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Post by wrestlemania on Mar 12, 2009 12:44:29 GMT -5
I've thought about this a little more after hearing Bilas this morning re: only the best 64 teams should get in, screw Robert Morris et al.
For most of the teams in the field, being invited to the dance isn't about winning the national championship, since realistically they've got no shot. It's more about avoiding the indignity of being uninvited (rubbed in for the next several weeks as the tournament goes on without them). This is where GU is right now.
Esherick's decision to take his ball and go home did not make the Hoyas better. Unless there are real academic issues involved, playing is a better response to failure than not playing.
Not getting into the NCAAs stings but it's not that unusual, even for top programs. At some point players have to accept this no matter how good they think they are.
So get over it and go play. They could do worse.
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Mar 12, 2009 12:57:07 GMT -5
I don't think the issue in this thread was whether we are "too good" for the NIT, but rather whether it would do us any good to play in it, or whether it might even end up doing us harm We have played so increasingly poorly the last couple of monthes that I don't think it is realistic to believe that a few extra days of practice (after 5 monthes!), and one or two more games against mediocre competition, is somehow magically going to start righting the ship. On the other hand, if we are developing a negative mindset as we stumble along, then playing against, and losing to, a mid-major also-ran might only reinforce it.
I still think we have to play, and maybe a little good can come out of it if Henry gets some increased minutes, and if Jessie could go out on a good note. But I don't have any real hopes for much good.
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Post by wrestlemania on Mar 12, 2009 13:04:24 GMT -5
We have played so increasingly poorly the last couple of monthes that I don't think it is realistic to believe that a few extra days of practice (after 5 monthes!), and one or two more games against mediocre competition, is somehow magically going to start righting the ship. On the other hand, if we are developing a negative mindset as we stumble along, then playing against, and losing to, a mid-major also-ran might only reinforce it. Then why do people on this board almost unanimously think Esherick's decision to walk was a bad idea?
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swhoya
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Post by swhoya on Mar 12, 2009 13:10:39 GMT -5
I think Wrestle has it right on.
Look, everyone who follows college basketball is wondering what the heck happened this season. And it's going to dog us next season no matter what: people are going to be asking, did they fix whatever was wrong? Can they take a punch and (unlike this season) pick themselves up and win some games?
We turn down an NIT bid (which as someone said above seems to be a moot point), we make the target that much bigger. If we accept a bid and lose early to a mid-major, well, what more harm can be done? People and our players will still be frustrated by this season. But if we do well and make a run, perhaps that gives us a bit of fire going into next season, something to build on. Turn it down, and the story of this season becomes that much bigger. JTIII and the team will be in the same position that Esh put us in, with having more to prove than we really need.
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Post by Hoya TMF on Mar 12, 2009 13:11:34 GMT -5
My God, we've got a 'Cuse fan that's lecturing us on supporting your team, high or low. How have we come to this? For all of the people that keep saying we shouldn't play, we should just pack it in for the season...it's a GAME. It's supposed to be fun for these guys to play. Think for a second Jessie Sapp doesn't want a few more games of college ball? I played only a couple of years in high school, we'd get our butts kicked in any tournament we played in, but I still wanted to play no matter what. AMEN! Road Trip to Mason!
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Mar 12, 2009 14:05:11 GMT -5
We have played so increasingly poorly the last couple of monthes that I don't think it is realistic to believe that a few extra days of practice (after 5 monthes!), and one or two more games against mediocre competition, is somehow magically going to start righting the ship. On the other hand, if we are developing a negative mindset as we stumble along, then playing against, and losing to, a mid-major also-ran might only reinforce it. Then why do people on this board almost unanimously think Esherick's decision to walk was a bad idea? Esherick turned it down because he DID think we were too good for the NIT. And I think most people on this thread think we have to play - myself included. I just don't thnk it will do us any good, with the disjointed mess we have become.
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Post by formerbearcat on Mar 12, 2009 14:10:26 GMT -5
Not accept an N.I.T. bid, you cannot be serious.
The N.I.T. is an NCAA event. GU is a member in good standing of the NCAA. You do not say no.
Our athletes are competitors, I cannot image that a single one of them is not up to another game, or two, or three, or more. If someone doesn't want to play and represent their university, the university that is giving them the opportunity, in exchange for their participation in the basketball program, to get a world class education, then give up your scholarship and make room for someone else.
Look at the history of the N.I.T., how many times has Duke, North Carolina and other institutions with greater basketball tradition than GU played in the N.I.T., many times.
