View Full Version : Maryland plays Minn. 1st round of NIT
erb8472
03-16-2008, 09:23 PM
NIT bracket just came out and MD is a 5 seed playing Minn.
Game is Tuesday on ESPN.
BaltBird 24
03-16-2008, 09:32 PM
Hasn't Minnesota been playing good ball of late? Knocked off Indiana in the Big Ten tourney. Atleast losing to them, if infact we do lose to them, won't be quite as embarassing as when we lost to Manhattan a couple years back.
Dr. FLK
03-16-2008, 09:34 PM
I thought Minn might sneak into the big dance with their nice finish. This should at least be an entertaining game.
clapdiddy
03-16-2008, 09:46 PM
Wow...one and done in the NIT! How fitting!
I would LOVE to see MD go on a nice run and maybe get to the NIT Final Four, but it isn't going to happen. Wouldn't shock me to see them get embarrassed on national TV.
gallden
03-16-2008, 09:55 PM
So lets say they won the NIT would that make them the 65th best team in the country?
Sports Guy
03-16-2008, 10:00 PM
Wow...one and done in the NIT! How fitting!
I would LOVE to see MD go on a nice run and maybe get to the NIT Final Four, but it isn't going to happen. Wouldn't shock me to see them get embarrassed on national TV.
I think they will be one and done as well.
However, i think this is important for the Terps...They are a young team and the more they can play against good competition and play together, the more it benefits them.
They need to go into this wanting to win it all...A few years ago, they got bounced early(manhattan??) and I don't think they wanted to be there.
BaltBird 24
03-16-2008, 10:13 PM
I don't think they wanted to be there.
Does anyone really want to be at the NIT?
Sports Guy
03-16-2008, 10:19 PM
Does anyone really want to be at the NIT?
Teams that had no shot of making the tourney should want to be there.
Gives them a chance to play together some more...And hell, if you win the damn thing, it is at least something.
The NIT used to be the tourney.
Teams that had no shot of making the tourney should want to be there.
Gives them a chance to play together some more...And hell, if you win the damn thing, it is at least something.
The NIT used to be the tourney.
One other thing is that 3 of the 4 NIT Final Four teams last year made the big dance this year.
I think its a good experience for any team because its more practice and games. Of course, the goal is the NCAAT but if you don't make it, then the NIT is better than nothing.
I'm disappointed that VT didn't make the big dance but I think an NIT run will do wonders for our young team.
Sports Guy
03-16-2008, 10:31 PM
One other thing is that 3 of the 4 NIT Final Four teams last year made the big dance this year.
I think its a good experience for any team because its more practice and games. Of course, the goal is the NCAAT but if you don't make it, then the NIT is better than nothing.
I'm disappointed that VT didn't make the big dance but I think an NIT run will do wonders for our young team.
Absolutely....In some ways, it may be better than the NCAAs.
I say that because they are more likely to have a deeper run in the NIT than in the NCAA in all likelihood.
Obviously the prestige isn't there but a team like VaTech needs games together and this may be the best way for them to accomplish that.
Absolutely....In some ways, it may be better than the NCAAs.
I say that because they are more likely to have a deeper run in the NIT than in the NCAA in all likelihood.
Obviously the prestige isn't there but a team like VaTech needs games together and this may be the best way for them to accomplish that.
I think that we'll make it to MSG if we can get by VCU. I think that VT/VCU will be a good game.
One things for sure, there are a lot of high profile teams in the NIT. MD, UF, OSU, ASU, etc. Should be a fun tourney to watch.
Oriole4Life
03-17-2008, 01:40 AM
I am glad they are in this and will be cheering them on. As some of the posters above have mentioned, this is a good thing for a young team. I don't understand how some people wanted Gary Williams to reject a NIT bid. Why? To retain a sense of false pride? To pretend like it doesn't mean anything, or that only the NCAA is acceptable? No, you go play and try to win it. It is a valuable experience. Of course the NCAA is the goal, but if you don't make it you don't make it, and try to achieve otherwise.
