BASKETBALL Lipscomb in the NIT

[MTFNBY5]

Really good game last night (one of the best in this year's post season IMHO). Have to admit I'm envious of the Bison making it this far (farther than MT ever has in several NIT appearances) and in the fact that so many of their contributors are mid-staters who we either never went after or couldn't get.
Regardless, I was watching the team arrive back on campus this morning on TV as they were greeted by fans, by my count less than a dozen. I contrast that attendance with what I imagine MT would have had greeting the team under similar circumstances. My point is that no matter what the achievement the ceiling is very low for fan support at the two "johnny come lately (to D-1 BkB)" schools on Belmont Ave. in Nashville. As an example even after years of outstanding success Belmont still doesn't draw flies for many games. We can fuss when Murphy is half full but that would be an overflow crowd at either Belmont or Lipscomb.
(Of course; we would probably have to admit that there is a correlation with MT FB and Belmont/Lipscomb BkB in that making a big move up in class did little to increase fan bases long-term)

 

[abarnett]

I agree we need to put more emphasis on basketball where we can be relevant

 

[Blueraider_Mike]

I agree we need to put more emphasis on basketball where we can be relevant

What else can we do?

 

[MT01]

That's rhetorical right Mike?

 

[abarnett]

I’m not saying we should drop football but we are never going to compete with the power 5. Many really good basketball ball schools play at a lower level in football r not at all. Wichita state for one. Others at a lower level vcu,Butler Gonzaga,Georgetown I’m sure others just a thought. Won’t ever happen thou. I’m not sure it should but maybe up for conversation

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

Lipscomb wins again. Is this run more successful than Kermit’s wins?

 

[sWiley]

Lipscomb wins again. Is this run more successful than Kermit’s wins?

No. Nobody cares about the NIT. Ask any coach in the business or fan of a school, would you rather win the NIT or get invited to the big dance? You'll get the same answer from every single coach and fan out there.

 

[sWiley]

Also, Lipscomb had zero business winning that game. In fact, they didn't win it, Wichita State gave it away, gift wrapped and all. Not sure I've ever seen a team self-combust in such a fashion. Zero field goals in the remaining 8+ minutes after the Shockers were in COMPLETE control of the game.....and Lipscomb isn't exactly a lock-down defensive team.

Wichita State had whatever they wanted all night, then just completely cratered after Dennis & Echinique almost came to blows. IDIOTS. They deserve to lose after that BS, but Lipscomb couldn't have been more lucky in that situation.

 

[crposton]

I would disagree. Winning the NIT gives more exposure to a team like Lipscomb than losing in the first round of the NCAA tourney. I would say most low major and some mid major coaches would choose winning the NIT over a first round exit in the NCAA.

 

[BRaiderDave]

Lipscomb wins again. Is this run more successful than Kermit’s wins?

That is an excellent question and one to which I have no answer.

 

[SpaceRaider]

it will mean more to the bison fans, anyone else, no

 

[sWiley]

I would disagree. Winning the NIT gives more exposure to a team like Lipscomb than losing in the first round of the NCAA tourney. I would say most low major and some mid major coaches would choose winning the NIT over a first round exit in the NCAA.

Nope

 

[crposton]

So say a team goes 20-10 and finishing 2nd in conference in the regular season of a mid major conference, winning the conference tourney, getting say a 13 seed, and then losing the first round game. That is better than winning the conference regular season and the winning the NIT? I agree neither really matter, but as far as exposure I think the second is better. If you disagree that is fine.

 

[sWiley]

So say a team goes 20-10 and finishing 2nd in conference in the regular season of a mid major conference, winning the conference tourney, getting say a 13 seed, and then losing the first round game. That is better than winning the conference regular season and the winning the NIT? I agree neither really matter, but as far as exposure I think the second is better. If you disagree that is fine.

Nobody watches the NIT. Nobody.

Exposure? Are you kidding? More people will watch the NCAA tournament game than the entire NIT collectively. You also make a lot of money for school/conference by going to the tournament and even more if you win games. Every coach in the country would prefer a shot at the big dance versus winning the NIT. Every single one of them.

And I'm not saying the NIT is bad, but it's just not anywhere near the level of the NCAA tournament.

 

[RandallThomason]

Winning the NIT would be an amazing consolation prize for Lipscomb, just as it would have been for us in either 2012 or 2018 had we won it. But it's still a consolation prize. Lipscomb was devastated when they lost the conference tournament championship game at home. None of them were in the locker room after the game saying, "hey let's go win the NIT, that will be better anyway." Just having your name called on Selection Sunday and having your name on the bracket of millions of office pools around the country is more exposure than winning the NIT. I don't say that as a knock on the NIT, because I think it's a great tournament and it's a huge accomplishment to be in that tournament, but it's not the Dance.

 

[crposton]

I would not say nobody watches the NIT. I watched tonight. ESPN would not have it on if nobody watched. I am not saying I would rather go to the NIT over the Tourney. I am just saying I think Lipscomb is getting more exposure than they would in a first tound exit. Obviously they would have rather that.

