OT Why is Penn State not in NIT bracketology?

Kat burglar

Redshirt
Sep 5, 2017
231
8
18
Their Net ranking is 42 vs Michigan St at 70

I assume it is wins/losses

PSU is 11-14 and MSU is 15-12

Maybe its Quad 1 wins PSU 3 vs MSU 5

But still, PSU should be a bubble team NCAA and in the NIT

Looks like no Big Ten teams in NIT

Not sure how the Tournaments decide on participants

Any one know?
 

NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,327
1,502
113
Their Net ranking is 42 vs Michigan St at 70

I assume it is wins/losses

PSU is 11-14 and MSU is 15-12

Maybe its Quad 1 wins PSU 3 vs MSU 5

But still, PSU should be a bubble team NCAA and in the NIT

Looks like no Big Ten teams in NIT

Not sure how the Tournaments decide on participants

Any one know?
You can't be a NCAA Bubble team with a losing record. Just can't. Just as you can't go to a football bowl game with a losing record.
 
Jun 18, 2005
4,040
135
0
Their Net ranking is 42 vs Michigan St at 70

I assume it is wins/losses

PSU is 11-14 and MSU is 15-12

Maybe its Quad 1 wins PSU 3 vs MSU 5

But still, PSU should be a bubble team NCAA and in the NIT

Looks like no Big Ten teams in NIT

Not sure how the Tournaments decide on participants

Any one know?

I one point I felt like I had a grasp on these things, but as the years have gone by (and NU has faded from any postseason discussion) I haven’t kept up...especially when the NET ranking was introduced.

Styre would be your best resource for this type of question.

That being said, here is what I remember about the pre-covid NIT.

1) A conference regular season champion not invited to the NCAA tournament gets receives an automatic bid to the NIT...however, I’m not sure if this is still in play due to the reduced field (16 instead of 32).

2) Teams with losing records can be invited to the NIT, but it often will be the bluebloods (if they accept a bid).

3) The NIT is no longer a separate entity from the NCAA. There is now stronger collaboration between the two.

4) Seeding is based more on regional considerations (and ticket draw) than record/merit. Again, this could change with a smaller field and covid.
 
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Styre

Senior
Oct 14, 2004
7,732
403
83
1) A conference regular season champion not invited to the NCAA tournament gets receives an automatic bid to the NIT...however, I’m not sure if this is still in play due to the reduced field (16 instead of 32).

2) Teams with losing records can be invited to the NIT, but it often will be the bluebloods (if they accept a bid).

3) The NIT is no longer a separate entity from the NCAA. There is now stronger collaboration between the two.

4) Seeding is based more on regional considerations (and ticket draw) than record/merit. Again, this could change with a smaller field and covid.

1) Not in play this season. All 16 teams will be at-large bids.

2) Teams with losing records can be invited to the NIT, but none have actually been invited under the current format, and only one .500 team has been invited under the current format. This, I assume, is what's keeping Penn State out, because NET 42 from a major conference would normally be a lock for the NIT.

3) Yep.

4) Yes and no. The official "first four out" of the NCAAs are given the 1-seeds in the NIT, and normally the auto-bids from weak conferences end up filling the 7- and 8-lines. But yes, a team that might deserve a home game on merit may end up on the road due to regional and/or financial considerations.
 
Jun 18, 2005
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135
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1) Not in play this season. All 16 teams will be at-large bids.

2) Teams with losing records can be invited to the NIT, but none have actually been invited under the current format, and only one .500 team has been invited under the current format. This, I assume, is what's keeping Penn State out, because NET 42 from a major conference would normally be a lock for the NIT.

3) Yep.

4) Yes and no. The official "first four out" of the NCAAs are given the 1-seeds in the NIT, and normally the auto-bids from weak conferences end up filling the 7- and 8-lines. But yes, a team that might deserve a home game on merit may end up on the road due to regional and/or financial considerations.

As always, a great and informative response.

Thank you again for your weekly football and basketball schedules. They are most helpful.
 

Styre

Senior
Oct 14, 2004
7,732
403
83
Oh, I forgot, the NIT is
As always, a great and informative response.

Thank you again for your weekly football and basketball schedules. They are most helpful.

No problem!

Also, I forgot to mention - the NIT this year is being held entirely at two arenas in Texas, so the usual travel/financial considerations don't apply.

Also also, I've been looking at some NIT bracketology and at least two sites have Penn State in the field. This is going to be a weird year.
 

GatoLouco

Sophomore
Nov 13, 2019
5,636
116
63
2) Teams with losing records can be invited to the NIT, but it often will be the bluebloods (if they accept a bid).
Is it common for programs to not accept an invitation?

