BSC has 4 tourney teams

[[cat_bracket]]

EWU is in the Big Dance. SAC and NAU are in the CIT and um is in the NIT.

EWU vs Georgetown
um at Texas A&M
NAU at Grand Canyon
SAC at Portland

Will a BSC team win a game?

[BelgradeBobcat]

EWU might have the best chance

[John K]

EWU is in the Big Dance. SAC and NAU are in the CIT and um is in the NIT.

EWU vs Georgetown
um at Texas A&M
NAU at Grand Canyon
SAC at Portland

Will a BSC team win a game?

Well, one's out already, after UM lost to A&M 81-64 last night.

[bertram]

NAU over Grand Canyon 75-70

Sac St over Portland 73-66

[BelgradeBobcat]

NAU over Grand Canyon 75-70

Sac St over Portland 73-66

I don't care if it is a minor little post-season tournament-two Big Sky teams getting post season wins is a big deal. Unfortunately, they have to play each other in the next round. But that also guarantees a Big Sky team will advance.

Also, EWU women beat Wazzu in the women's NIT.

So that's a pretty amazing day for the Big Sky Conference in hoops.

[bertram]

For Sac ST it marked the program's 1st postseason win since March 16, 1962

[John K]

NAU over Grand Canyon 75-70

Sac St over Portland 73-66

I don't care if it is a minor little post-season tournament-two Big Sky teams getting post season wins is a big deal. Unfortunately, they have to play each other in the next round. But that also guarantees a Big Sky team will advance.

Also, EWU women beat Wazzu in the women's NIT.

So that's a pretty amazing day for the Big Sky Conference in hoops.

I agree. After sort of bottoming out last season, it seams that the BSC was quite a bit stronger this year...maybe stronger than it's been in the last several years. I hope that proves to be a trend, not an aberration.

[RickRund]

For Sac ST it marked the program's 1st postseason win since March 16, 1962

Holy mackerel.....I was just halfway through high school.
Good job SacSt and good job BSC

[[cat_bracket]]

Yeah, congrats to SAC and NAU. Not sure how much stock I'd put into these wins, but a win's a win.

Grand Canyon lost twice to Chicago State, which finished last in their conference at 4-10, 8-24.

[CelticCat]

NAU travels to SAC for the next round game. Final 16, winner goes to "elite 8".

[SkyRider]

NAU ended up beating Sac last night, so NAU advances in the CIT. Not sure who they play next.

3 teams still alive in the WNIT. Northern Colorado beat the Mountain West regular season champions Colorado State, then beat South Dakota today. They are in the WNIT's version of the Sweet 16. They play UCLA next.

Sacramento State and EWU play tomorrow night. Winner there also advances to the WNIT Sweet 16.

[John K]

NAU ended up beating Sac last night, so NAU advances in the CIT. Not sure who they play next.

3 teams still alive in the WNIT. Northern Colorado beat the Mountain West regular season champions Colorado State, then beat South Dakota today. They are in the WNIT's version of the Sweet 16. They play UCLA next.

Sacramento State and EWU play tomorrow night. Winner there also advances to the WNIT Sweet 16.

NAU beat Kent State in the QF, and now plays NJIT in the semi-finals tomorrow night. I know it's only a 3rd or 4th tier tourney, but It's still cool to see a BSC team do so well.

Sac State lost to St. Mary's and UNCU lost to UCLA in the WNIT Sweet 16.

[[cat_bracket]]

Good for NAU. This probably takes the sting out of their BSC tourney loss. Great tourney for BSC teams. Just don't invite our refs.

[John K]

NAU beat NJIT last night, and will now play Evansville in the CIT title game. I know this tourney is the equivalent of the Chick-fil-A Bowl in football, but it's still pretty impressive that a BSC team is in the title game. It seems like the conference was definitely better this season, than it's been the last few years.

[LTown Cat]

Saw an interesting question on Twitter last night:

Would you rather be EWU (one and done in the NCAA Tourney) or NAU (playing in the chipper of the CIT)?

Also, NAU had over 5,500 people at the game last night!

[John K]

Saw an interesting question on Twitter last night:

Would you rather be EWU (one and done in the NCAA Tourney) or NAU (playing in the chipper of the CIT)?

Also, NAU had over 5,500 people at the game last night!

I think I'd probably rather be NAU, for the same reason that I'd rather be MSU than Idaho in football. The BSC has 3 NCAA tourney wins in the past 33 years. I'd rather be playing in a tourney in which you actually have a chance to win some games, even if it's on a much smaller stage, versus playing in a tourney in which you're almost certain to go one and done.

I think the big crowd at NAU also lends credence to the wisdom of keeping the BSC tourney format as it is, with the regular season champ hosting. So long as the host team stays in the tourney, you'll get pretty good crowds at most of the BSC schools. I think the crowds will be embarrassingly small at most of the potential neutral sites, i.e. Reno, Spokane, Vegas. Billings and/or Ogden might draw fairly well, but even then, attendance will be largely dependent upon how good the local teams are that season. Since UM and WSU are almost always good, I think that makes Billings and Ogden the only logical options for a neutral site tourney.

[[cat_bracket]]

Saw an interesting question on Twitter last night:

Would you rather be EWU (one and done in the NCAA Tourney) or NAU (playing in the chipper of the CIT)?

Also, NAU had over 5,500 people at the game last night!

NAU. Actually I'd rather the BSC tourney champ went straight to the CIT. Which is where it belongs.

[[cat_bracket]]

Saw an interesting question on Twitter last night:

Would you rather be EWU (one and done in the NCAA Tourney) or NAU (playing in the chipper of the CIT)?

Also, NAU had over 5,500 people at the game last night!

I think I'd probably rather be NAU, for the same reason that I'd rather be MSU than Idaho in football. The BSC has 3 NCAA tourney wins in the past 33 years. I'd rather be playing in a tourney in which you actually have a chance to win some games, even if it's on a much smaller stage, versus playing in a tourney in which you're almost certain to go one and done.

I think the big crowd at NAU also lends credence to the wisdom of keeping the BSC tourney format as it is, with the regular season champ hosting. So long as the host team stays in the tourney, you'll get pretty good crowds at most of the BSC schools. I think the crowds will be embarrassingly small at most of the potential neutral sites, i.e. Reno, Spokane, Vegas. Billings and/or Ogden might draw fairly well, but even then, attendance will be largely dependent upon how good the local teams are that season. Since UM and WSU are almost always good, I think that makes Billings and Ogden the only logical options for a neutral site tourney.

It may "seem" that way to you, but it's kinda like the "bad light" girlfriend on Seinfeld.

[Cat Grad]

Saw an interesting question on Twitter last night:

Would you rather be EWU (one and done in the NCAA Tourney) or NAU (playing in the chipper of the CIT)?

Also, NAU had over 5,500 people at the game last night!

Actually, I'm pretty impressed with the direction EWU and for that matter, what NDSU, is headed with their entire athletic program. Realistically, do I think any of the non-Power 5 teams will ever win the tournament? Nope. However, the Georgia States and Wichita States afford me the opportunity to watch a few of the early round game's highlights. To me, watching the diffence in officiating between our conference and the ones still playing more than keeps me fascinated. My personal preference is to see how our athletes compare to the very best. I'd much rather be an EWU fan right now instead of an NAU fan.

[The Butcher]

Do teams get paid to play in the CIT tournament?