By my count, GU has won one Championship, and that was 25 years ago. Let's not get carried away with the thought that we are too good to play in the N.I.T. It's not beneath us, it's where we are today.
Hopefully, there are better days to come.
Now, let's go out, give it our all, and make our way back to MSG.
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Mar 12, 2009 14:36:15 GMT -5
Then why do people on this board almost unanimously think Esherick's decision to walk was a bad idea? We would have tied (or was it surpassed?) the record UNC had just set for most consecutive seasons with a postseason invite to the NCAA or NIT. Also, I agree with Frazier... it's not about us being "too good" for the NIT, it's about us being "too bad" for the NIT. Do our players even want to play another game? From the fan perspective, the thought of Niagara spanking us by 25+ at home ... part of me just wants the suckage to end.
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Post by Giannicolus Jones on Mar 12, 2009 14:38:12 GMT -5
Then why do people on this board almost unanimously think Esherick's decision to walk was a bad idea? We would have tied (or was it surpassed?) the record UNC had just set for most consecutive seasons with a postseason invite to the NCAA or NIT. We got an invite that year and turned it down. So that's not the right record you're citing. We did not get an invite Esherick's last year because we were below .500
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Mar 12, 2009 15:14:42 GMT -5
We would have tied (or was it surpassed?) the record UNC had just set for most consecutive seasons with a postseason invite to the NCAA or NIT. We got an invite that year and turned it down. So that's not the right record you're citing. We did not get an invite Esherick's last year because we were below .500 Scratch "invite" then. It's generally assumed that when you get a postseason invite, you appear in the postseason. We tied the Tar Heels in 2001 with 27 consecutive postseason APPEARANCES. They missed the tourneys in 2002 which would have given us that record -- 28 consecutive postseason APPEARANCES - if only we had accepted the NIT invite. www.hoyasaxa.com/sports/archives/archive0302.htm#52
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Post by Coast2CoastHoya on Mar 12, 2009 18:00:20 GMT -5
We should play in the NIT if invitied. Unequivocally.
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Post by wrestlemania on Mar 12, 2009 18:10:20 GMT -5
Also, I agree with Frazier... it's not about us being "too good" for the NIT, it's about us being "too bad" for the NIT. Completely disagree -- I doubt very much that the players truly believe they are not NIT-worthy. It is far more likely that they believe they were destined for better things.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Mar 12, 2009 18:49:56 GMT -5
Don't go.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Mar 12, 2009 20:52:17 GMT -5
I still say the issue isn't whether we will accept (we will) - it is whether we will be invited. We may well not be, and if we are not, we have nothing to gripe about.
How many Big East teams will the NIT want to take? Providence, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Seton Hall will all get invites before we do.
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royski
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Post by royski on Mar 12, 2009 20:55:38 GMT -5
Why, other than head to head results, would Cincy or Seton Hall get invites before us?
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PhillyHoya
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Post by PhillyHoya on Mar 12, 2009 21:21:22 GMT -5
Why, other than head to head results, would Cincy or Seton Hall get invites before us? Cinci has a better conference record and overall record. Granted our SOS is better but yeah.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Mar 12, 2009 21:23:01 GMT -5
Why, other than head to head results, would Cincy or Seton Hall get invites before us? Cinci has a better conference record and overall record. Granted our SOS is better but yeah. Not sure if you noticed, but the Bearcats actually collapsed more spectacularly than even the Hoyas over the past two weeks.
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Madgesdiq
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Post by Madgesdiq on Mar 13, 2009 8:32:15 GMT -5
Seton Hall will not get an invite before Georgetown.
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NCHoya
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Post by NCHoya on Mar 13, 2009 9:55:14 GMT -5
Saying SHU gets in over us is ludicrous. Yes, they beat us on their court, but did they beat Memphis, Uconn, Cuse, Nova? No, their best wins are USC and Va Tech, both likely NIT teams. We are 42 spots higher in the RPI than them and 25 spots higher than Cincy?
We may not make the NIT (RPI of 60 is troubling) but it will not be because of SHU. Let's have some perspective. Geez, you guys are depressing.
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Mar 13, 2009 10:47:34 GMT -5
Depressing AND inane. There is no doubt we will get an invite. We have a name based on the last 3 years, and we do have talent, even though it ain't done much this season. ESPN and the NCAA need viewers, and more people will watch G'town than Seton Hall or Cincy.
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