NIT Discussion thread

[jman3134]

Talk about all the NIT coverage here.

[jman3134]

Anyone watching the UK-UNLV game or ND-UAB?

Notre Dame has hit everything from the beyond the arc. UAB made a nice little run at the end, finishing with a (I think it was) Vaden three pointer to cut the lead to four at the half. This UAB team is actually very competitive and I would not be shocked if they came back and won this game. Harangody has been tremendous, passing out of double teams and getting the ball to Nash, who can't seem to finish. (he's better on defense)

For UK so far, they are outmuscling UNLV inside, but having some trouble stopping their all guard attack. It's still early though. I expect big things from Patterson.

[jman3134]

UNLV is really scrappy and they are getting some rebounds. They seem to be getting some loose balls.

Harris has been a pleasant surprise thus far for Kentucky. And obviously Jodie Meeks is hitting some bigtime shots.

[jman3134]

Sick dunk by Perry Stevenson!

[Polynice4Pippen]

Patty Mills looks completely healthy again against Washington State. St. Mary's would crush Wisconsin if they played right now.

[Jackson 5ive]

Davidson and South Carolina was also a good game, Curry beasted for 32.

[Bernman]

Patty Mills looks completely healthy again against Washington State. St. Mary's would crush Wisconsin if they played right now.

The only two teams who have even come close to crushing Wisconsin this season were a fully healthy UCONN team (on neutral court) and a fully healthy Purdue (on the road). St. Mary's on a neutral court isn't even close to comparable in difficulty level. Wisconsin actually led the majority of all but 5 games this season, but just had problems closing. They aren't the type of team who gets crushed. Even as a Wisconsin fan I said St. Mary's should receive a bid over the Badgers, but why the fixation on the Badgers specifically? For example, Arizona was clearly more deserving than both teams. You want to know what I think the reason is that you singled out Wisconsin? Because you're brainwashed by the media who trashes Wisconsin because they are slow paced and not sexy. Somewhere along the line that equated with ineptitude on offense. But fact of the matter is, Wisconsin had the 25th best offensive efficiency in the nation out of 344 teams. They are not bad offensively, and will not get crushed by anyone on a neutral court who isn't elite.

[IlliniNRG]

It's true, Wisconsin lost a TON of close games this year. They're going to frustrate the bejesus out of FSU in the first round. Say, didn't FSU lose to Northwestern earlier this year?

People like to see a lot of scoring, and the Big Ten doesn't deliver in that category. They play defense, and they play slow. The conference was very good in preseason play though, and I think it'll carry over into the tournament.

[jman3134]

Wisconsin is a legitimate team, but I still think that you have to look at St. Mary's as a program. Their team did not collapse the moment Patty Mills got injured. They were actually able to sustain some momentum after dropping a few to begin. It was shocking that they did not receive a bid. That's about all I can say. Just because they play in the WCC doesn't mean that they should be faulted as much as they were. Their conference is rather underrated and so was their team. I'm sure they will prove it.

[Polynice4Pippen]

Patty Mills looks completely healthy again against Washington State. St. Mary's would crush Wisconsin if they played right now.

The only two teams who have even come close to crushing Wisconsin this season were a fully healthy UCONN team (on neutral court) and a fully healthy Purdue (on the road). St. Mary's on a neutral court isn't even close to comparable in difficulty level. Wisconsin actually led the majority of all but 5 games this season, but just had problems closing. They aren't the type of team who gets crushed. Even as a Wisconsin fan I said St. Mary's should receive a bid over the Badgers, but why the fixation on the Badgers specifically? For example, Arizona was clearly more deserving than both teams. You want to know what I think the reason is that you singled out Wisconsin? Because you're brainwashed by the media who trashes Wisconsin because they are slow paced and not sexy. Somewhere along the line that equated with ineptitude on offense. But fact of the matter is, Wisconsin had the 25th best offensive efficiency in the nation out of 344 teams. They are not bad offensively, and will not get crushed by anyone on a neutral court who isn't elite.

Sorry, it's not that complicated. Wisconsin's only decent non-conference win is at Virginia Tech. St. Mary's beat Providence, San Diego State and Utah State. Advantage St. Mary's, amazing for a WCC team compared to a Big 10 squad of Wisconsin's stature. Secondly, St. Mary's was 18-1 and rolling before Mills got hurt. Tough break, sure, but the committee supposedly takes injuries into consideration. Wisconsin was a middling Big 10 team all season long and NEVER looked as dominant as St. Mary's. NEVER. St. Mary's still finished 26-6 despite the Mills injury, second in their conference behind Gonzaga without their best player and got to their conference title game. That's far more impressive than anything Wisconsin did. At full strength St. Mary's was a top 25 team. Wisconsin quickly fell out of the rankings due to not being as good as expected. Wisconsin lost 6 in a row with no major injuries. They lost to Iowa. Hey, Wisconsin got in the tourny but I find it hard to believe anyone felt their selection was a slam dunk. The Badgers resume just isn't all that impressive.

I don't understand why you have to take it so personal or make unfounded attacks on people who may not believe your school belongs in the dance. It isn't some grand conspiracy against Wisconsin. Get over it, they're in, why do you care what people think so much? And as far as "sexiness", Illinois got in, didn't they? Minnesota too, right? But those teams also proved they could beat top competition out of conference, Illinois beating Missouri and Minnesota beating Louisville. But good luck anyway to your Badgers.

[magpies]

Today's game will be good St Mary's Pat Mills playing against Stephan Curry, two good point guards should cancel each other out and it will be how the rest of both teams play

[Polynice4Pippen]

Patty Mills just has more weapons around him with Diamon Simpson and Omar Samhan than Stephen Curry does. Both Curry and Mills played well tonight as expected, but St. Mary's is clearly the better team, something I think we all were aware of. And Jodie Meeks hits the game-winning And 1 on Creighton. Kentucky and Notre Dame should be pretty good, Patrick Patterson vs. Luke Harangody.

[stellation]

St Mary's vs Davidson was an awesome game, great to see two young studs living up to the hype.

[J_Ray]

It might of just been me, but I thought the St. Mary's-Davidson game was boring since St. Mary's clearly were the better team and dominated most of the game. The team I really like in the NIT is Baylor that is finally playing up to their potential. I don't know how they fell apart in Big-12 player after such a great start but they're definitely back.

[jman3134]

^ They are clearly the most talented team not to make the tournament. I think that South Carolina really killed their chances. The loss at home was the start of their collapse.

[GYBE]

NIT Final Four:

Baylor vs. San Diego State
Notre Dame vs. Penn State