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NIT, MSG and History

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REDRICH65

All-Conference
Aug 9, 2010
2,773
2,186
113
Sad. Used to go see some games there 60 years ago. Great piece on its history
 
C

cRURah

All-Conference
Nov 13, 2004
4,953
3,979
62
My greatest college men's BB memories were watching RU playing in the garden in the NIT in 1967. I was a student then. It was our first NIT invitation ever. During home games at the Barn that year, everyone chanted N-I-T, N-I-T, N-I-T while on their feet the entire game. Bobby Llyod and Jimmy Valvano were the considered one of the best backcourts in the nation and they led us to an incredible run to the semifinals. Tickets to the semi were sold out when we were up against Walt Frazier and Southern Ilinois. Stayed up waiting in line all night outside the BARN just to get tickets to the live video feed of the game to be held inside the Barn during the game. Atlantic 10, Big East, Big 10...it doesn't get any better than it was back then!
 
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M

Mr. Magoo1

Heisman
Nov 15, 2001
15,468
16,313
113
It’s time. I used to never miss watching a lot of the games and especially the semis and finals. Couldn’t care less anymore.
 
J

JerseyShoreKnight

All-Conference
Jan 2, 2014
3,081
2,954
0
AreYouNUTS said:
Move it to The Palestra!
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I was watching one of the games and heard the announcers say Las Vegas and Hinkle are both options. I get the commercial appeal of a Vegas, but, if those are the only options, I hope it’s Hinkle. Let’s at keep some level of basketball nostalgia in the postseason.
 
K

knight82

All-American
Nov 4, 2002
8,491
9,106
113
Texas A&M and Xavier in a very entertaining championship game right now. Multiple lead changes. Currently tied with 5 1/2 to go
 
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bac2therac

bac2therac

Hall of Famer
Jul 30, 2001
247,681
177,369
113
to get fans to actually go it has to be in a top notch venue with anementies, not many looking to sit in a crusty smell uncomfortable bandbox, have they upgraded concessions at the place over the years.

to be realistic the whole tourney is a hard sell. If you dont have a local team or anyone within 100 miles its hard to generate the necessary enthusiasm. Vegas could work but maybe the game should be shifted toward the weekend.
 
J

JerseyShoreKnight

All-Conference
Jan 2, 2014
3,081
2,954
0
bac2therac said:
to get fans to actually go it has to be in a top notch venue with anementies, not many looking to sit in a crusty smell uncomfortable bandbox, have they upgraded concessions at the place over the years.

to be realistic the whole tourney is a hard sell. If you dont have a local team or anyone within 100 miles its hard to generate the necessary enthusiasm. Vegas could work but maybe the game should be shifted toward the weekend.
Click to expand...
I checked and Hinkle got upgraded in 2014. It definitely sounds better but I’ve never been so I wouldn’t know if it’s good or bad.


I think the new site will draw the first two or three years, regardless of location, because of curious local fans. It’s about maintaining that level of interest. MSG can sell itself. Do Hinkle, any Vegas arenas or any other college gyms draw regardless of the matchup?
 
M

Mr_Twister

All-American
Apr 1, 2004
15,684
5,819
0
Folks down here say the new venue for the NIT is the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers Florida. Seton Hall lost to Ohio State in the November 2021 Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip Off tournament earlier this season at the same venue.
 
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B

bethlehemfan

Heisman
Sep 6, 2003
15,110
16,395
113
as a teen I attended the 1978 nit semis. Back then I think the ncaa was 32 schools so the nit had really good teams. A really good Texas team ran ru off the court but I remember the atmosphere as being terrific. It was Georgetown and nc state in the semis. Back in those days you played the consolation maybe because people weren’t such babies then (sorry couldn’t resist) and ru beat Georgetown easily. Before the garden was the game against Larry bird and isu. Rutgers also beat ranked St. John’s and ranked Syracuse teams that year and finished 24-7. The garden was a great venue for college basketball. Huge crowds would go see local teams and it didn’t have to be the johnies either.
 
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D

DHajekRC84

Heisman
Aug 9, 2001
30,709
19,818
0
bethlehemfan said:
as a teen I attended the 1978 nit semis. Back then I think the ncaa was 32 schools so the nit had really good teams. A really good Texas team ran ru off the court but I remember the atmosphere as being terrific. It was Georgetown and nc state in the semis. Back in those days you played the consolation maybe because people weren’t such babies then (sorry couldn’t resist) and ru beat Georgetown easily. Before the garden was the game against Larry bird and isu. Rutgers also beat ranked St. John’s and ranked Syracuse teams that year and finished 24-7. The garden was a great venue for college basketball. Huge crowds would go see local teams and it didn’t have to be the johnies either.
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My frosh year on the banks. Those teams '76 thru Hinson were just great. Golden years and I was lucky enough to be there courtside for all of them.
 
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N

NiTeKnight

Senior
Nov 28, 2003
738
769
93
cRURah said:
My greatest college men's BB memories were watching RU playing in the garden in the NIT in 1967. I was a student then. It was our first NIT invitation ever. During home games at the Barn that year, everyone chanted N-I-T, N-I-T, N-I-T while on their feet the entire game. Bobby Llyod and Jimmy Valvano were the considered one of the best backcourts in the nation and they led us to an incredible run to the semifinals. Tickets to the semi were sold out when we were up against Walt Frazier and Southern Ilinois. Stayed up waiting in line all night outside the BARN just to get tickets to the live video feed of the game to be held inside the Barn during the game. Atlantic 10, Big East, Big 10...it doesn't get any better than it was back then!
Click to expand...
Went to a couple of those NIT games in MSG that year. It was great. Bobby Lloyd still one of the best shooters I have ever seen. Wonder how many points he would have scored if they had 3 pointers back then. He used to make 3 pointers when they only counted for two.
 
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R

RUPete

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
26,841
16,113
0
bethlehemfan said:
as a teen I attended the 1978 nit semis. Back then I think the ncaa was 32 schools so the nit had really good teams. A really good Texas team ran ru off the court but I remember the atmosphere as being terrific. It was Georgetown and nc state in the semis. Back in those days you played the consolation maybe because people weren’t such babies then (sorry couldn’t resist) and ru beat Georgetown easily. Before the garden was the game against Larry bird and isu. Rutgers also beat ranked St. John’s and ranked Syracuse teams that year and finished 24-7. The garden was a great venue for college basketball. Huge crowds would go see local teams and it didn’t have to be the johnies either.
Click to expand...
That was a good team and I remember them well. An NCAA team under today's structure. I remember them beating Army in the first round of the NIT and I had to go back and look this part up- sure enough, we beat Coach K in a post-season game! RU-Army Game Story
 
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