Some good conversation here over such an interesting topic, especially after postseason cancellations of the past few years.
To eku05's question, no, Bellarmine in no way has the resume to be considered for the NIT under normal circumstances. I've followed March Madness and the NIT since the 80s. Like poster board and markers as a band nerd kid. LOL. I love this time of year!!
What sucks is that, if BU wins, we have all of this uncertainly for a team that legit just won a D1 conference tournament. Mind-boggling. NCAA, do better! Now, if they lose, what happens? To me, this team deserves more games! (And I think they'll get it. Hear me out!)
First of all, if JU wins, kudos. Mincy has come in and totally turned this club around.
If Bellarmine wins, and after eku's comments, I'm pretty certain in the sad reality that BU is not eligible for the NIT regardless of the outcome of the game. When UNA was in the situation last year, there was never any mention of the NIT if UNA won (not that they had BU's record, etc.). Only that LU was the regular-season champs and would be March Madness-bound either way. Of course, this year, that's complicated with JSU not being in the game. But, seems concrete, that JSU will be in March Madness if JU loses. JU will be where? Y'all will have to educate me on that. And Liberty? Anywhere?
There's a lot of postseason ball to be played. Of course, the NCAA Tournament and the NIT. It appears the CBI is on again this year with a field of 16 teams. Bellarmine and Stetson both played in it last season advancing to the semifinals.
The CIT is now The Basketball Classic. It will have a field of 32 teams. Commish Gumbart used to be on the CIT Committee before it was canceled two consecutive seasons for COVID.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Basketball_Classic
So, with all of that, what do y'all think? How many ASUN teams can play more this year and potentially where?
Current ASUN NET Rankings:
Rank/Previous/School/Conference/Record/Road/Neutral/Home/Quad1/Quad2/Quad3/Quad4
118 119 Liberty ASUN 19-11 6-3 3-5 10-3 0-1 0-2 7-4 12-4
139 139 Jacksonville St. ASUN 19-10 9-5 1-1 9-4 0-2 1-1 4-3 14-4
160 160 Jacksonville ASUN 17-9 6-9 0-0 11-0 0-0 0-3 2-6 15-0
195 194 FGCU ASUN 19-11 6-8 0-0 13-3 0-1 1-1 2-5 16-4
199 199 Bellarmine ASUN 15-13 8-8 1-1 6-4 0-5 1-1 2-4 12-3
223 226 Kennesaw St. ASUN 9-18 3-12 0-0 6-6 0-3 0-3 2-7 7-5
267 267 Lipscomb ASUN 11-19 3-13 2-0 6-6 1-3 0-4 0-5 10-7
268 268 Eastern Ky. ASUN 9-18 1-13 0-0 8-5 0-1 0-2 0-7 9-8
275 275 North Florida ASUN 8-20 4-15 0-0 4-5 0-5 0-5 3-3 5-7
306 306 Stetson ASUN 7-19 4-11 0-0 3-8 0-1 0-2 2-7 5-9
315 315 North Ala. ASUN 5-21 2-12 0-2 3-7 0-3 0-3 1-6 4-9
317 317 Central Ark. ASUN 9-20 3-14 0-2 6-4 0-5 0-1 2-8 7-6
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball...t-rankings