The official NIT thread: Mason vs. Samford

[hoopsjunkie75]

I swear I saw $15 published somewhere but can't find it. Anyone have a screenshot?

And now the ticket website is back to "Sold Out" so maybe they will come back at $15 sooner or later?

 

[gmubrian]

So Mason and others didn’t know that everyone would boycott the NIT? Again the power schools have ruined college basketball. There was nothing wrong with the system.

The A10 needs to get stronger and fire back or what’s the point in being in this basketball only league?

The irony here is the A10 schools are the very ones that pissed off the major schools, vcu, Mason, Loyola and Davidson all went on crazy runs and join the A10 and in turn the power schools lock them out.

Why didn't we wait until the crown tournament was figured out? If we declined the NIt would we have been offered the Crown?

1) Does the tournament start after the portal opens?
2) How many fans would attend a tournament in Las Vegas, vs attending games at EBA?
3) How are the post-season clauses written into CTS's contract?

Why is everyone so sure we weren't invited to participate in the Crown?

To add to jessej's response, there are several questions/issues with the Crown:
1. As jessej hints at, the portal will have already opened by the time the Crown plays. That could really make things weird for teams playing in it whether they are impacted directly or their opponents are.
2. I, myself, would prefer to host a home game (or 2 or 3 depending on how things work out).
3. This is the first year of the Crown. How do we know it won't be a complete joke?

 

[GMUgemini]

For my money, the NIT has 100 years of history and despite the fact that the NCAA, which bought it what 15 years ago or so has neglected it doesn’t take that history away.

If they wanted to, they could make it the premiere second tier tournament and hard for teams to turn down, but that would also require them to promote it better and to stop giving away bids to 70% of certain conferences to the NCAA.

 

[dr. gunnie]

I swear I saw $15 published somewhere but can't find it. Anyone have a screenshot?

$15 was sent out on social media, but then it was updated minutes later and the price was deleted.

 

[GMU79]

For my money, the NIT has 100 years of history and despite the fact that the NCAA, which bought it what 15 years ago or so has neglected it doesn’t take that history away.

If they wanted to, they could make it the premiere second tier tournament and hard for teams to turn down, but that would also require them to promote it better and to stop giving away bids to 70% of certain conferences to the NCAA.

Yes! I DO want to win the darn thing, bring back a trophy, and hang a dadblamed banner!
Come on guys!! Just Win!!

 

[jawnjawn]

Tickets already sold out?

 

[jruby]

Why is everyone so sure we weren't invited to participate in the Crown?

To add to jessej's response, there are several questions/issues with the Crown:
1. As jessej hints at, the portal will have already opened by the time the Crown plays. That could really make things weird for teams playing in it whether they are impacted directly or their opponents are.
2. I, myself, would prefer to host a home game (or 2 or 3 depending on how things work out).
3. This is the first year of the Crown. How do we know it won't be a complete joke?

I don't think we should have played in the Crown, I agree 100%. Maybe they decided they just didn't care that majors boycotted the NIT. With that said, A10 needs to call the ACC and Big east and maybe one or 2 others and say hey we take our top 3 each and then have 3 wild cards.

The ACC and big east are in trouble. However NO BIG10 and absolutely no Sec. They can go play in Crown if they want. I don't know how the BIG12 thinks, they feel like they are more aligned with SEC and BIG 10 though maybe not. The A10 needs to step up, this isn't the CAA, this is a very rich basketball conference. So are the ACC and Big East. They could make something happen and even if the ACC doesn't want to, I bet the BIG east would play the A10.

 

[gmubrian]

Tickets already sold out?

Yes

 

[daveshac]

Tickets already sold out?

As awesome as their A10 tourney run was, I assure you they did not sell out Eagle Bank Arena for this game against Samford.

 

[GMU1983]

Still 4 power 4 teams in NIT. Also, who wants to wait like 13 days to play in the Crown?

 

[illayin]

tickets finally available https://www.ticketmaster.com/nit-fi...ax-virginia-03-19-2025/event/15006271A148269C

 

[PDGL Hoops]

I just hope we all have a nice time.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

I was able to finally buy my tickets at the field house ticket office around 430 - total for two tickets was $55. They were also able to print me paper tickets.

They also said season ticket holders will get in 30-40 minutes early. Not sure how that's going to work, but good to hear.

 

[FreeGunston12]

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.

Your doom and gloom is really harshing the mellow around here.

 

[psyclone]

!

I was able to finally buy my tickets at the field house ticket office around 430 - total for two tickets was $55. They were also able to print me paper tickets.

They also said season ticket holders will get in 30-40 minutes early. Not sure how that's going to work, but good to hear.

Yeah for paper tickets!! $25 plus fees, I guess. $15 for those 12 and under.

Whatever happened to the system where one could buy tickets online and then print them at home?

 

[Sport31]

Lets cut the doom and gloom, this team has revived Mason basketball. We should all be there Wednesday supporting this team which has many major accomplish this season: 1) A10 regular season champs; 2) post season invite NIT; 3) reached A10 finals for first time in history; 4) first team A10 player;5) A10 DPOY and lastly they have a chance to win a post season tournament. We should all be proud and happy how they have represented the university.

 

[tblack33]

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?

That tournament is name recognition only, the actual quality of those teams is complete a**. DePaul made the cut. FWIW — the quality of basketball in this NIT bracket is going to be much better.

Plus NIT ends sooner so it frees up coaches to get started in the portal.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

ASU has like 13 wins I think. Love the Sun Devils but come on. Should have been Portland State instead, or Towson.

 

[tblack33]

That tournament is name recognition only, the actual quality of those teams is complete a**. DePaul made the cut. FWIW — the quality of basketball in this NIT bracket is going to be much better.

Plus NIT ends sooner so it frees up coaches to get started in the portal.

For reference, here’s the conference record of the teams people are probably thinking are good that is making people think this is better than the NIT:

- 7-13 USC
- 4-16 Arizona State
- 7-13 Cincinnati
- 4-16 DePaul
- 6-14 Butler
- 7-13 Nebraska
- 7-13 UCF
- 3-17 Colorado

The NIT field ain’t great but it’s better than this.

 

[GMU79]

For reference, here’s the conference record of the teams people are probably thinking are good that is making people think this is better than the NIT:

- 7-13 USC
- 4-16 Arizona State
- 7-13 Cincinnati
- 4-16 DePaul
- 6-14 Butler
- 7-13 Nebraska
- 7-13 UCF
- 3-17 Colorado

The NIT field ain’t great but it’s better than this.

I'm feeling better about the NIT all the time!