11/05/24
August 02, 2005
The NIT and NCAA face off in court on Monday.: "In U.S. District Court in New York, the National Invitation Tournament is challenging the NCAA's requirement that teams attend its championships if invited. The NIT, a once-prominent postseason basketball tournament but now greatly overshadowed by the concurrent NCAA event, contends teams should have the choice to play in any tournament. That could open the postseason to entrepreneurs or prompt the top schools to organize themselves, as in football. Even a less extreme outcome could devalue the NCAA's cash cow, a tournament that accounts for at least 90 percent of its revenue. Should the NCAA be found to have intentionally harmed the NIT through an illegal monopoly, there's also the possibility of a large financial judgment, which is tripled in antitrust cases." An excellent summary by the Indy Star's Mark Alesia (via sports law blog)
posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 09:27 AM - 5 comments
No, teams that have a legit chance at winning the NCAA wouldn't want to go, but when was the last time a 16 beat a 1? Oh yeah, never...If you get enough cash in the NIT, I could see schools chasing the money.
posted by treak4455 at 02:02 PM on August 02, 2005
The NIT was much more important than the NCAAs in the early years, I think that really only changed in the '60s when there was a concerted effort to put the official tourney over the top. Since the NCAA is owned, essentially, by the member schools I figure that overturning the must play rule will not actually help the NIT or other organzers but instead force more attention to the concerns of schools that don't feel they're being heard.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:30 PM on August 02, 2005
most 16 seeds wouldnt win a game in the nit anyways . the teams shoved off the fence are usually worthy of a 12 seed but as we know the lower seeds are filled with smaller conference champs.
posted by evil empire at 03:46 PM on August 02, 2005
What does the NIT do if they win the suit? They would have to convince teams to decline their NCAA bid and come play the NIT instead. I'm guessing it will take a LOT of money to do that, since they don't have prestige or respect to offer. Where's the NIT going to come up with the money? Advertising dollars follow TV ratings, TV ratings follow the better teams, and the teams (athletic departments) follow the money. It's a vicious cycle.
posted by mbd1 at 04:30 PM on August 02, 2005
gee coach , i dont wanna try and win the ncaa championship , lets win the nit . after we will need lots of press to let everyone know we won cause noone will be watching . who won the nit this year , hmmm did they play it ?