We’re going to start trying a different kind of blog post on these days when we don’t have time to do full Notes. Joe’s calling his Three Thoughts. I’m calling mine Three Things. We’re hoping these solve all of our problems, in content consistency and in life.
1. The WBIT vs. the WNIT
I went to the WBIT semifinals yesterday. I had a great time. How could I not, given they were at Hinkle Fieldhouse? They were delightful. But I feel guilty. Because the WNIT is awesome.
The WNIT, for those unfamiliar, has managed to thrive even as the NIT has come under ever greater cultural assault. How does it do this? Partly by being distinctive: It has a Super Sixteen and a Great Eight and a Fab Four. I’m not sure that Fab beats Final, but Super is way better than Sweet, and Great definitely eclipses Elite. The other thing the WNIT does is hold its championship on one team’s home court. It’s a home court competition, all the way through. This usually results in a great crowd for the championship.
I don’t think the NIT should copy either of these trends, to be clear. They’re WNIT things. They’re perfect for the WNIT. The WNIT is perfect. The NIT is perfect in a different way.
Now, though, there’s a WBIT. After Sedona Prince posted that TikTok in 2021 showing what the NCAA was calling a “weight room” during the NCAA Tournament, the NCAA launched an evaluation of how it was treating men’s and women’s basketball. One thing that evaluation found was that having an NIT but not a women’s NIT was an unequal way to approach the situation. Of course, the NCAA didn’t create the NIT, but the NCAA does run it. Of course, the WNIT already existed, but the NCAA didn’t run it. I can see the logic? In pieces, it adds up. Overall, it makes no sense at all. A healthy WNIT existed, and the “equal” thing to do was to create a competitor? As a buddy said when I explained this to him a few weeks ago, this is what a sitcom husband would do to try to make up for forgetting his wife’s birthday.
If the WBIT and the WNIT both survive and thrive, then this is great. 16 more teams will get quality postseason competition (there were 64 WNIT teams but there are now 48; the WBIT is 32 teams large; there are now 80 teams in the tournaments combined instead of 64). If they don’t, though, this is going to be sad. Which is part of why I’ve been hesitant to fully embrace the WBIT. If ever forced to choose, I’m a WNIT guy.
Update, 11:13 PM: I forgot that the WNIT was pay-to-play. Careless of me. I apologize. That makes the WBIT make more sense from an equity perspective. Happy to have both around.
2. I Was Cheering for Kim Mulkey
After much discernment yesterday (I got a lot done while watching the WBIT), I decided I wanted Kim Mulkey to beat Caitlin Clark last night. My takeaway from the Washington Post’s profile* of Mulkey was that she’s incapable of happiness, and while I’m realizing as I type this that I am being cruel, I thought the better story would be one in which nobody was left happy. Mulkey goes away dissatisfied because basketball isn’t her happiness. Clark goes away dissatisfied because she came up short under the biggest spotlight she will ever see. That would make for a great movie ending.
I’m happy for Clark, though, and for Iowa fans. I know I’m being ridiculous here.
*How about Pat Forde painting the Mulkey piece as something worthy of circling wagons? Can’t stand that guy’s work. Can never tell if he hates college sports or just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s easier when I know it’s one or the other. Journalism is a struggling profession.
3. Joe Kelly: On the Comeback Trail
Joe Kelly gave up an earned run last night, but it came on a routine grounder that found the hole, he didn’t walk anybody, and his velocity was back up after I think it dipped a little in the Saturday night disaster (which wasn’t entirely his doing but was a disaster). I think Joe Kelly fans should be optimistic. He pitched very badly on Saturday, and he wasn’t his best last night, but he goes through these cycles. His ERA will be under 5.00 again in no time.
