We should be a lock for a WBIT bid which is the next best tournament for the women’s league, equivalent to the men’s NIT. Top seed line goes to the first four out of NCAAs. NET ranking is on at large bubble for NCAAs but probably wrong side.
LADY RAIDER BB Postseason
- Thread starter MTOleBlue
- Start date
Unfortunately we lost most all of the "name" games this year and even one of those would so help our resume.
Could be an interesting week at Murphy Center. With the Lady Raiders almost certainly a WNIT lock and the men looking like a NIT participate, any home games would have to work with the TSSAA state tournament this week at Murphy Center. Seems like they have been able to sort things out in the past but I can't recall having both the men and women both potentially hosting games. The state tourney doesn't start til Wednesday so perhaps we have a double header on Tuesday?
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The WBIT is preferable over the WNIT. The later is essentially the women's CBI now. The men's NIT is run by the NCAA, however on the women's side they run the WBIT.
The WBIT doesn't start till Thursday, so how that will affect hosting, I don't know.
As an exempt spot in the NIT, the men are guaranteed to host a first round game. As for the women, the top 16 host. But schools are still required to submit a bid to host for both. So who knows what our admin will do.
Being a top 25 attendance program MT should have a chance for multiple home games in either tournament.
WBIT. We're facing Belmont in the first round on the road (maybe due to the TSSAA tourney?) just watched the announcement video the NCAA put out.
I'd have hoped for the same thing, but it looks like we might be on the road unless there are some upsets. Our regional:
Blue Raiders to face Belmont in WBIT first round - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee will be participating in postseason basketball for the 21st consecutive season after gaining an invitation into the 2025 Women's
goblueraiders.com
That pisses me off. We average probably 3,500 fans/game for the last 15 years. Belmont has already had 2 games against us in 2023 & 2024.
Guess what their attendance was against rival MT at home in Nashville.
2023 attendance against MT: 1,300
2024 attendance against MT: 1,200
Apparently money from ticket sales is meaningless to the WBIT.
Guess what their attendance was against rival MT at home in Nashville.
2023 attendance against MT: 1,300
2024 attendance against MT: 1,200
Apparently money from ticket sales is meaningless to the WBIT.
It could be that the TSAA tournament is already playing Thursday at MTSU and MTSU never applied to host the first round. We did move things around one year, but it was tight. I would think we would be the obvious choice with our attendance, if it was available. Those games will be cleared out for the second round on Sunday. Then we would need to beat out one of the Arizona schools to host.
-- I just now noticed it was mentioned above. I think this still goes. I just hope Belmont post their tickets soon. We can fill that gym up.
-- I just now noticed it was mentioned above. I think this still goes. I just hope Belmont post their tickets soon. We can fill that gym up.
I don't think the TSSAA tourney had anything to do with it. At least gathering from how Matt feels.
I saw that as well, i am just speculating. Definitely interesting.
We do not match up well against Belmont.
We do not match up well against Belmont.
I hate we are going to Belmont but if Matt is correct with his view why, I like that it gives us some motivation. I was dissapointed when I saw the pairing too and honestly felt a bit dejected. I was worried the team felt the same way. Hopefully, this ticks them off.
If Sam is actually correct I wonder if any consideration was ever given to using the Alumni Memorial Gym? I don't know what the seating capacity is there but I imagine it might be sufficient. It would certainly be a packed and rowdy house. Better to be a sell out at 2,000 than a road game.
Back in the late 80's, early 90's, MT hosted the OVC Women's Tournament there. The regular season winner got to host the conference tournament and, because of TSSAA conflicts, we held the tournament in the AMG. I think Lewis Bivens enjoyed the atmosphere so much we later played a regular season game there, possibly more than one.
If Sam is actually correct I wonder if any consideration was ever given to using the Alumni Memorial Gym? I don't know what the seating capacity is there but I imagine it might be sufficient. It would certainly be a packed and rowdy house. Better to be a sell out at 2,000 than a road game.
Back in the late 80's, early 90's, MT hosted the OVC Women's Tournament there. The regular season winner got to host the conference tournament and, because of TSSAA conflicts, we held the tournament in the AMG. I think Lewis Bivens enjoyed the atmosphere so much we later played a regular season game there, possibly more than one.
I believe the record crowd there is barely over 1,000 - it's very small especially given updates. I hope the team is mad about how they've been treated and go into Belmont with revenge on their minds, ready to prove a point. Also, the tip off is 6:30pm which hopefully will allow folks time to go against the rush hour traffic and get to Nashville for this one.
