Not because IU particularly cares about the NIT, but because IU would be beyond frustrated to see Purdue reveling in what it considers success.
Think about it, President Daniels. I gave you the tuition shout-out, after all.
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Our evening itinerary:
7:00 PM EST: Nebraska @ Michigan State (BTN)
High-powered Game of the NITe toNITe. Michigan State’s probably safe from us, because Tom Izzo has one of those agreements with the NCAA that says that if they try to send him to the NIT he’ll release the tapes of everything they let him get away with (you know someone had to inherit the Coach K Death Pact), but Nebraska’s always a lot of fun, and the least they can do is make Sparty squirm.
6:30 PM EST: Marquette @ St. John’s (FS1)
9:00 PM EST: Kansas State @ Texas (LHN)
No new news about Chris Beard. Texas’s home conference opener is tonight. The vibes seem bad, but more quiet than anything. I also haven’t been to the post office in a couple weeks, so I haven’t gotten the best pulse on the fanbase.
7:00 PM EST: Notre Dame @ Boston College (ACCN)
8:00 PM EST: LSU @ Kentucky (ESPN)
8:30 PM EST: Seton Hall @ Creighton (FS1)
9:00 PM EST: Virginia @ Pitt (ACCN)
9:00 PM EST: Utah State @ Air Force (CBSSN)
9:00 PM EST: Mississippi @ Alabama (SECN)
11:00 PM EST: New Mexico @ Fresno State (CBSSN)
Whole lot of NIT action here, featuring eight teams of interest to people like us. Also, one service academy. And Fresno State, which is kind of a service academy? Not military service. Just the service of keeping the name of Fresno present in occasional public conversation.
7:00 PM EST: Blue Jackets @ Senators (ESPN+)
The Sens make it a winning streak tonight, and they do it against a team I affectionately like to call the Poo Jackets because of that one time I ate all that fiber, turned my butt into a textile mill, and made those losers not only sew themselves formalwear out of my excrement but then wear it out to dinner. They were kicked out of the Wendy’s. It was the biggest scandal in the history of the city of Columbus.
One question I have about the Senators, on a less serious note, is whether special teams stuff (which is what I’m getting the idea the power play and penalty kill are called) is sustainable or fluky. Because the Sens are great on special teams stuff.
Forsberg in net. Jackets in poo. Go Sens.
