The official NIT thread: Mason vs. Samford

[GunstonsGhost]

I know everyone is deflated, but there is still history to be made by Team 59. Two more wins gives them the most season wins in school history. Also a chance to run this thing and put up a banner. Can only control so much. I'll be there for whatever our guys have left to give this season.

 

[jruby]

So should our goal be to achieve Wichita’s flexibility of being non football in a football league?

No idea, all I can say is that the A10 is looking like a 1 bid league: power 5’s want all the money and bids.

So long as vcu is in the A10, I think unfortunately Masons best seasons will be the NIT. Just sort of is what it is and maybe we just have to accept that.

Women’s college basketball as a whole is in much better shape. Men’s game has turned into greed and others chasing the allure of it all by throwing everything they have at it.

vcu and JMU are perfect examples of chasing something sports related and having the rest of their school suffer because of it. It’s a tricky mess, while we all want Mason to win at basketball it’s never going to work if it means destroying the rest of the school chasing the wins and honestly a terrible idea to destroy the main focus of a university.

 

[Pablo]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25171770-nit-2025-mens-bracket-times-dates-live-streaming-and-tv-schedule

"Dayton's bracket looks like the most difficult one on paper. A-10 tournament finalist George Mason and Missouri Valley tournament finalist Bradley are the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Dayton region.

But sometimes the best teams on paper don't win the NIT due to a wealth of factors.

Motivation can be found in teams building for next season, while others may fall flat early in the tournament due to coaching changes or transfer portal entries.

Having a field with predominantly mid-major teams may take away the list of teams with little-to-no motivation. A handful of the top power-conference programs that did not make the NCAA tournament will be headed to the College Basketball Crown event.

Power conference teams won nine of the last 11 NITs dating back to 2012, so if anything, the opportunity is there for some teams that typically don't win tournaments to bring home a trophy."

 

[gmutom]

No idea

Don't be so hard on your self. It was bound to happen eventually.

 

[Pablo]

Daily Dirt - 3/17/25 - HoopDirt

Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing) Brackets are out. What a great week! Getting busy on the coaching carousel front as well. Buckle up… USF Coaching Search: Familiar Faces in the Mix, but It’s Anyone’s Guess Some very early names at South Florida include Alabama assistant Ryan Pannone and USC...

hoopdirt.com

“'Bucky Ball' in Vegas? UNLV Rumors Heat Up​

"The most intriguing name making the rounds for the UNLV job is Samford head coach Bucky McMillan. Since taking over in 2020, McMillan has led Samford to a 99-51 (.660) record, including a 22-10 mark this season as they continue their NIT run. He has posted four consecutive 21+ win seasons, peaking with 29 wins last year. 'Bucky Ball' in Las Vegas would certainly be an exciting storyline to watch."

 

[ProfessorCFK]

Called the athletic ticket office a few minutes ago for tickets - they don't have any to sell. Was told to try calling back later this afternoon.

 

[GMU79]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25171770-nit-2025-mens-bracket-times-dates-live-streaming-and-tv-schedule

"Dayton's bracket looks like the most difficult one on paper. A-10 tournament finalist George Mason and Missouri Valley tournament finalist Bradley are the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Dayton region.

But sometimes the best teams on paper don't win the NIT due to a wealth of factors.

Motivation can be found in teams building for next season, while others may fall flat early in the tournament due to coaching changes or transfer portal entries.

Having a field with predominantly mid-major teams may take away the list of teams with little-to-no motivation. A handful of the top power-conference programs that did not make the NCAA tournament will be headed to the College Basketball Crown event.

Power conference teams won nine of the last 11 NITs dating back to 2012, so if anything, the opportunity is there for some teams that typically don't win tournaments to bring home a trophy."

I would definitely be excited about Mason bringing home a trophy and putting up a NIT Champs banner. Watered down? Sure. But considering where we have been, and considering that dozens of other teams across the country would love to be in our shoes, I'll take it.
Tony has done a great job this year, and personally I'm tired of all the negativity by one poster on here. Why don't you just go follow the Math Club or something?