3 years ago, I believe, Louisville was invited, the players did not want to go. They ended up going because the backlash in the local media was fierce
 
Aug 31, 2003
14,966
440
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I one point I felt like I had a grasp on these things, but as the years have gone by (and NU has faded from any postseason discussion) I haven’t kept up...especially when the NET ranking was introduced.

Styre would be your best resource for this type of question.

That being said, here is what I remember about the pre-covid NIT.

1) A conference regular season champion not invited to the NCAA tournament gets receives an automatic bid to the NIT...however, I’m not sure if this is still in play due to the reduced field (16 instead of 32).

2) Teams with losing records can be invited to the NIT, but it often will be the bluebloods (if they accept a bid).

3) The NIT is no longer a separate entity from the NCAA. There is now stronger collaboration between the two.

4) Seeding is based more on regional considerations (and ticket draw) than record/merit. Again, this could change with a smaller field and covid.
#2 was not true until the NCAA took over the NIT, then they changed the rule. And still I'm not sure it has happened, even for the blue-bloods (there were .500 teams invited in 2019, but none under).

This would be the season that it would happen, given the reduced non-conference schedule. But again, with only 16 teams, maybe not.

#4 Was true more so in the pre-NCAA NIT, but the seeding has been much more meritocratic since then. I do believe the last four out of the NCAA do indeed get the top seeds in the NIT (guaranteed home games as long as they win). In the old days, there wasn't even a set bracket (until the Big Apple); they would determine who played each other and who was the home team after each round.
 

willycat

Junior
Jan 11, 2005
21,448
318
0
#2 was not true until the NCAA took over the NIT, then they changed the rule. And still I'm not sure it has happened, even for the blue-bloods (there were .500 teams invited in 2019, but none under).

This would be the season that it would happen, given the reduced non-conference schedule. But again, with only 16 teams, maybe not.

#4 Was true more so in the pre-NCAA NIT, but the seeding has been much more meritocratic since then. I do believe the last four out of the NCAA do indeed get the top seeds in the NIT (guaranteed home games as long as they win). In the old days, there wasn't even a set bracket (until the Big Apple); they would determine who played each other and who was the home team after each round.
Sort of a related question... why does Pen. St. have pink and lots of it on their uniforms?
 

Secho99

Freshman
Dec 12, 2001
1,843
75
48
Also also, I've been looking at some NIT bracketology and at least two sites have Penn State in the field. This is going to be a weird year.

PSU probably should be in the NIT. If they had racked up 8 more wins over cupcakes in a full non-conference schedule nobody would really bat an eye if they got in at 19-14 when they’re the exact same team at 11-14.
 
Jun 18, 2005
4,040
135
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Is it common for programs to not accept an invitation?

3 years ago, I believe, Louisville was invited, the players did not want to go. They ended up going because the backlash in the local media was fierce

I think it’s pretty uncommon, but has happened. Georgetown skipped it in the early 2000s and Indiana turned down a bid last decade because they thought it was beneath them. Kentucky also considered turning down a #1 seed in the NIT the year after they won a national championship, but ultimately played.

Coaches getting fired pre-tournament can make the NIT less appealing and I think programs have passed on it for that reason as well.

I’m not sure if you can still decline a bid. There was a statement from the NIT about “eliminating financial considerations” in 2015 and I remember hearing/reading somewhere that passing on the tournament needed to be decided prior to the start of season. Not sure if that provision is actually a thing or my recollection is failing me.

Styre might have the answer to this as well.
 
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Jun 18, 2005
4,040
135
0
#2 was not true until the NCAA took over the NIT, then they changed the rule. And still I'm not sure it has happened, even for the blue-bloods (there were .500 teams invited in 2019, but none under).

This would be the season that it would happen, given the reduced non-conference schedule. But again, with only 16 teams, maybe not.

#4 Was true more so in the pre-NCAA NIT, but the seeding has been much more meritocratic since then. I do believe the last four out of the NCAA do indeed get the top seeds in the NIT (guaranteed home games as long as they win). In the old days, there wasn't even a set bracket (until the Big Apple); they would determine who played each other and who was the home team after each round.

Yep.

I remember the ‘Cats just missing out on the NIT during one of J’tim Young’s seasons after losing a game in the BIG Tournament. I think it was against Michigan State and put them a game under for the year.

I miss having actual conversations about postseason basketball.
 

Styre

Senior
Oct 14, 2004
7,732
403
83
Penn State is not in the NIT field, nor is any other team with a losing record.