 

[MTFNBY5]

I would tend to guess that whether making the big dance or having a deep NIT run is better would depend on if you want national exposure for a short time or if you want local publicity for a longer period of time. Gotta think that, baring Byrd's retirement, Lipscomb has generated far greater local media coverage and casual fan interest with this NIT run than Belmont winning a First Four game and then losing in the opening round.
That said, I don't think this run will do much for Lipscomb long term.
They will be in a huge rebuilding mode next year, their fans arelimited to C of C members, doubt fan base or ticket sales increase substantially and if Alexander replaces Byrd a huge slap in the face to their program.
Just what will help Lipscomb; Belmont; or let's face it, MT move up the pecking order to mid-state sports fans or the local media? Haven't figured that our yet and neither has anyone else. With all their success Belmont rarely has a big crowd and apparently the school on West End is barely treading water, even with the $#C welfare check each year. It's all about location, location, location, and when you are in an "it" city (or reasonably close) with the NFL juggernaut calling the shots it tough.

 

[crposton]

Yea a deep NIT run is more beneficial to younger teams than experienced teams. Like if we had somehow made a postseason tourney this year it would have been very beneficial to our young players to get that experience. Like during the Wichita State vs Lipscomb game the announcer mentioned Wichita being one of the youngest teams and Lipscomb one of the oldest. Wichita probably gained more from NIT than Lipscomb from a player experience standpoint and for a building block for next season.

 

[Raiderclyde]

Win an NIT, your university’s name is etched in the World Almanac each year, just like the NCAA Champion. Make appearance in the Tournament gets your name in the almanac for a year—win or lose. I’ll take an NIT Championship Banner over a single first round win or first four win in NCAA. I do feel different about a Sweet 16 in NCAAs. Doing well in the second weekend gets your program noticed!

If Lipscomb wins, they will match Vanderbilt (1990), Southern Miss (1987), and Southern Illinois (1967) resume. I don’t think Western has one, though ODU made it to Madison Square Garden a couple years back. Murray doesn’t have one either. I would love to see a NIT Champions Banner in Murphy Center someday!

 

[blueraiderJT]

I would love to see us win 15 games now. Liscomb winning the NIT would be epic for them. What did they ever really do before? Belmont has always eclipsed them. Now, they have the spotlight and just beat a really good team to go to the finals. It's huge for them. Hope our coach was watching and will go and get some players and some new assistants.

 

[blueraiderJT]

Texas destroyed them. Oh well.

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

Heck of a run. And even though Casey is sought after, he didn’t muddy the waters of his team by committing to a school while coaching.

Why the heck was Kermit allowed to coach after accepting new job?!?! That would have really been a good point for Greg to show his abilities.

 

[BRaiderDave]

Heck of a run. And even though Casey is sought after, he didn’t muddy the waters of his team by committing to a school while coaching.

Why the heck was Kermit allowed to coach after accepting new job?!?! That would have really been a good point for Greg to show his abilities.

Because that's what we do. Self destruction is down to an art.

 

[SpaceRaider]

marshall won the pay to play CIT tournament, fwiw...

 

[blueraiderJT]

I hope they got their money's worth because I didn't even know it was going on much less Marshall being in it.

 

[Raiderclyde]

I hope they got their money's worth because I didn't even know it was going on much less Marshall being in it.

Think we have to be careful casting too many stones: we still don’t have a CIT Championship or an NIT Madison Garden Run in our history. Marshall and Murray State have CIT Championships, and Southern Miss has an NIT Championship. North Texas has a CBI Championship. This conference of ours needs all the help it can get in exposure. Good for the Thundering Herd. MT needs to win one of these (next year?) on our way back up to establishing a Championship tradition! I’d say let’s go take down some nets!

 

[RowdyAlumni]

Casey Alexander will be coaching at Belmont starting next year.

 

[RandallThomason]

Casey Alexander will be coaching at Belmont starting next year.

Bummer. Personally I was hoping Alexander would get a bigger job, Lipscomb would return to being a bad program, and Belmont would get stuck hiring Randy Wiel.

 

[Blueraider_Mike]

Why move across the street? Can Belmont pay that much more?

 

[crposton]

Why move across the street? Can Belmont pay that much more?

He played and coached at Belmont.

 

[blueraiderJT]

Think we have to be careful casting too many stones: we still don’t have a CIT Championship or an NIT Madison Garden Run in our history. Marshall and Murray State have CIT Championships, and Southern Miss has an NIT Championship. North Texas has a CBI Championship. This conference of ours needs all the help it can get in exposure. Good for the Thundering Herd. MT needs to win one of these (next year?) on our way back up to establishing a Championship tradition! I’d say let’s go take down some nets!

Those championships have done nothing for this conference. Like I said, I and the average fan knew nothing of those tourneys or who was in them. Didn't even know the schedule of the games or where they could be viewed. No one cares. It's good for them but no one cares in reality. Beyond the NIT, no one but the individual schools that play in those tourneys care.

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

So we are to continue to get slapped around by Belmont in the future?