I think we can beat Minnesota and then Syracuse. I don't know who might be after that(I saw the brackers earlier but forget), but you never know. I am not expecting big things but just hope we play hard.
BaltimoreTerp
03-17-2008, 01:41 AM
http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/brackets/viewable_nit
Get your brackets ready!
DuffMan
03-17-2008, 08:28 AM
http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/brackets/viewable_nit
Get your brackets ready!
Go Morgan State!
Yawn....the only interesting things in this matchup are that Tubby Smith dreamed of going to Md and would have had they not rescinded their offer (I think he would jump at an offer to coach there) and that Md did not get a home game.
Golgo
03-17-2008, 09:45 AM
The reason Gary tried to reject the NIT bid a few years back was because he felt his team was snubbed in NCAA selection process.
I hope that this year they take the opportunity to give their bench some significant minutes and let them get some good tournement experience for next year. Actually I think both Osby and Gist should be on the bench to start the game.
Lucky Jim
03-17-2008, 10:37 AM
The reason Gary tried to reject the NIT bid a few years back was because he felt his team was snubbed in NCAA selection process.
I hope that this year they take the opportunity to give their bench some significant minutes and let them get some good tournement experience for next year. Actually I think both Osby and Gist should be on the bench to start the game.
There's simply no way that Gary puts his two seniors on the bench to start what may be their last game. Especially when they're good guys, like Boom and James.
That's just nuts.
Sports Guy
03-17-2008, 10:41 AM
There's simply no way that Gary puts his two seniors on the bench to start what may be their last game. Especially when they're good guys, like Boom and James.
That's just nuts.
I agree with this but guys like Burney should get extended minutes especially since Osby has really faltered down the stretch.
Lucky Jim
03-17-2008, 12:58 PM
I agree with this but guys like Burney should get extended minutes especially since Osby has really faltered down the stretch.
Agree 100%. I was just noting the "starting" component. You don't bench seniors for their (potentially) final game. Not unless there's a severe disciplinary issue.
Sports Guy
03-17-2008, 01:01 PM
BTW, i see UVA is in the CBI tourney...Hey Yardbirds, do you have your CBI tourney brackets filled out? :D
Golgo
03-17-2008, 01:18 PM
Agree 100%. I was just noting the "starting" component. You don't bench seniors for their (potentially) final game. Not unless there's a severe disciplinary issue.
I pretty much agree, but I personally think Boom has played his way out of the starting line up (as has Hayes) and I dont think Gist can really impact his draft status.
At the same time, I understand that it would never happen. I think the goal of the NIT shouldn't really be to win it, but to develop their players for next year.
If they won the NIT, would that banner be flying in Comcast next season?
Avsfan
03-17-2008, 03:57 PM
I'm probably not even gonna watch
YardBirds13
03-17-2008, 04:59 PM
BTW, i see UVA is in the CBI tourney...Hey Yardbirds, do you have your CBI tourney brackets filled out? :D
Very funny.
I'm just glad we are in one of them.
This should be a time to play some serious minutes with Singletary off the floor. I'd expect a lot of the minutes to be played with Baker, Diane, Jones, Mikalauskas and Scott on the floor.
That will be our starting line-up next year, except with Jones or Diane coming off the bench and Landesburg starting.
ccbird
03-17-2008, 06:55 PM
You play to win the game as Herm Edwards would say. These aren't exhibition or pre season games, they go on your record and they should be played as such. You don't put guys out there for anymore minutes than you normally would during the regular season. I understand the thought process of getting some of these young guys more PT but it doesn't really work in the real world.
EddieO's21
03-17-2008, 10:20 PM
call me when they're out...won't take long
markpolis
03-18-2008, 01:17 AM
call me when they're out...won't take long
Hey Eddie, you there??? Oh, the game hasn't started yet. I'll call you back in a few minutes. ;)
birdsfan4ever
03-18-2008, 09:39 PM
I like how ESPN cut to the MD game for a few seconds, just in time to see Vasquez throw the ball away.