I am attaching a link to the postgame press conference from Monday night - it's now available on ICGaels.com. Scott, Mike and Rah handle themselves very well in a very tough situation. As to further play, at the start of the video, TC makes it very clear that, while he knows NCAA is done, he definitely wants to continue playing in some tournament - he does not limit it to NIT.
I'm not sure I want a C-Tournament myself. But, as I said yesterday, my preference is of no import. I think the players and coaches are the ones who should have the most voice in this regard. If they are all on the same page and wish to continue to compete at their highest level, so be it. If they are not fully committed, a C-Tourney appearance could prove to be a negative.
NCAA At Large- Where on earth did this come up from? No way, Saintly becoming a human being has a better shot.
NIT-has to be 50/50 right now. If there are no more upsets, maybe we have a shot. However Iona and lucky breaks have a unfamiliar ring. Go LIU!!
C-TOURN-YES BY ALL MEANS PLAY IN ONE OF THESE! We could even win a championship. But with a lame duck AD, as well as President, how much of a impact will this have?
At large of course is not going to happen but the talk came from this omni site that puts us in easily.
The crazy thing about this site is Iona is the only unbelievable pick, most others are similar to what all the "experts" say. So it isn't just a bad/crazy ranking system. Omni does have a slight bias against majors. For example it doesn't have a 4th Sec team in when you know the committee will select a 4th sec team. The ranking takes all politics out of it, it isn't a predictor like Lunardi, it just tells who should be in. Omni is probably right that a 4th sec team doesn't deserve to be in. I actually think their rankings are pretty damn accurate.
joebird, I think you hit it right on the nose when you said, "The ranking takes all politics out of it". That certainly explains why the Omni site could never be an accurate predictor of NCAA decisions. Omni simply let's facts be the determining factor. NCAA - thy middle name is politics!
[/quote] Unfortunately, if Springfield fails, I fear the tourney will go to Albany permanently. I still hope others will get a chance, but Bridgeport blew theirs IMO.[/quote]
Can your see any way that Springfield doesn't fail? I am very pessimistic about the attendance there.
Fans without a rooting interest simply won't go to Mid Major basketball games. I have a hard time watching games on TV that don't involve the MAAC or CAA (Hofstra Grad), I certainly wouldn't go to the NEC or AEAST tournament if it were 15 minutes away at Nassau Coliseum. To most fans, Mid Major b-ball is like watching an 8 year old girls' soccer game. If your daughter is playing, it is thrilling, if she's not, boring beyond description.
The funny thing is, if Springfield ever is an attendance success, it will probably be because Hayseed Nation has a good team and its fans turn it into "TUC East" as they are only about 90 miles away. That would pretty much defeat the purpose of moving it from Albany.
I'd rather see it rotated between Albany, Bridgeport and perhaps one other site (IZOD or Prudential? Buffalo? Trenton?). I wouldn't mind if Albany got it more often than the others, every other year or even 2 out of 3 years. I just don't think it is fair for HN to have the homecourt advantage every year.
Please, not Buffalo or Trenton! I agree that barring a miracle, Springfield will be an attendence disaster. The two closest schools are Fairfield and Siena. This year's final allowed for Iona and to a lesser extent St. Peter's to transport students due to the proximity. Iona had approximately 10 bus loads. If that was Springfield, I think 3 or 4 would be the absolute top number possible. I remain one who, despite it being Siena's homecourt, feels that, all things considered, Albany offers the best venue for the tournament. Second best, IMO, would be IZOD or the new Nets' arena in Brooklyn.
Unfortunately, if Springfield fails, I fear the tourney will go to Albany permanently. I still hope others will get a chance, but Bridgeport blew theirs IMO.[/quote]
Can your see any way that Springfield doesn't fail? I am very pessimistic about the attendance there.
Fans without a rooting interest simply won't go to Mid Major basketball games. I have a hard time watching games on TV that don't involve the MAAC or CAA (Hofstra Grad), I certainly wouldn't go to the NEC or AEAST tournament if it were 15 minutes away at Nassau Coliseum. To most fans, Mid Major b-ball is like watching an 8 year old girls' soccer game. If your daughter is playing, it is thrilling, if she's not, boring beyond description.
The funny thing is, if Springfield ever is an attendance success, it will probably be because Hayseed Nation has a good team and its fans turn it into "TUC East" as they are only about 90 miles away. That would pretty much defeat the purpose of moving it from Albany.
