Is this a positive return for FU athletics or just a feel good exercise?
If this does not deliver a positive financial return it is a waste of precious recruiting time and money.
And the platform (FloSports) is terrible IMO.
But I guess its a done deal and we are suckered into a second rate tournament again which "guarantees" money only to the promoters .
Do we get a memorable George Mason game? That did turn out to be a game talked about years after.
I was in Atlantic City and sure, it was an awful ride home at 10:30 Saturday night after coming so close. I had resigned myself to the fact that the season was over. I'm a season ticket holder, was at every home game and at most every away game with the exception of the Buffalo trip, the trip to St Mary's and 1 or 2 other Road games. I love every single player and coach on this team, I have been rooting for the Stags for 19 Seasons, this is by far the most Joy I have ever experienced as a fan, the best Team Talent I have ever witnessed play and I, for one, am mystified that anyone who calls themselves a Stags Fan, isn't excited to see this Team play more games, especially if the Players can earn some Dollars. Why not reward the Boys to a trip to Sunny Daytona and let them continue to give us some more thrills. Quite frankly, I'd STILL be pumped if these games were played in Nowhere Alaska at 3 in the morning. BTW, as far as instead putting the money towards Recruiting instead of this Tourney, for Christ sakes, our school is in Fairfield County, Connecticut, not Appalachia, with what the school charges for Tuition, we shouldn't exactly be in any soup lines because of Poverty. WE ALL wanted to go to the Dance, it didn't work out, so either enjoy this Tourney as a pleasant surprise or don't tune in and go do whatever it is that keeps your toes tapping. Go Stags!!
I’m sure we will have players in the portal too by this weekend. Considering the season I would leave this up to the team. If they want a trip to Florida and potentially a few more games then let them have it. They deserve it. These tournaments are essentially what college bowl games have become, stress-free games to let some others guys play or seniors their last chance.
4 teams 270 or worse. Some of these teams (believe Arkansas State) already have kids in the portal
There are one too many of these tournaments, either the CBI or CIT will not survive. The revenue model doesn't seem like it will work unless teams are willing to pay a lot to play. The first couple of times we were in the CIT, it seemed to make sense as we were trying to build program momentum. But over time, paying to play in a C tourney every year won't make sense.
I do like these tournaments for the mid-majors, especially for a conference champion that did not get an NIT invite. There should be a tourney that a conference champion gets to play in. Overall not happy with what has happened to the NIT. That is where the conference champs should be going.
The idea that NIL money is available is a bonus. Hopefully Stags will find a way to return to form and make a run in this tourney.
I am very disappointed we didn't make the NCAA tourney and I know this is more of a consolation prize. But if we are trying to build something, it is better than staying home. I'll certainly be watching the games.
I agree with those who see this trip as a reward for the players. While their peers were enjoying spring break the team was working hard in practice and games. This trip is their spring break, although without the drinking and partying. There will be no pressure on them compared to the past weekend and there is a chance to keep playing and end the season with a win. As long as this is what the players want to do I am all for it. This has been a long and trying year. The players endured the loss of their coach, the adjustment to a new system, and a slew of injuries only to finish a few points from the NCAA tournament. They deserve to enjoy themselves in Daytona Beach.
As for the tournament itself, it is a disappointing field knowing that there are many more deserving teams not in it. In light of the changes to the NIT, there is a niche for a good mid-major tournament, not a pay to play tournament like this one. It would be great to see the mid-major conferences come together and form their own version of the NIT that will be made up of the best teams that don't make the NCAA tournament. The leagues could agree on their own version of automatis to these teams with a legitimate seeding process. The early rounds could be against teams in the same region on the campus of the higher seed and the final four at a neutral venue. Television or streaming rights could be sold as a package or by the individual teams. I think it has a lot of potential.
Last Edit: Mar 18, 2024 12:23:49 GMT -5 by tommyd74
The portal being open while these tournaments are going on is not cool. I'd fix that #1.
#2 if there are going to be multiple layers of tournaments, is there some way to incentivize teams to want to play in them (other than cash prizes)? Europa League in soccer offers automatis to the next Champions League for the winner... why not that for the NIT Champ? Maybe give "enhanced consideration" or an automatic return NIT bid for the other finalist? Similar scheme could be in place for a C-tournament... automatic to future NIT, etc..
#3 I think the idea that a team MUST be .500 in conference to be eligible for any post-season needs to be explicit. NIT slots should be guaranteed to conference champs that lose their conference tournament.
Last Edit: Mar 18, 2024 12:20:02 GMT -5 by typhaon
The portal being open while these tournaments are going on is not cool. I'd fix that #1.
Agreed, but become more of a biz, professionals vs amateurs. I wonder how it’s being managed if someone goes in portal, doesn’t see good fit, and wants to come back? We are all wiser in our years and think can identify a good thing (ie. Admin support, community support, new arena, Coach Casey and Staff, winning). I think it is very, very hard to check all these boxes off for a player. Playing at FU is VERY attractive right now (because of all the above reasons).
The portal being open while these tournaments are going on is not cool. I'd fix that #1.
Completely agree here. I get that there will of course be talking the day after the season ends anyways (sounds like in some cases it's happening even before smh). But they should move the "legal" portal entry date to the day after the NCAA finals. In my opinion college basketball community's attention should be focused on enjoying the first round of the NCAAT in a few days. Already some big names on Day 1 of the Portal.
Yeah, I guess I am just tapping out as these tournaments have some woeful teams and it has nothing to do with rankings. I am a Cleveland State fan too but this just doesn't do it for me after the run we had.
I do like what Tom Crean said about playing if your players want to play (He was discussing all of the NIT Snubs) so I am not knocking the Stags....I am just not going to purchase FLO sports and get that emotionally engaged. For those who want to...by all means...I hope we win a game or two.
I have no problems with playing in this tournament. Little Rock is a good team; so is UC San Diego. Quinnipiac or Seattle after that. Maybe Fairfield can finish the season with a win. If the players want to play, then play.
That is the only reason to participate as the money appears to go to NIL. But every day the coaches are in Florida prepping for meaningless games, the portal is being neglected.
I have no problems with playing in this tournament. Little Rock is a good team; so is UC San Diego. Quinnipiac or Seattle after that. Maybe Fairfield can finish the season with a win. If the players want to play, then play.
That is the only reason to participate as the money appears to go to NIL. But every day the coaches are in Florida prepping for meaningless games, the portal is being neglected.
Given that you now also need to re-recruit your own players (at least the ones you'd like to stay, and we have a few this year we'd like to stay), another way to look at this C tournament and trip is that you are getting invaluable time with those players you want to keep, coaching them and bonding with them.
The portal being open while these tournaments are going on is not cool. I'd fix that #1.
Completely agree here. I get that there will of course be talking the day after the season ends anyways (sounds like in some cases it's happening even before smh). But they should move the "legal" portal entry date to the day after the NCAA finals. In my opinion college basketball community's attention should be focused on enjoying the first round of the NCAAT in a few days. Already some big names on Day 1 of the Portal.
Well concerning the portal, quite frankly until now I had thought moving the dates up and shrinking the time available to sign with another school made perfect sense and was a smart move. But after seeing how this affects Fairfield specifically and for that matter all other schools that are still playing basketball in any tournament, I've changed my mind regarding this. In fact I don't know how true this is, but in the last few hours I have heard that maybe one of the reasons St. John's and Pitino declined the NIT invitation they were to be given was that Rick thought it was more important to get started on the portal situation immediately. And as far as getting ready for next season he has a point I think. The bottom line is until ALL the action is over for all the programs in early April, the portal should be off-limits in order to make it fair for everyone IMO.