Simple question: NCAAT or NIT ???

[megablue]

Would it be nice to Kentucky win five (5) straight games to the end the season, versus losing early in the NCAAT ??
NIT is not as prestigious, OF COURSE, but the Cats would add to their all-time win total and fans can enjoy ending on a winning streak, not a loss.

 

[UKCowboys]

We are in the big dance, doesn’t matter

 

[Smeegs]

It’s always better to make the Big Dance. Period. Even if it means a first round flameout, that still beats the NIT.

 

[MarkPftw]

Honestly, I'll say win five straight in the NIT. I've always said that winning the NIT is basically equivalent of making it to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 but not winning those rounds in the NCAA Tournament difficulty wise. Plus we could actually gain in the all time wins department. Problem is, this team hasn't shown me at all they can win the NIT. In fact, most teams in the NIT are the type of mid teams this team struggles with.

 

[TFCat11]

Is this how far UK has fallen? I guess it’s never too late to get some masking tape framed glasses, dye my hair multiple colors, and go cheer for Duke, I suppose.

 

[Monday Nitro]

We are in the big dance, doesn’t matter

And we aren't losing in the 1st round and probably not the 2nd.

 

[TommyMansky]

Get a new university president who doesn’t gift golden parachutes.

 

[moses1uk]

the dumbest question of the day

 

[TommyMansky]

the dumbest question of the day

The day is young

 

[moses1uk]

The day is young

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Hypothetical doesn't match the current situation so I'll answer it in a vacuum.

It's actually a very difficult question to answer for me.

- NIT championship has negligible importance.
- Winning five games in the NIT is considerable to help with all-time wins race.
- On the other hand, every NCAAT win matters to get back to the top of that race.

I'd probably lean NIT if it was 5W there and only 1W in NCAAT.

 

[megablue]

Hypothetical doesn't match the current situation so I'll answer it in a vacuum.

It's actually a very difficult question to answer for me.

- NIT championship has negligible importance.
- Winning five games in the NIT is considerable to help with all-time wins race.
- On the other hand, every NCAAT win matters to get back to the top of that race.

I'd probably lean NIT if it was 5W there and only 1W in NCAAT.

Yes ... it is a moot point, as we will be in the NCAAT and hopefully play our best basketball. I hope we can win at least three (3) games.
Having said that, I see it the same way you do, especially if ALL invited teams accepted the opportunity to play. There would be tough games to win.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Yes ... it is a moot point, as we will be in the NCAAT and hopefully play our best basketball.
Having said that, I see it the same way you do, especially if ALL invited teams accepted the opportunity to play. There would be tough games to win.

I thought it was an interesting topic.

 

[SECHonk]

Get a new university president who doesn’t gift golden parachutes.

Yes Ww need a university president whose primary focus is its sports teams

 

[megablue]

I thought it was an interesting topic.

Thanks ... just a what if type of thing. There would be tough teams in the NIT, if everybody accepted invites. Lots of parity in basketball now ...

 

[SamePooter]

I’d rather get beat by 60 in the ncaat than win the NIT. If you get bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament imagine losing the first round of NIT.

no way I would watch that. I don’t believe in being better then the next person but Kentucky is to good to be in the NIT. If we are bad enough to miss the tournament Pope better be figuring some stuff out for next season rather play the NIT. Sad times.

 

[megablue]

I’d rather get beat by 60 in the ncaat than win the NIT. If you get bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament imagine losing the first round of NIT.

no way I would watch that. I don’t believe in being better then the next person but Kentucky is to good to be in the NIT. If we are bad enough to miss the tournament Pope better be figuring some stuff out for next season rather play the NIT. Sad times.

The question wasn't would you rather go to the NIT, rather than the NCAAT ... the hypothetical was losing early in the NCAAT versus WINNING the NIT !!! Of course, losing early in NIT would be awful, no question. I'm not even certain that KY would accept an NIT invitation, if they didn't make the NCAAT.

 

[SamePooter]

The question wasn't would you rather go to the NIT, rather than the NCAAT ... the hypothetical was losing early in the NCAAT versus WINNING the NIT !!! Of course, losing early in NIT would be awful, no question. I'm not even certain that KY would accept an NIT invitation, if they didn't make the NCAAT.

