Let'sGoZips94

They will be fish out of water if they do this. They have not pressed the perimeter all season and if they choose to do so, they'll be expending energy on the defensive side that they've typically saved for the offensive end. It is a very fascinating matchup.

@Cykron Go Lady Cyclones!

No mention of Xavier lol.

If were shooting the 3-ball at a 45% clip, I think we reverse cover and absolutely blow Arizona out.

Apparently only Kam Craft felt the business was finished.

Northern Arizona knocked off Arizona's women's basketball team in the NIT last night. Can we send their other basketball program packing tonight?

Wow. This is going to bode well for Akron/Groce who proved 1-10 can get ample playing time with room for more. We're going to be a hockey team with line changes every 2 minutes.

I did read and what I didn't find was an explanation for how the remainder of the field is selected. "Understood by most" isn't transparency and San Jose State's inclusion proves the criteria isn't the end all be all. Totally agree that strong mid majors should be a scheduling target of MAC schools, but they had very little, if anything, to do with Kent's NIT bid.

The NIT's press release does not cover how the remainder of the field is selected outside of their main two categories (top 12 conferences and regular season conference champions with a KNIT of 125 or better).

I completely understand your argument and I'm with you. In a perfect world, the NCAA would focus on competitive balance, balanced revenue, balanced conferences, etc. The NFL has proven that a balanced competitive model creates the most financially lucrative product. Too bad the suits are too focused on lining their own pockets.

This is an incredibly weak argument. I highly doubt beating Cleveland State & Towson in November had much - if anything - to do with them getting into the NIT. They were gifted the Arkansas State game as well (at home, mind you). They lost both their Q2 games, went 5-5 in Q3 games, and had 2 Q4 losses. For comparison, Miami OH was 1-2 in Q2 games, 5-2 in Q3 games (including a W against Troy who is in the NCAA Tourney), and had 3 Q4 losses. We've already established the NET advantage Kent had is due to their losses to Auburn, Bama, and UC Irvine. That's it. How did that prepare them? They got their asses whooped by Akron and Miami OH 5 times this season and went barely over .500 in a crap MAC this year. All you need to know about how "deserving" Kent is of their NIT bid is that two of their top players allegedly flew to party destinations within 2 days losing in the MAC semifinal. Oh, and citing the MM Top 25 is interesting considering Akron & Miami have consistently been listed, while Kent hasn't made an appearance since November/December, if at all. Any sort of defense of Kent this season isn't intelligent. 0-5 vs. Akron/Miami, barely above .500 in a bad MAC, semifinals exist in the MAC tournament, and two of their top players flew to party destinations within days of losing in the MAC tourney. Their coach cried about Akron being the Yankees/Dodgers, then spouted off against Miami OH on Twitter. Unserious program.

There's all sorts of politics, backroom deals, etc., that go into this. We're talking about one of the most corrupt organizations in the world. Gotta keep that circle tight.

No because the real money is in the advertising/media deals and they can pitch a consolidated group of select, "proven" brands. Corporations and media networks don't want unknowns.

Austin Parks from Ohio State is my guess.

No doubt, just wanted to point out that we played them much tighter than this despite our lack of shot making ability last year.

We were actually leading vs Creighton at this point in the game last year. Kalkbrenner adding the dribble drive to his repertoire is incredible.

Amen. NET is corrupt.

Damn.

Kent played Auburn, Bama, and UC Irvine. That's the difference in the metrics. So they lose Friday night and immediately hop on a plane to party destinations when there was still the NIT/CBI they could play in? Glad they have their priorities in order.

Few coaches have ever done so little with so much like Kowalchoke has.