 

[daveshac]

Last time PatDome/EBA hosted an NIT game was 2004, when GMU beat Tennessee by 3 with a team that featured Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler. I was at that game - and I echo what others in the thread have pointed out... it was so much better when the NIT meant that mid-majors got a crack at the Power5 schools...

Men's Basketball vs George Mason on 3/17/2004 - Box Score - University of Tennessee Athletics

The official box score of Men's Basketball vs George Mason on 3/17/2004

utsports.com

 

[Pablo]

Last time PatDome/EBA hosted an NIT game was 2004, when GMU beat Tennessee by 3 with a team that featured Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler. I was at that game - and I echo what others in the thread have pointed out... it was so much better when the NIT meant that mid-majors got a crack at the Power5 schools...

Men's Basketball vs George Mason on 3/17/2004 - Box Score - University of Tennessee Athletics

The official box score of Men's Basketball vs George Mason on 3/17/2004

utsports.com

Two nights later the Patriots beat Austin Peay at the Patriot Center before losing at Oregon - https://gomason.com/news/2004/3/19/205044460.aspx

"FAIRFAX, Va. - Two days after going 0-for-8, sophomore guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, MD/Oxon Hill) scored 19 points and drilled the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:24 to play to give George Mason a 66-60 Patriot Center victory over Austin Peay in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

Sophomore forward Jai Lewis (Aberdeen, MD/MCI) added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Patriots, who have won back-to-back postseason games for the first time in school history.

George Mason's 23rd victory, already a school-best for a single season, also is a best for head coach Jim Larranaga, whose previous top season was 22-10 in his last year at Bowling Green in 1996-97. The Patriots' 14th win (14-1) at Patriot Center is also already a school-best for a single season, besting the old mark of 12 set in 1999-2000."

 

[jruby]

I would definitely be excited about Mason bringing home a trophy and putting up a NIT Champs banner. Watered down? Sure. But considering where we have been, and considering that dozens of other teams across the country would love to be in our shoes, I'll take it.
Tony has done a great job this year, and personally I'm tired of all the negativity by one poster on here. Why don't you just go follow the Math Club or something?

Two nights later the Patriots beat Austin Peay at the Patriot Center before losing at Oregon - https://gomason.com/news/2004/3/19/205044460.aspx

That's when top teams out of the Mid Majors who lost in conference tournament played and the middle Power 5's played. Now every power 5 goes to Tournament and instead you have 4th place Southern teams? Ew.

This is nothing more than the A10 invitational. If we lose to Dayton does that change our season? NO, if we beat Dayton does it help our season? NO! It just means we continue to prove they were the 2nd best team in A10. The A10 on paper should absolutely rock this tournament. Could easily see a final 4 of all A10.

I'll go one further, if the A10 is a 1 bid league and no one will schedule us. Lets just play the post Season A10 invitational for real and invite whoever we want. Every A10 team hosts and rotate the semis and final between cities.

 

[GMU79]

That's when top teams out of the Mid Majors who lost in conference tournament played and the middle Power 5's played. Now every power 5 goes to Tournament and instead you have 4th place Southern teams? Ew.

This is nothing more than the A10 invitational. If we lose to Dayton does that change our season? NO, if we beat Dayton does it help our season? NO! It just means we continue to prove they were the 2nd best team in A10. The A10 on paper should absolutely rock this tournament. Could easily see a final 4 of all A10.

I'll go one further, if the A10 is a 1 bid league and no one will schedule us. Lets just play the post Season A10 invitational for real and invite whoever we want. Every A10 team hosts and rotate the semis and final between cities.

From a guy who used to watch us lose to Mount St Mary's in the old gym on (Half a) Ring Road, I repeat, I'll take it. You don't have to.

 

[Verdad]

Hmmm, so maybe playing in the NIT can give our players invaluable experience that could contribute to them making an NCAAT run in the future and it is NOT worthless to play in the NIT?!

