If we win the NIT, will we hang a banner…
… that says: We 69!
all jokes aside, the NIT became irrelevant when the NCAA went to 64 teams. The NCAA then rubbed salt in the wound by increasing it to 68 teams.
Does anyone care to compete to become the 69th best team?
Yes they should
Not hanging a banner would be a slap in the face to the players and coaches
Win a tourney, hang a banner. No shame in winning four in a row and getting better.
March 14th, 2023 at 11:09 PM ^
Pretty sure we'd need to win five in a row. But agreed otherwise
You can contemplate that, or you can root for the Michigan team that's in the NCAA tournament as a 6-seed.
After "one FG in nineteen minutes against Rutgers", I'm done with the men until next season.
of course there should be a banner. what a silly question.
I understand we've got a game tonight. Go Blue!
NIT Champions 1997*
*+26
It matters. I'd hang it proudly in the practice facility so the players can see their achievements, but I will say it probably doesn't belong with the rest of the banners in Crisler.
...but there are other NIT banners in Crisler
There was a time where the NIT was considered superior to the NCAA tournament. Teams used to play in both, but the NIT champion was usually viewed more or less as being the "National Champion."
Only one team in history, City College of New York, won both the NIT and NCAA tournament in the same year (both were held at MSG). They also, are the only NCAA Division I champion that no longer competes in Division I basketball. There is your fun fact of the day that may help you on Jeopardy one day.
I just got done explaining the NCAA tournament to my 8 year old, and all those "must win" games Michigan had this season needed to make the Big Dance. Now I'm explaining that win or lose, Michigan is basically playing exhibition games.
It won't happen but increasing the NCAA playing field and nixing the NIT and CBI would make it more interesting. Frankly, I think it's more exciting just making the field than winning the latter.
I like the idea of expanding depending on the year, for example, if the regular season conference champion doesn’t win the conference championship, both those teams should be in.
March 14th, 2023 at 11:12 PM ^
I like the pressure that the current threshold puts on the end of the season for teams that have underperformed. Making it wouldn't be an accomplishment if a poor year like this guaranteed a spot
Beat Ohio.
Please don't post
I plan to watch Michigan in the NIT and celebrate any wins just like I would if they were in the NCAA Tournament.
If they win the tournament, I surely hope they celebrate it and are honored with a banner. Is it a national championship? No. Is it an accomplishment? Most definitely.
NIT BABY LET'S DO THIS!!!
I followed a lot of midmajor/small school college basketball this year (thanks, online sportsbooks!). Also watched us a fair bit. There are definitely 68 better teams in the country better than us. Or at least 68 teams with more energy, more drive, and more passion to win. I'm predicting we lose in the first round of the NIT; Toledo's a solid team and we're clearly intimidated by the MAC.
I love Juwan - my years at U-M coincided with his, and the Fab 5 will always be among my favorite Michigan athletes. But I don't enjoy having him as our coach, and I can't stand having our coach's kids on the team, talented as they may be. It's a dynamic I've disliked since playing youth sports. This team is in for a dark and depressing season next year. Cue the Debbie Downer image. Am I wrong though? Is my lack of faith disturbing? This whole season felt like a long night in a wet sleeping bag.
The funny thing is when bad luck runs your season into the ground everyone goes full worst case scenario but if we were a 5 seed with 4 more wins in 50/50 games we would all be fine and dandy.
There were some really bad decisions this season and next season will be very important but Im willing to give Juwan a pass this year (as if there is a choice). I dont think anyone is happy with these results and getting Kobe and Hunter back will be huge.
I bring this up every year but the winner of the NIT isn't the 69th best team, it's probably more like the 38th or 39th best team when you consider all the auto bid teams who make the NCAAs and would have no chance but for the auto bid if selection was strictly based on power ratings.
PS, I think they should go high school style, eliminate the conference tournaments and maybe shorten the regular season by a week. Let every team into the tournament. There would be some fascinating games (and some that aren't) under that model.
What if they lose…in the first round…at home???
Absolutely. Not even a close question.
NIT is a joke with subpar teams that didn’t make it to the Big Dance !!! The only real consolation is YOU GET MORE PRACTICE!
No bragging points or banners should be hung….THIS IS MICHIGAN !!!