Well I think I answered that question also. I’d rather anything in the NCAA than anything NIT.

I was on enough teams growing up that won sportsmanship awards.

 

[WeWant9]

Honestly, I'll say win five straight in the NIT. I've always said that winning the NIT is basically equivalent of making it to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 but not winning those rounds in the NCAA Tournament difficulty wise.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

The ncaa. This is UK. Or I thought it was.

 

[rivercatinfl]

I'm anxiously awaiting how we play this afternoon.
My sense is UF will win going away and we will get 7 seed in the NCAA.
I've lost interest in if we can win a game in the SEC Tourney. In fact, it might be better to rest the team especially if JQ and or Kam can make it back for the NCAA's.
Being real. I don't see this team making any meaningful strides in the next couple games.

 

[LexingtonThoroughblade]

Only reason I voted NIT is I would assume lots of these players are back next year. Could give some good experience. However, NITs are not what we should ever be playing in.

 

[JustBlue]

It is a moot point because we are locked in the NCAA Tournament this year but I've seen this team just flat give up too many times this year to assume they would win the NIT. The most likely scenario would be a player or two would sit out with a "nagging injury", the rest of the team would play disinterested and some mid-major would be so jacked to play UK that they absolutely throttle us.

No thanks.

If we get beat by TCU or someone in the first round then it is what it is.

JB

 

[megablue]

Well I think I answered that question also. I’d rather anything in the NCAA than anything NIT.

I was on enough teams growing up that won sportsmanship awards.

I get you, for sure, and understand your sentiment. Just for grins, I asked AI, It seems to have some kind of answer for any question.

Kentucky fans generally hold an "NCAA title or bust" mentality, often viewing anything less as a disappointment, though a 60-point loss is a historic embarrassment that would likely be viewed worse than a consolation tournament win. While the NIT is considered a lower-tier "consolation" event, Kentucky has won it twice and fans expect high-level performance regardless of the tournament.

Key Perspectives:

• Expectations: The expectation is to compete for a National Championship every year.
• NIT Value: While considered a "consolation" tournament, winning it is still seen as a positive outcome for a season that didn't go as planned.
• The "60-point loss" Factor: Such a massive loss in the NCAA Tournament would be considered a historic embarrassment for the program, which is often considered worse than winning a lower-tier championship.

Ultimately, most fans would likely prefer a "successful" end to a bad season (winning the NIT) over the national humiliation of a record-setting blowout loss in the NCAA Tournament. Based on historical precedent, Kentucky would likely accept an NIT invitation. The school has historically viewed it as a valuable opportunity for postseason experience and player development, especially with younger teams. Past instances in 2009 and 2013 showed the program accepting bids. Kentucky (22-14) went 2-1 in 2009 and went 0-1 in 2013, losing to Robert Morris to finish 21-12.

Kentucky at Notre Dame (March 25, 2009)

www.bigbluehistory.com

Kentucky at Robert Morris (March 19, 2013)

www.bigbluehistory.com

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

1) No you take the NCAA tournament every single time. Every single time.
2) Lets say we did get in the NIT instead, who is to say we wouldn't have had the same result and lose in the second round of that tournament lol.

I'll edit this since the OPs thing was def second round L or def NIT win.

Still I'm taking the tournament every single time lol.

I don't know about anyone else but to me the NCAA tournament is one of the best events in the sports year to me. When UK losses, I tend to lose a little interest in it (at least for a bit after the L). If UK wasn't even in it........I'd probably still watch since I'm a college bball nutcase but I wouldn't be nearly as invested in it.

It's also hard for me to wrap my head around this "what if". While I know we could very well be an underdog in the second round, I could easily see a scenario this team makes a Sweet 16.

 

[megablue]

1) No you take the NCAA tournament every single time. Every single time.
2) Lets say we did get in the NIT instead, who is to say we wouldn't have had the same result and lose in the second round of that tournament lol.

I'll edit this since the OPs thing was def second round L or def NIT win.

Still I'm taking the tournament every single time lol.

