I got curious. So I decided to look up the NCAA tourney runs of Pitt, Nova, Georgetown, and Louisville. Those were the teams suggested by cuse as possibly doing as well in the NCAA tournament. After finishing my examination, I discovered I was slightly mistaken. Villanova ties WVU for the best team in The BEast since 2005, if deep NCAA runs are the standard. Nobody else compares...

Villanova's NCAA Tournament record during the same time period...
2010 - lost in the 2nd round (St. Mary's)
2009 - lost in the Final Four (UNC)
2008 - lost in the Sweet Sixteen (Michigan State)
2007 - lost in the 1st round (Kentucky)
2006 - lost in the Elite Eight (Florida)
2005 - lost in the Sweet Sixteen (UNC)

Louiville's NCAA Tournament record during the same time period...
2010 - lost in the 1st round (California)
2009 - lost in the Elite Eight (Michigan State)
2008 - lost in the Elite Eight (UNC)
2007 - lost in the 2nd round (Texas A&M)
2006 - lost in NIT 4th round
2005 - lost in the Final Four (Illinois)

Pitt's NCAA Tournament record during the same time period...
2010 - lost in the 2nd round (Xavier)
2009 - lost in the Elite Eight (Villanova)
2008 - lost in the 2nd round (Michigan State)
2007 - lost in the Sweet Sixteen (UCLA)
2006 - lost in the 2nd round (Bradley)
2005 - lost in the 1st round (Pacific)

Georgetown's NCAA Tournament record during the same time period...
2010 - lost in the 1st round (Ohio)
2009 - lost in the 1st round (Baylor)
2008 - lost in the 2nd round (Davidson)
2007 - lost in the Final Four (Ohio State)
2006 - lost in the Sweet Sixteen (Florida)
2005 - Lost in NIT 3rd round

I would say that Louisvilles back to back elite Eights and a final four would be as impressive as WV or Nova's 2 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight and Final 4 runs.

(02-28-2011 04:23 PM)cuseroc Wrote:  I would say that Louisvilles back to back elite Eights and a final four would be as impressive as WV or Nova's 2 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight and Final 4 runs.

That's only 3 long runs in 6 years. WVU and nova have 4 out of 6, and the Mountaineers have an NIT title to add to their total during that period too. UofL has no case here either, cuse...

Who made the arbitrary decision that Sweet 16 equals a NCAA "deep run". To be honest, I doubt most UofL fans call that a deep run. I'd say Sweet 16's are impressive, and the Elite 8 and further is a deep run, but that's just me, and I wouldn't say that's a final opinion. It's all up for debate.

As for the NIT, thanks but no thanks. That goes down as #66 in previous years, or in other words, worse than anyone who made the tournament.

CC, if you think an NIT crown is less than a first round exit from the NCAA tourney, then I have serious doubts about the education provided by Louisville. Any team capable of winning the NIT is more than capable of being in the NCAA tournament and winning a game or 2...

Now if we were talking about just making the NIT field, I'd agree with you. But any team that can make it through the NIT to the Final is worthy of the NCAA tournament, whether the selection committee thinks so or not...

(02-28-2011 05:11 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  CC, if you think an NIT crown is less than a first round exit from the NCAA tourney, then I have serious doubts about the education provided by Louisville. Any team capable of winning the NIT is more than capable of being in the NCAA tournament and winning a game or 2...

Now if we were talking about just making the NIT field, I'd agree with you. But any team that can make it through the NIT to the Final is worthy of the NCAA tournament, whether the selection committee thinks so or not...

I didn't go to Louisville, but I guarantee you 99% of Louisville fans would rather make the NCAA than win the NIT. And as Andy Katz said several years ago, they don't hang Sweet 16 banners at Louisville.

Sure, if you happen to fall to the NIT, great job winning it. However, the problem with the NIT is that in the minds of Louisville fans, you had a piss poor year to begin with, or you'd be in the real tournament.

I'm not trying to figure out the minds of Louisville fans, or the fans of any other school in the conference (or the nation, for that matter). My point is that an NIT finalist is a better team than any team that makes an early exit from the NCAA Tournament in the 1st round...

I don't care what anyone else thinks about it. My point stands on its own merit, and nobody can disprove it satisfactorily...

Winning the NIT is somewhat meaningful-akin to winning 1 game in the NCAA's IMO. But I wouldn't put TOO much stock into it.

With that said, there are quality basketball teams there. UConn-Virginia Tech last year was a great game, as was URI-UNC.

(02-28-2011 06:23 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I'm not trying to figure out the minds of Louisville fans, or the fans of any other school in the conference (or the nation, for that matter). My point is that an NIT finalist is a better team than any team that makes an early exit from the NCAA Tournament in the 1st round...

I don't care what anyone else thinks about it. My point stands on its own merit, and nobody can disprove it satisfactorily...

Agree to disagree then in that case. If you're in the NIT to begin with, you weren't a top 34 at large (top 37 at large as of 2011).

(02-28-2011 06:24 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote:  Winning the NIT is somewhat meaningful-akin to winning 1 game in the NCAA's IMO. But I wouldn't put TOO much stock into it.

Like I said, I was NOT soliciting opinions on this matter, and don't care about them. They're irrelevant...

So is yours.

Aren't all opinions?

Exactly. So maybe you shouldn't be discounting or discouraging his. Especially as a mod.

well.....anyway......back to the uconn/cincy discussion (cough cough)

(02-28-2011 06:28 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-28-2011 06:24 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote:  Winning the NIT is somewhat meaningful-akin to winning 1 game in the NCAA's IMO. But I wouldn't put TOO much stock into it.

Like I said, I was NOT soliciting opinions on this matter, and don't care about them. They're irrelevant...

ha, best way to win a debate. Just keep saying "i wasn't soliciting opinions."

I thought this thread was going back to discussions on UConn-UC, swoosh...

(03-01-2011 11:44 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(02-28-2011 06:28 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-28-2011 06:24 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote:  Winning the NIT is somewhat meaningful-akin to winning 1 game in the NCAA's IMO. But I wouldn't put TOO much stock into it.

Like I said, I was NOT soliciting opinions on this matter, and don't care about them. They're irrelevant...

ha, best way to win a debate. Just keep saying "i wasn't soliciting opinions."

(C'mon Bit, that was pretty funny)

It has it's charm, I will admit...

(03-01-2011 11:56 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I thought this thread was going back to discussions on UConn-UC, swoosh...

i hijacked it. Yippee-ki-yay motherf*cker

(03-01-2011 01:47 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(03-01-2011 11:56 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I thought this thread was going back to discussions on UConn-UC, swoosh...

i hijacked it. Yippee-ki-yay motherf*cker

Okay Roy...