Tejas_Duke wrote:

Ok someone answer me this: How the hell is Quinnpeac at 16-15 in a weak sister conference, considered an NIT team (8th seed but still) while the experts here are constantly telling us the Dukes at 20 or 21 wins are not even close to the NIT?

 

Quinnipiac was leading their conference (they ended up second). If you win your conference regular season, but don't win your league tourney, and don't get an at large bid to the NCAAs, you get an automatic bid to the NIT. This doesn't usually come into play for the top 10-11 leagues, because the first place team is usually at large worthy. It is a nice bone thrown to the mid, and low major leagues. If St. Francis, who finished first in the NEC, doesn't win the tournament, they get a bid to the NIT. Schools like Duquesne have to earn an at large bid. The Dukes played a fairly weak ooc schedule, and were beaten by all three P5 teams we played, none of which were very good. We don't deserve an NIT bid.

Keep in mind that we have no Quad 1, or Quad 2 wins. We also have a Quad 4 loss (NJIT), and 3 Quad 3 losses (Pitt, Bona at Palumbo, and LaSalle). We've basically done well against the teams near our level, but we haven't beaten anyone that's really any good. We still have a ways to go.
 

duq81 wrote:

Quinnipiac was leading their conference (they ended up second). If you win your conference regular season, but don't win your league tourney, and don't get an at large bid to the NCAAs, you get an automatic bid to the NIT. This doesn't usually come into play for the top 10-11 leagues, because the first place team is usually at large worthy. It is a nice bone thrown to the mid, and low major leagues. 

 

OK thanks that makes sense and I can see the reasoning behind it.
 

I think the only way we get an NIT bid is if we make it to the conference championship game and lose, just as 2008-09 team did and got a 7-seed in the NIT. 

I wanted to get thoughts on the reasoning behind rejecting an invitation.  I'm guessing Coach D must think the team is worn out.  I heard him say its at least NIT or bust but I can't understand the rationale for that.  Must be more to the story.  Could you imagine if they went on a run and won the CIT what that would do for the fan base and confidence?  Considering they beat a number of the teams in the CBI or CIT (and is more than capable of beating NJIT) I can't understand the logic.

The big boys have not been playing in the CBI lately but that seems to have changed this year. WVU, USF, DePaul, Oregon St. I can see the reason why these teams accepted bids. DePaul, and USF are emerging from the depths (like us under Ron). Any postseason is a plus for them. WVU was awful most of the year, bu began to click late. Why not continue the roll, getting the young players on the right track for next season. Big boys never play in the CIT, but Wichita is listed this year.

As for going on now, you know Sincere would go full bore, at a time when rehab exercises should instead be the focus. There may be other, less obvious injuries on the roster. I don't think a game or a few games in late March would make a big difference next fall.  

duq81 wrote:

coffee wrote:

Gotta do what is best for the team... Getting experience now would be better than making the season so much longer with a trip out of the country next year.

We are young and have to get experience playing away from home.

Plus its a reward for the effort.

Why did they put VCU and St. Louis in the same region?

Not true. I believe Ellis and Swingle can play overseas, maybe Maceo too. That makes it a much better deal than playing in the CBI.
 

Any ( current Fr. , Soph., Jr ) enrolled athlete is eligible for the trip. Dylan and James fit the criteria.

If Maceo is enrolled in Summer school he can make  the trip in August with the team.
 

I am not heartbroken over the decision turn down the CBI but it is not my preference because the greatest weakness of the current team is the combination of individual player inexperience & inexperience playing as a unit. (Also, it would be thrilling to see the team go on an unlikely run!)

More time preparing for & playing against an opponent cannot be bad thing. I don't buy the argument that the team's health will benefit in any meaninful way from not playing CBI games. Practice injuries are actually more common than game injuries. Likewise, CBI/International summer trip is not an either or proposition. I would have voted for both.

Unlike years past, I have great confidence in the current leadership team. I know they thought hard & made a sound choice. It is a pleasure to not second guess this to death. 

I suspect that I am in the minority on this but I feel like KD's comments on the lesser post-season tournaments are small-time & foolish. He was right; it did sound arrogant. Just turn down the bid politely & shut-up. Who benefits from ruffling the feathers of a too proud tournament selection committee member that might keep you out of a pre-season tournament or something else?

Winning the CBI this year would be the greatest accomplishment of his non-Lebron coaching career & the biggest accomplishment for Duquesne basketball in the last 42 years. The CBI field is far better than any MAC regular season or tournament slate of teams. When did any team KD coached ever go on a 5 game tournament winning streak against top 150 competition? Who is it that keeps preaching that the goal at Duquesne is to play for championships?

I really am fine with not accepting the bid. I really do think KD is the right guy for this job. I really can't believe that DU finally has coaching I really like from a coach I really don't.