Am I still bitter the team choked away a 9 point lead to Ball State in Cleveland? Yes.  Do I wish the Bobcats were in the big dance too? Yes. But they did and they're not.

These kids have bust their butts for months now (and for Tommy, DeVaughn, ans Asown's cases years).  If they want to keep playing, let them.  I guess I just don't see how playing more games could be considered "embarassing". 

No.

The amount of negativity towards this, both this time and the last, has me scratching my head.  This is a very good thing.  The basketball season doesn't end, the players get valuable experience for next year.  The teams in this are at least as good as we've been playing the last two months.  It isn't the NCAA tournament or even the NIT but so the eff what. It can be a useful recruiting tool as well.   I guarantee that John Groce is excited about it.  If you don't want to watch it or pay attention, fine.  But don't try to drag the rest of us down into your eeyore world.

LET'S GO CATS!!!

I'm with you, OUVan.

+1 Well said OUVan

Well said.  This IMO is very much like playing in a non-BCS bowl.  You probably lose money(maybe not playing at Marshall), it doesn't win any kind of title, but it's worth playing for the players.  What you say about the quality of teams is pretty close, except no BCS teams anywhere in the bracket to play.

Loathe to join in but here goes.

First, let me say that I have been a proponent of growing the BIG boY tourney as the number 64 is now disproportionateto the size of the NCAA when it was instituted. I have long felt the 96 number was appropriate along with a decrese by 2 games in the regular season. By shortening the season 2 games you leave time for the one extra round of tourney and travel time and still get the chance for Multiple bids from current one bid leagues who are shut out by having to travel to OOC foes like DUke who never play out of Cameron till late January. Multiple other reasons enter my thought including  intra leagur parity, players inthe NBA etc etc but that is a whole nother discusssion/

This is a gret time for Coach Groce and Co. to evaluate desire , talent and heart. Who is here for the ritght reason.? Who loves to pl;ay? For most of these guys if there was a game in thepark tomorrow would they be there ? If there was an open gym  or pick up game would they show up........it is quite an opportunity to see who really cares and has a passion for it.  I was at Bradley when I saw Bert and Ernie melt down. Hopefully we do not still have any of those on the roster. Granted it is spring break but do you really want your players on their own at Hilton Head? I remember SB 2003 we went to Ft Myers Beach, upon arrival Tommy found a gym across the way built by Larry Costello. Asked if he could go play. I walked over withhim and found 2 courts and 23 kids with various Indianan HS T shirts on spending their SB playing 8 hours a day. Needless to say he did not get much sun taht week. Players always want to play. Anyone,  Anywhere, ANytime,

Players , real players always want to play and that gives the fans and Groce a real look at how motivated kids are...... I remember when we came here one of the most frustrating things was guys who "just did nt have it today" and only gave a token effort. Groces kids never do not compete. They always come with effort. Tehy may not execute or they maybe don't stick to the game plan but they always compete. Big difference in 4 years.

The longer you can keep kids engaged and playing together the better off you are. Stick withthe game plan that got you here. Same game day routines reinforced, same opportunity to read and execute a scout. It is still a chance to learn and evaluate and teach.

I will add that in 4 years the team has been instilled with core values and goals that are far superior to when we started here. Walk into the locker room and check it out  They have  made progress with regard to a sustained directiona nd attainment and institution of an ongoing approach to excellence on and off the court . IN fact, I am going to say irregardless of the record the team and staff are way further along the road than the fan base seems to be with the never good enough expectations and the refusal to turn out and support if there is a game on Sunday, thursday or more than 4 hours away against an opponenet they maynot like.. If you guys want to be fans and have a team that is successful the push has to be behind the Coaching staff and the decisions they make to keep this team getting better. This is one of them. Get in the car and support your team and coaches. sIMPLE

FSF, if any are found, please send me a bushel. I'm thinkin' this might be something worth smoking.

I basically agree with bornacatfan on this one.  I support the program and plan to be there Tuesday night.  

I have mixed emotions but right now have landed on "Sure.  Why not?" regarding the above. 

I see no downside.

I just hope its an entertaining game.

Approximately 60% of FBS college football programs are selected to play in a bowl game in a given year.  Even with the additions of the CIT and CBI, only 40% of college basketball programs are selected for post-season play.  Meanwhile, playing in a bowl game typically costs the university several hundred thousand dollars, while playing a road game in the CIT costs us a few thousand dollars in travel costs.

Despite this, many were clamoring for an invitation to any third-rate bowl game last December, but claim that participating in the CIT is pointless or embarassing.  That doesn't make any sense at all.

The difficult part about filling out a CIT bracket is that there are no seeds. And it looks like second round matchups will be based on rpi/geographic location. With that being said, I like to think I am one of the first people in the country to fill out a CIT bracket.

Believe it or not, I'm excited about this. I'd like to see us make a run in this tournament. It's a good chance at redemption for the Marshall loss earlier and for losing in a tough manner in the MAC tourney. The Bobcats were playing great down the stretch. Things were starting to click. Only a few bad minutes stopped that. I'd like to see them build on that momentum even more. I think some of the young guys were just starting to get things figured out. I think this will be great.

Yup, because it is only a two hour drive for me.  I'd love that opportunity, and could probably wrestle up a couple dozen alumni to go to the game as well.

Other than that, I'm pretty "meh", but if it helps the team improve for next season, and happen to make a run for a few games, then I don't see it being a huge problem, and could actually see some benefit.

the LOVE wanted no part of a 3rd rate bowl game and does find the CIT pointless and more than a little embarrassing.

Does that mean I make sense?

The thing about a bowl game is you get up to 15 additional practices. For the CIT, with the conference tourney this past weekend and the CIT game tomorrow, you potentially only get one.

Yes.  I don't necessarily agree, but you are being consistent. 

True, but aside from perhaps the GMAC bowl, have we ever actually used all 15 additional practices?  My sense is that we usually cut it down to 7-10 extra practices, due to budgetary concerns. 

I appreciate Bornacat's feedback and understand the benefit of that extra time.  Question (only partly in jest): Is there a gym down south where our coaches can work on their game day skills during spring break?

Must be a really slow day at the office-huh?

Anyone driving over from Athens?  I'd like to come.

I don't know if I like the argument, but there should have been somewhat more TV exposure for the bowl game.  Is it worth it if you get a "shellacking", I'm not sure about.   I'm doubting this is on national TV-right?

You nailed it.

Whoa...I can appreciate everyone's comments on this one.  It's good the players can stay together and practice a bit more and all.  Having said that, i firmly believe the only thing worse than being pciked for this Invitational Tourney would be loosing in the first round...

So you honestly believe it is better to be one of the 60% of teams not selected for post-season play than it is to be among the top 40% of teams playing in the post-season?  If so, I just don't understand the logic.