NCAA / NIT Idea

[2speedy1]

I've been reading about the several teams who declined NIT invites - which I think is a bummer. I've also seen a lot of talk about NCAA tourney expansion.

So here's my hair-brained idea to address both...

NCAA starts with 60 teams, plays 2 games & gets to 15 remaining teams.

Simultaneously (starting earlier), the NIT starts at 32 (as it does now) & plays until it has a champion.

The NIT champion becomes the 16th team in the NCAA sweet sixteen & the tournament completes as it typically does.

NIT becomes relevant again. NCAA sort-of gets its expansion, but not a full move to 128.

It's not a well thought-out idea, but could be interesting.

Here is my idea.

If you refuse a tournament invite, NCAA or NIT, you are ineligible for either tournament the following year.

This would be a simple rule, and it would all but completely eliminate this problem.

ie. OU refused NIT this year, they should be ineligible for the NIT and NCAA next year.

 

[CySmurf]

I like the concept. There are so many teams left out that are better than the Automatic Qualifiers of weak leagues. This would definitely encourage teams to accept an NIT bid. And it would make the NIT far more interesting.

Would the NIT winner still be able to call themselves "national champion?"

...asking for Iowa??

 

[deadeyededric]

Just keep it the way it is. There are enough mediocre teams that play in the postseason already.

 

[JP4CY]

Even if a certain team would end up something like 2-22?

Yes. I think if you want to keep it around spice it up.

I'm of the same mindset that I am with bowl games. I don't hate that there's so many bowl games, if it's a ****** matchup I just won't watch.

 

[cycloneworld]

I hope they never expand the NCAA tournament any farther. It’s perfect right now, so why mess with it?

Agree. But there are some proposals that aren’t so bad out there and maintain the 64 team main tournament. I’d be okay with expanding Dayton with the caveat that these auto-qualifiers never have to play there. Take the last 4-6 in and first 4-6 out, make them play and winners get a spot in the 64 team bracket. A true play in game tournament.

That would draw more eyeballs and be more interesting than watching four 16 seeds play in Dayton. Imagine if we had Indiana State, OU, St John’s, etc playing tonight and tomorrow for a spot in the tournament and not Wagner/Howard.

 

[Cyclone06]

I hope they never expand the NCAA tournament any farther. It’s perfect right now, so why mess with it?

Well you know why but do you need someone else to type it? $