2021 National Invitational Tournament (NIT)

[cato]

I'm with the doc. But I will fully support whatever decision the team makes.

I have been hoping for an NIT invite and that the team accepts it. I think the NIT offers a better opportunity for growth than the NCAA, so am not disappointed that the team looks unlikely to slide into the larger tourney as one of the last teams in.

[throatybeard]

I have been hoping for an NIT invite and that the team accepts it. I think the NIT offers a better opportunity for growth than the NCAA, so am not disappointed that the team looks unlikely to slide into the larger tourney as one of the last teams in.

For sure.

Another school I got mixed up with at some point, Mississippi State, has had a number of nextfourout-ish seasons since their last crest in 1995-2004, and a number of deep NIT runs. In context, I'd prefer to maintain a quarter-century NCAAT streak. But if that's off the table anyway, and in the context of a single season under a job-secure coach, I'd much rather see an NIT final four run than an NCAAT first round bounce out. MSU has had some genuinely fun runs in the NIT, and in the Carolinas, you've seen some people/programs like Dave Odom and WFU/USC profit from that tournament. And we've lost a number of schedule opportunities to COVID, and Lord knows these frosh need some more experience.

Now to stop myself form saying anything pessimistic about our chances in the NIT.

[CameronDuke]

REPORT: After not being offered a bid to the NCAA tournament, @DukeMBB will not play in the NIT, marking the official end to the Blue Devils' 2020-21 season.

Courtesy: @dukebasketball official Twitter account.

[heyman25]

Would have liked to see improvement like Louisville game.Now it is over. Hope 2021/22 is the Redemption season.

[devilseven]

report: After not being offered a bid to the ncaa tournament, @dukembb will not play in the nit, marking the official end to the blue devils' 2020-21 season.

Courtesy: @dukebasketball official twitter account.

bah humbug!

[brevity]

REPORT: After not being offered a bid to the NCAA tournament, @DukeMBB will not play in the NIT, marking the official end to the Blue Devils' 2020-21 season.

Courtesy: @dukebasketball official Twitter account.

@DukeMBB is the official Twitter account. @dukebasketball is the Chronicle's Twitter account covering Duke basketball.

The Chronicle, like many media outlets, are editorializing a bit to create some rollercoaster drama where there probably was none.

[Duke79UNLV77]

REPORT: After not being offered a bid to the NCAA tournament, @DukeMBB will not play in the NIT, marking the official end to the Blue Devils' 2020-21 season.

Courtesy: @dukebasketball official Twitter account.

Disappointing. I would have liked to have seen them compete and continue to build winning experience.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Disappointing. I would have liked to have seen them compete and continue to build winning experience.

Not going to Texas is a sane move.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

So, it's over

[TywinBlue]

Not going to Texas is a sane move.

After all the team and the University have been through, there was just no way the Administration was going to let the team go to Texas for a prolonged period while most CoVID restrictions are being relaxed there.

[superdave]

Not going to Texas is a sane move.

Why? The team could use experience.

What is wrong with Texas? Is it different than an ACC road game? We did those. Is it different than going to Indianapolis, which we would have accepted if we were better?

I would prefer more games regardless of the location.

[rsvman]

Why? The team could use experience.

What is wrong with Texas? Is it different than an ACC road game? We did those. Is it different than going to Indianapolis, which we would have accepted if we were better?

I would prefer more games regardless of the location.

I think the point they are trying to make is that Texas recently dropped all Covid precautions and restrictions.

[SavDukeGrad]

Apparently, the NCAA has an arrangement where the first four out are supposed to be 1 seeds in the NIT. But, Louisville has said they won’t accept an NIT bid, even if they are not a replacement team.

[cbarry]

I think the point they are trying to make is that Texas recently dropped all Covid precautions and restrictions.

Precisely! As much as I wanted to see us play more hoops, if Texas is our only option, I’m glad we declined. Not worth the risk.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Apparently, the NCAA has an arrangement where the first four out are supposed to be 1 seeds in the NIT. But, Louisville has said they won’t accept an NIT bid, even if they are not a replacement team.

Louisville is not in the NIT bracket. I am not clear what happens if any of the other NIT teams gets called up to the NCAAs. Are there NIT alternates? Or do they just forfeit the game. I think/hope the odds of that are pretty low, given that Louisville is the first alternate, so it would mean the NCAAs needing to get down to the second alternate.

I just hope they don't screw up my NIT bracket pool

[roywhite]

Not going to Texas is a sane move.

After all the team and the University have been through, there was just no way the Administration was going to let the team go to Texas for a prolonged period while most CoVID restrictions are being relaxed there.

I think the point they are trying to make is that Texas recently dropped all Covid precautions and restrictions.

Precisely! As much as I wanted to see us play more hoops, if Texas is our only option, I’m glad we declined. Not worth the risk.

Oh, okay, if it makes you feel better. Texas doesn't have any restrictions, while Duke University has had many restrictions, but now has a ton of positive cases and a campus-wide shutdown. I guess we're really showing them.

[SavDukeGrad]

Louisville is not in the NIT bracket. I am not clear what happens if any of the other NIT teams gets called up to the NCAAs. Are there NIT alternates? Or do they just forfeit the game. I think/hope the odds of that are pretty low, given that Louisville is the first alternate, so it would mean the NCAAs needing to get down to the second alternate.

I just hope they don't screw up my NIT bracket pool

Yes, Louisville is the only one of the “first 4 out” NCAA replacement teams to reject an NIT bid. Apparently, there is also a first 4 out for the NIT, in case a team gets called up to the NCAAs or a replacement team is needed in the NIT.

Also, I didn’t realize that NC State had accepted an NIT bid - looks like they are the only ACC team.

[JBDuke]

Folks - let's keep this on topic. This thread is about the 2021 NIT Tournament. It is NOT a thread about how some states and institutions are responding to COVID.

[SoCalDukeFan]

The team has been asked to play all season mostly without fans in basically TV studios. They were isolated from practically everyone else.

They went to at least one game, Florida State, and had to come home without playing the game. They were constantly checked for the virus. I would assume that the coaching staff had to alter team building and practices and they become something much different from the past.

While I enjoyed watching many of the games, I personally think the right call was made by the Duke women bball team that canceled the season.

Hopefully next season will be "normal." Each year is different from the last and the value of a few more games in basketball in my opinion is pretty small. The players will play with and against each other lots more between now and the start of next season's practices. This is not football. Also, some players that come back may come back to different roles.

I feel very sorry for the players who could not have the season they envisioned.

Already looking forward to next year.

Has any team gone from Uninvited to Winning it All in the 64/68 team NCAA era?

SoCal

[brevity]

Has any team gone from Uninvited to Winning it All in the 64/68 team NCAA era?

Connecticut was academically ineligible in 2013 but may have otherwise made the field with a 20-10 (10-8 Big East) record. They switched to the American Athletic Conference and won it all in 2014.

There may be others.