(03-25-2019 03:25 PM)jcohen42 Wrote: Right, but I'm not sure such a pessimistic view is warranted here. Most of the teams, despite playing on the road, are not getting blown out by power teams. That's not insignificant, because it lets us assume that the midmajor teams and power teams that make the NIT are about equal in strength.
To me it is about moving the needle. When decisions in the future are being made and perceptions formed, losing by 1 or losing by 40 typically does not matter. It is still seen as a loss, as unfair as that sounds. So if the mids want to change perception the only choice is win and win consistently. We all know the top tier of mid majors are equal or better than middling power conferences, however without consistent winning to prove it out, nothing will change.
I was hoping when I had looked into the NIT that there would be better results, but they are what they are. Typically 3 of the 4 teams that go to MSG are from power conferences and from there the title has a mid major playing in it, just 1 out of every 3 years. That is just not getting it done.
Mids just are not winning the tournament. In the last decade 3 mid majors won (George Washington in 2016, Wichita State in 2011 and Dayton in 2010). That is the highest rate of winning in its history. That means the gap is slowly closing, but we are far from getting there.
Prior to that the last mid major winner was 2002 with Memphis. 2001 and Tulsa. Then you have to go all the way back to 1987 with Southern Miss. As cruel as it sounds, winning is how you change perception.
Gonzaga felt it forever before they finally broke through past the sweet sixteen. But having a single team hold the torch is not good either. That is why I am saying in the NIT there has to be more consistent winning happening if as a collective group they want more consideration for at large bids. Once there its about taking your opportunity. This year there were 3 mid majors well above a normal team (Buffalo, Nevada, Wofford). None of them made it out of the first weekend (Yes how you are bracketed matter, but it is still the facts). Nevada making consecutive runs could have started to move the needle again, then they had an absolute clunker against a not great Florida team. It happens, but the timing could not have been any worse.