NCAA or NIT? Which would be best for these young Bucks?
March 06 2008 09:13 PM -- Filed in: Basketball
| BuckeyeChris
After being a frequent reader and comment
contributor, BuckeyeChris has been kind enough to
join Buckeye Commentary as a basketball contributing
writer. Tonight marks his inaugural post and I am
sure you will agree with me in hoping he continues.
Enjoy.
Barring back-to-back wins against Michigan State (the Buckeyes play Sparty this Sunday and will play them again on Friday in the 4 vs 5 game at the Big Ten Tournament) plus a few more wins in the Big Ten Tournament next weekend, the Buckeyes are likely looking at a berth in the NIT (forgive me, Non-Important Tournament) this year.
I guess I am just greedy after a few seasons in a row of trips to the NCAAs, but the NIT just doesn't excite me.
That said, as painful as this team can be to watch, they aren't that bad. For the most part, they aren't getting blown out. They are just losing to teams they shouldn't be losing to (such as teams that have to hold "Buy 2 tickets, get 2 free!" promotions...Ann Arbor, I'm lookin' at you) and displaying a consistent failure to seal the deal in crunch time (see the Tennessee game, the Wisconsin game at home and the Indiana game at home). A prime example of the presence of this complete confusion in crunch time was to be observed Tuesday night against Purdue. Yes, I am aware that they won in overtime. However, what was the plan at the end of regulation? Does this team run any set plays? It once again did not appear so. They dribbled and passed until about 0:08 and then someone just spazzed toward the center of the court, 4 defenders converged, the ball was knocked free...Purdue ball... opportunity blown.
Let's face it. This team needs a "go-to" guy in the worst way. If they had someone who commanded the ball in crunch time, who knows how many of their near misses (Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin) may have been big wins? If such a player can, from the shadows, emerge in the final week of the pre-NCAA Tournament season the Buckeyes may (repeat "may") be able to make some noise NCAA-wise.
With such a young team I think it's vital to the future that this team make it to the "Big Dance." The experience, bright lights and atmosphere the NCAAs offer would be exponentially more beneficial to these young men compared to what the NIT has to offer. I say this even on the assumption that the Bucks may lose in round one or two of the NCAAs. What would they gain from going to the Semi-Finals of the NIT? The bottom line is this, you don't come to Ohio State to play in the NIT.
Barring back-to-back wins against Michigan State (the Buckeyes play Sparty this Sunday and will play them again on Friday in the 4 vs 5 game at the Big Ten Tournament) plus a few more wins in the Big Ten Tournament next weekend, the Buckeyes are likely looking at a berth in the NIT (forgive me, Non-Important Tournament) this year.
I guess I am just greedy after a few seasons in a row of trips to the NCAAs, but the NIT just doesn't excite me.
That said, as painful as this team can be to watch, they aren't that bad. For the most part, they aren't getting blown out. They are just losing to teams they shouldn't be losing to (such as teams that have to hold "Buy 2 tickets, get 2 free!" promotions...Ann Arbor, I'm lookin' at you) and displaying a consistent failure to seal the deal in crunch time (see the Tennessee game, the Wisconsin game at home and the Indiana game at home). A prime example of the presence of this complete confusion in crunch time was to be observed Tuesday night against Purdue. Yes, I am aware that they won in overtime. However, what was the plan at the end of regulation? Does this team run any set plays? It once again did not appear so. They dribbled and passed until about 0:08 and then someone just spazzed toward the center of the court, 4 defenders converged, the ball was knocked free...Purdue ball... opportunity blown.
Let's face it. This team needs a "go-to" guy in the worst way. If they had someone who commanded the ball in crunch time, who knows how many of their near misses (Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin) may have been big wins? If such a player can, from the shadows, emerge in the final week of the pre-NCAA Tournament season the Buckeyes may (repeat "may") be able to make some noise NCAA-wise.
With such a young team I think it's vital to the future that this team make it to the "Big Dance." The experience, bright lights and atmosphere the NCAAs offer would be exponentially more beneficial to these young men compared to what the NIT has to offer. I say this even on the assumption that the Bucks may lose in round one or two of the NCAAs. What would they gain from going to the Semi-Finals of the NIT? The bottom line is this, you don't come to Ohio State to play in the NIT.