I'd rather see it rotated between Albany, Bridgeport and perhaps one other site (IZOD or Prudential? Buffalo? Trenton?). I wouldn't mind if Albany got it more often than the others, every other year or even 2 out of 3 years. I just don't think it is fair for HN to have the homecourt advantage every year.
[/quote]
It's all about promotion. What did Bridgeport do to promote the Tourney? Squat.
There is a reason the NBA Hall of Fame is in Springfield. It will draw local and Alumni.
Unfortunately, if Springfield fails, I fear the tourney will go to Albany permanently. I still hope others will get a chance, but Bridgeport blew theirs IMO.[/quote]
Can your see any way that Springfield doesn't fail? I am very pessimistic about the attendance there.
Fans without a rooting interest simply won't go to Mid Major basketball games. I have a hard time watching games on TV that don't involve the MAAC or CAA (Hofstra Grad), I certainly wouldn't go to the NEC or AEAST tournament if it were 15 minutes away at Nassau Coliseum. To most fans, Mid Major b-ball is like watching an 8 year old girls' soccer game. If your daughter is playing, it is thrilling, if she's not, boring beyond description.
The funny thing is, if Springfield ever is an attendance success, it will probably be because Hayseed Nation has a good team and its fans turn it into "TUC East" as they are only about 90 miles away. That would pretty much defeat the purpose of moving it from Albany.
I'd rather see it rotated between Albany, Bridgeport and perhaps one other site (IZOD or Prudential? Buffalo? Trenton?). I wouldn't mind if Albany got it more often than the others, every other year or even 2 out of 3 years. I just don't think it is fair for HN to have the homecourt advantage every year.
[/quote]
Springfield has supported the D-II tournament regionals and such over the years. This is what Ensor is banking on--that the people will come out to see D-I ball, with an NCAA bid on the line.
Disagree re the "TUC East" thing. Big difference in playing on a court that you've played 13 games on already during the season that also allows you to stay in your regular housing/dorms, etc, and staying in a hotel and playing on a strange court 90 miles away--even if you get 4K hayseeds in the stands.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Again, the MAAC presidents wanted this. They wanted the neutral site. And the MAAC went about getting the 3-year deal so that the market can be built up over time, rather than a one-shot deal like Bridgeport just got. Easier to build a base.
And as I said, the MAAC is betting that Joe Hoops Fan in Springfield will go to the tournament, based on what they've seen with regard to D-II nationals there. Joe Hoops Fan in Bridgeport, Trenton and Buffalo did not. And the idea of 3 years is based on Joe Hoops fan going in year 1, bringing a friend with him in year 2, bringing other friends in year 3.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Again, the MAAC presidents wanted this. They wanted the neutral site. And the MAAC went about getting the 3-year deal so that the market can be built up over time, rather than a one-shot deal like Bridgeport just got. Easier to build a base.
And as I said, the MAAC is betting that Joe Hoops Fan in Springfield will go to the tournament, based on what they've seen with regard to D-II nationals there. Joe Hoops Fan in Bridgeport, Trenton and Buffalo did not. And the idea of 3 years is based on Joe Hoops fan going in year 1, bringing a friend with him in year 2, bringing other friends in year 3.
FWIW, the attendance at last year's DII title game in Springfield, MA was 3,672.
Of course, that probably included a much higher percentage of locals than a typical MAAC championship game, since the teams were from far away, so MAYBE there is a base of locals that will show up in addition to the MAAC fans. I wouldn't bet the ranch on it though.
Again, the MAAC presidents wanted this. They wanted the neutral site. And the MAAC went about getting the 3-year deal so that the market can be built up over time, rather than a one-shot deal like Bridgeport just got. Easier to build a base.
And as I said, the MAAC is betting that Joe Hoops Fan in Springfield will go to the tournament, based on what they've seen with regard to D-II nationals there. Joe Hoops Fan in Bridgeport, Trenton and Buffalo did not. And the idea of 3 years is based on Joe Hoops fan going in year 1, bringing a friend with him in year 2, bringing other friends in year 3.
FWIW, the attendance at last year's DII title game in Springfield, MA was 3,672.
Of course, that probably included a much higher percentage of locals than a typical MAAC championship game, since the teams were from far away, so MAYBE there is a base of locals that will show up in addition to the MAAC fans. I wouldn't bet the ranch on it though.
Apparently Ensor did. :-)
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Of course, that probably included a much higher percentage of locals than a typical MAAC championship game, since the teams were from far away, so MAYBE there is a base of locals that will show up in addition to the MAAC fans. I wouldn't bet the ranch on it though.