 

[hoops10]

Please explain how GW. Is the only A10 team in the crown tournament. This event is loaded with power 5 schools, ie Georgetown, Nebraska Arizona State, USC, Cincincinnati,Villanova, etc.
What the hell is going on?

 

[daveshac]

I have been posting in my thread “the afterlife”

And now I have that Squirrel Nut Zippers song running through my head all day.

 

[Patriot8]

Hmmm, so maybe playing in the NIT can give our players invaluable experience that could contribute to them making an NCAAT run in the future and it is NOT worthless to play in the NIT?!

I'm not totally down on the NIT. If we are playing games, we might as well win, and I'll be tuned in.

But, for a team whose rotation is mainly comprised of 5 "final-year" seniors plus Haynes, I don't think this tournament means what it used to for roster development. Maybe Stas plays 24 minutes and rains 3s though.

I certainly don't view it as worthless.

 

[jruby]

Hmmm, so maybe playing in the NIT can give our players invaluable experience that could contribute to them making an NCAAT run in the future and it is NOT worthless to play in the NIT?!

What players? They are all seniors and according to people on here everyone is leaving. The whole starting 5 is leaving.

 

[Pablo]

Please explain how GW. Is the only A10 team in the crown tournament. This event is loaded with power 5 schools, ie Georgetown, Nebraska Arizona State, USC, Cincincinnati,Villanova, etc.
What the hell is going on?

Men's Basketball Accepts Invitation to Inaugural College Basketball Crown - George Washington University Athletics

For the first time since 2017, George Washington men's basketball is back in the postseason. The Buff & Blue have proudly accepted an invitation to the inaug...

gwsports.com

'WASHINGTON - For the first time since 2017, George Washington men's basketball is back in the postseason. The Buff & Blue have proudly accepted an invitation to the inaugural College Basketball Crown, held in Las Vegas from March 31 - April 6.

GW will open the 16-team tournament with a first-round matchup against Boise State at 5:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 31. The Broncos (24-10) advanced to the Mountain West title game before falling to Colorado State. This will be the first meeting ever between GW and Boise State. The winner will advance to the second round to take on either Utah or Butler."

 

[jruby]

Please explain how GW. Is the only A10 team in the crown tournament. This event is loaded with power 5 schools, ie Georgetown, Nebraska Arizona State, USC, Cincincinnati,Villanova, etc.
What the hell is going on?

Haha it’s all a mess. Again the A10 needs to just make their own tournament.

 

[jessej]

Please explain how GW. Is the only A10 team in the crown tournament. This event is loaded with power 5 schools, ie Georgetown, Nebraska Arizona State, USC, Cincincinnati, Villanova, etc.
What the hell is going on?

All A-10 teams with .500 or better Conference winning percentages have Post Season play

NCAA - vcu
NIT - GMU, Dayton, Loyola-Chicago, St. Joes, St. Louis, & St, Bonaventure
Crown - GWU
CBI - none
any others?

 

[jruby]

Men's Basketball Accepts Invitation to Inaugural College Basketball Crown - George Washington University Athletics

For the first time since 2017, George Washington men's basketball is back in the postseason. The Buff & Blue have proudly accepted an invitation to the inaug...

gwsports.com

'WASHINGTON - For the first time since 2017, George Washington men's basketball is back in the postseason. The Buff & Blue have proudly accepted an invitation to the inaugural College Basketball Crown, held in Las Vegas from March 31 - April 6.

GW will open the 16-team tournament with a first-round matchup against Boise State at 5:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 31. The Broncos (24-10) advanced to the Mountain West title game before falling to Colorado State. This will be the first meeting ever between GW and Boise State. The winner will advance to the second round to take on either Utah or Butler."

In what world is GW, a team Mason beat 3 times and just beat easily going to the better tournament? Also Tulane???? Haha. It's got to be Money? Is the Crown a pay to play tournament? I know GW likely has way more money than Mason, that's the only explanation here.

If the power conferences hadn't ruined NIT selection and it was still all of the regular season champions that didn't win their tournament and then the rest were at large, that would still be the best #2 tourney like it used to be