I don't know about anyone else but to me the NCAA tournament is one of the best events in the sports year to me. When UK losses, I tend to lose a little interest in it (at least for a bit after the L). If UK wasn't even in it........I'd probably still watch since I'm a college bball nutcase but I wouldn't be nearly as invested in it.

It's also hard for me to wrap my head around this "what if". While I know we could very well be an underdog in the second round, I could easily see a scenario this team makes a Sweet 16.

I feel much like you do. Thanks for the post.

 

[TommyMansky]

Yes Ww need a university president whose primary focus is its sports teams

You think a made up $1 million salary job is good for academics or sports programs or both? It makes me wonder what other horrible decisions the administration has made outside of sports.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Maybe not as extreme as last year but again I feel like there's going to be a massive cutoff between 1s and 2s/3s. I just feel Arizona, Michigan, Duke and I'll say UF are clear cut ahead of other teams.
I feel like if UK can just avoid being an 8 or 9 seed, I like our chances of pulling off an upset in the second rd.

 

[megablue]

Maybe not as extreme as last year but again I feel like there's going to be a massive cutoff between 1s and 2s/3s. I just feel Arizona, Michigan, Duke and I'll say UF are clear cut ahead of other teams.
I feel like if UK can just avoid being an 8 or 9 seed, I like our chances of pulling off an upset in the second rd.

What seed would you like to see us be reasonably awarded ??

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

What seed would you like to see us be reasonably awarded ??

Right now on bracket matrix we are the last 6 seed. I think depending on how this season ends it seems reasonable to me 5-7 range. I think that's fair too. We've been basically a 25-30th ranked team during this entire season. Maybe we get a little bump in seeding for having a bit of Q1 wins. Which would allow us to avoid the 1 seed in the second round at least. I really like our chances in a potential 6-3 game or a 4-5 game.

 

[MarkPftw]

The NCAA will never allow us to win the NCAA Tournament again and even if they did, we wouldn't stand a chance in hell with Mark Pope. Get that through your heads. 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019 was proof of that. Maybe the NCAA might actually allow us to win the NIT and maybe we could actually win the NIT and increase our all time wins lead with Mark Pope.

 

[SECHonk]

The NCAA will never allow us to win the NCAA Tournament again and even if they did, we wouldn't stand a chance in hell with Mark Pope. Get that through your heads. 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019 was proof of that. Maybe the NCAA might actually allow us to win the NIT and maybe we could actually win the NIT and increase our all time wins lead with Mark Pope.

Dear God what is wrong with some of you people?

 

[JwUKFan11]

Gotta be a troll. Can’t imagine even thinking these 2 are even comparable.

 

[Damage_inc]

I feel like I need the 4 losers to reveal themselves

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

The question wasn't would you rather go to the NIT, rather than the NCAAT ... the hypothetical was losing early in the NCAAT versus WINNING the NIT !!! Of course, losing early in NIT would be awful, no question. I'm not even certain that KY would accept an NIT invitation, if they didn't make the NCAAT.

UK has accepted and played in the NIT. If it was nothing BUT the NIT, you play in the NIT everytime

 

[MarkPftw]

Dear God what is wrong with some of you people?

I don't know, maybe it was the rooferree bending us over with no lube in the 2015 Final 4 and 2017 Elite 8 or the refs putting our 60% and obviously struggling free throw shooter to the free throw line 20+ times in the 2018 Sweet 16 game but not calling **** on Auburn the final 10 minutes of regulation in the Elite 8 in 2019 that gives me my opinion on the NCAA. And maybe it's Pope's 23 losses in less than two seasons that gives me no hope with Pope.

 

[UKAlum84]

Here's a legit question, you gonna root for undefeated Miami OH? Or stand with a battle tested, anything can happen UK team?

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Not everything is a conspiracy against UK lol.

We didn't win the tournament in those years because we weren't good enough on the days we lost. Period.

 

[MarkPftw]

Not everything is a conspiracy against UK lol.

We didn't win the tournament in those years because we weren't good enough on the days we lost. Period.

Riiiiiiight.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Refs make bad calls all the time.
This was over 10 years ago. Get over it.