What will happen, when, you know, we join the ranks of NIT teams, meaning Not In Tournament? I've only known that feeling once, although losing first rounders a couple of times almost feels like it.
When will it happen? How will it happen?
It's gonna happen. Someday, Somehow.
Are we ready for that?
@wissoxfan83 I'M not ready for it. NIT? Talk about a walk of shame.....
@wissoxfan83 disagree somewhat that "losing first rounders almost feels like it". Half the teams in the tourney lose their first game, every year more quality teams get left out of the big dance that shouldn't have. Drop the NIT tourney, add another round to the NCAA. Give league champions automatic berths and league tournament champions. Drop 2 regular season games, start the tourney one week earlier. TV revenue will make up for loss of home games. Pretty simple. Play a couple of nights at Madison Square so they don't pout.
How about this - many years, including this year, the consensus is that the Big 12 is usually one of, if not the best basketball conference in the country.
SO -
Winner of the Big 12 is the NATIONAL CHAMPION!
NIT banners? Seriously? That would be something we would bury under the field house.
I googled it and came across this read. Thought it was worth sharing...
@wissoxfan83 I think you must be thinking about your Badgers.
@drgnslayr good story!!!
@drgnslayr Thanks for sharing - enjoyed that - although it did bring up painful memories. We have high expectations and when those expectations aren't met, it's hard; we're crushed. But those high, perhaps unrealistic, expectations are a result of a tradition of extraordinary achievement over decades. We're spoiled and happily so - the game was invented here - the three winningest programs of all-time have courts named after KU coaches - more conference titles than anyone and 10 straight - longest NCAA streak and so on.
NIT is unacceptable and anything short of the Final Four (at least in most years) is a disappoint. That's just the way it is. Almost every other program in the country would give up their first borns just to have the same opportunity to be disappointed. But, that also doesn't mean that some disappointments don't hurt more than others. We got beat by a better team in 2012 although we gave it a good fight. We just got beat by UCLA, Georgia Tech and Michigan State - hats off to the other guys. But, the Bradley's, Bucknell's, Stanford's, VCU's, Northern Iowa's - those hurt.
The NCAA tourney is a crapshoot, but we have to acknowledge that we've underachieved over the past two decades - at least relative to our seeds and our heightened expectations. That is a product of being spoiled by conference championships and numerous 1 and 2 seeds. Not sure I would have it any other way. Sure, would one trade some of that regular season success for another national title or two - absolutely, yes. But all of it, no.
But, ultimately we are measured by national championships. Why? Because we are one of the all-time great programs, recognized by everyone as such. With all the legacy and tradition and success, what is the only thing holding us back from being the consensus top program - a couple more national titles.
That is what you call a high class problem. RCJH!
Slowly, but surely, the Jayhawk faithful regain composure and raise heads once again!
I have to admit... one of the biggest aids for me was seeing that KSU NIT banner!
I'd rather be a Jayhawk on our worst day than a Wildcat on their best day!
RCJH, everyone!