Former Birds in the Tournament

[dpdoughbird06]

If there are not automatic bids from conference tournaments then

1. Will ESPN and other media cover thise tournaments
2. Will fans of those conferences be interested in those tournaments
3. Lost revenue - conference tournament and no revenue from the tournament

I think CBS has the NCAA contract through 2032. I am not sure what outs there are but the P6 schools may have to still participate until then. I think the compromise you will see is an expanded Tournament. No insights just a guess. There could be byes with 96 teams or go to 128 so full schedule instead of first four in Dayton.

What would be really fun is a tourney that seeds 256 teams. Can you imagine an entire extra weekend that would pretty much have to go round-the-clock streaming endlessly on Paramount+? It would make for some ugly 1/64 matchups but think of the crazy upsets!

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Reeves took his shots at ISU but I always felt he was a team player. I think he was loyal to ISU and Muller and therefore I will always be rooting for him. I am glad he has moved on from Kentucky so I can go back to rooting against them.

I had Kentucky winning it all because I like Reeves. Should have backed Horne in what I thought would be their head-to-head, I guess.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Sadly the lesson being gleaned from this per Izzo & Friends is “how dare these anonymous small programs get a chance to have a magical shooting day and beat a blue blood! Off with their auto-bids that make this possible!”

As it is we’re already stuck with Robbie Avila playing one-on-one on Pat McAfee Show instead of lighting up the tournament.

Now imagine a field of 64 that includes 3/4 of every P5 rather than conference tourney winners. “Does the Valley deserve an at-large?” becomes “Does the Valley deserve a bid?”

The apocalypse is near.

I’ve always liked Izzo for the simple fact that he’ll play anyone,anywhere. Sometimes this includes mid majors.
He’s also a great ambassador of sportsmanship.
That said, his comments were way off base. Definitely outta character.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I’ve always liked Izzo for the simple fact that he’ll play anyone,anywhere. Sometimes this includes mid majors.
He’s also a great ambassador of sportsmanship.

He’s not a bad person by any means, but comments suggesting that auto-bids be eliminated are asinine. The NIT is already proving the folly of this.

 

[Redbird222]

I know there is a half to go but I want to be the first to finally say

See you Dusan

Sincerely

Lewis University fans
Moberly Community College fans
Illinois State fans
Utah fans
North Carolina State fans
Duquense fans

 

[Redbird222]

I know there is a half to go but I want to be the first to finally say

See you Dusan

Sincerely

Lewis University fans
Moberly Community College fans
Illinois State fans
Utah fans
North Carolina State fans
Duquense fans

And thanks to COVID he was able to beat Zach Loton 5 schools in 5 years

San Jacinito College
Illinois State
Minnesota (didn't play)
Texas Southern
New Mexico St

 

[Bird Friend]

Who had DJ Horne in the Sweet 16 before Antonio Reeves on their bingo card??

 

[DougSutton]

Who had DJ Horne in the Sweet 16 before Antonio Reeves on their bingo card??

I actually did. They won 5 games in 5 days in the ACC tournament and were on a hot streak playing like a team with great chemistry. Kentucky has had disappointing losses all year and they don't have good team chemistry. I've seen, especially in crunch time, Kentucky players wanting to play hero ball. Even though I had NC State going to the Sweet 16, and I enjoy supporting DJ Horne, I was cheering for Oakland to win.

 

[Bird Friend]

I actually did. They won 5 games in 5 days in the ACC tournament and were on a hot streak playing like a team with great chemistry. Kentucky has had disappointing losses all year and they don't have good team chemistry. I've seen, especially in crunch time, Kentucky players wanting to play hero ball. Even though I had NC State going to the Sweet 16, and I enjoy supporting DJ Horne, I was cheering for Oakland to win.

I guess my question was more a matter of “when they left ISU” . . . Reeves going to UK “should” have given him the better shot at a deeper run in the tourney, based on past dance history. Horne going to ASU/NCSU were moves to schools struggling to stay relevant in their respective conferences.

I agree with you on UK chemistry, though I’ve seen them play like world-beaters this year . . . but also like world-beaten.

 

[Hamdonger]

I actually did. They won 5 games in 5 days in the ACC tournament and were on a hot streak playing like a team with great chemistry. Kentucky has had disappointing losses all year and they don't have good team chemistry. I've seen, especially in crunch time, Kentucky players wanting to play hero ball. Even though I had NC State going to the Sweet 16, and I enjoy supporting DJ Horne, I was cheering for Oakland to win.

Did you gleefully exclaim BINGO, Doug?! I bet you're killin' it at the bingo hall. Watch out for those grandmama's though. They're sneaky and cutthroat! But take no sheet from them! #BingoKing

Nice pick and good call.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I actually did. They won 5 games in 5 days in the ACC tournament and were on a hot streak playing like a team with great chemistry. Kentucky has had disappointing losses all year and they don't have good team chemistry. I've seen, especially in crunch time, Kentucky players wanting to play hero ball. Even though I had NC State going to the Sweet 16, and I enjoy supporting DJ Horne, I was cheering for Oakland to win.

Reeves and Horne is another one of those fun what-if matchups that never were. I had Kentucky winning this head-to-head, but it was a tough call because of the run NC State has been on.

Of course it never even got that far, and is thus confined to the same hypothetical dust bin as the Illini visiting Redbird Arena in the 2017 NIT…

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I know there is a half to go but I want to be the first to finally say

See you Dusan

Sincerely

Lewis University fans
Moberly Community College fans
Illinois State fans
Utah fans
North Carolina State fans
Duquense fans

If he comes out of all this with a degree, his college transcript must be a work of art at this point. The real heroes are the admissions officers/academic advisers/compliance folks who sorted this all out.

 

[fdbird83]

If he comes out of all this with a degree, his college transcript must be a work of art at this point. The real heroes are the admissions officers/academic advisers/compliance folks who sorted this all out.

In the first game of the tourney, Dushan had 2 pts, 1 rebound in 13 minutes. I figured if you added this all up, 16, that's how many credits he actually has after 6 years.

 

[DougSutton]

DJ Horne just balled out for NC State as they beat Marquette 67-58. DJ had 19 points to lead NC State. He's 1 win away from the Final Four! This team has played incredible over the last few weeks since their conference tournament winning 5 games in 5 days. Their coach was on the hot seat and rumors were he was going to be fired at the end of the year. One of the better stories left in the tournament.

 

[GOP_Redbird]

 

[cubird]

Yes, but they weren't the same players 3 years ago.

 

[DBird]

Yes, but they weren't the same players 3 years ago.

Nor did they play with the same surrounding cast.

 

[Bird Friend]

DJ Horne to the Final Four . . .

 

[SgtHulka]

 

[DougSutton]

Sucks Indiana State just lost. Kept ESPN on and the NCAA 3 point competition is about to start and Antonio Reeves is in it. Well, not certain if he's doing 3 point or not but he's in the skills shooting with 2 guys and 1 woman and he hit a half court shot.