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ClassOf81 wrote:If Puryear steps in and contributes, he's an even trade for (talent-wise, not in terms of experience) for Williamson. If Njie and Foster aren't contributing now, it's crazy to think they'll fare better in the ACC. Foster isn't even dressing for games now, right? The coaches had better come up ... big ... in the transfer portal.

I don't see any available 'ships unless someone leaves

It's too bad the AAC isn't one of the 6 conferences getting auto bids to the NIT, especially with our NET ranking being the best of all the AAC teams not getting into the NCAA. That would have earned us an auto bid and option to host. With only 20 "at large" bids available, I would be shocked if SMU gets a call. I would guess USF and Memphis are possibilities from the AAC with UNT a dark horse candidate (because they are the defending champions)

Seems like a nice group of guys that gets an A for effort, but this team does not deserve to play in a post season tournament. I mean do we really want to see more of this? Wasn’t the ACC tourney our chance at redemption after a disastrous end to the regular season? It was ripe for the picking. Hopefully year 3 of the .500 Sun Belt coach’s experience here will magically change moving into the ACC but I don’t see it.

Color me shocked as SMU gets in as an 8 seed to play @ Indiana State.

USF and UNT also get in. USF plays @ UCF and UNT plays @ LSU

A little surprised Memphis didn't get in

Another day, another loss. No way we beat Indiana State at their gym.

mustangxc wrote:Another day, another loss. No way we beat Indiana State at their gym.

Will be interesting to see if we are competitive. Indiana State won the Missouri Valley's regular season but lost @ Alabama by 22 and @ Michigan State by 12. Our only common opponent was Murray State. We beat them @ Murray State while ISU swept them in their 3 meetings, home, away & neutral in their tournament

SMU is all about the NIT making our 3rd trip in the last 4 years

https://smumustangs.com/news/2024/3/17/ ... round.aspx

Charleston Pony wrote:Color me shocked as SMU gets in as an 8 seed to play @ Indiana State.

USF and UNT also get in. USF plays @ UCF and UNT plays @ LSU

A little surprised Memphis didn't get in

Memphis declined
and we have been on most NIT brackets from Day 1

Charleston Pony wrote:SMU is all about the NIT making our 3rd trip in the last 4 years

https://smumustangs.com/news/2024/3/17/ ... round.aspx

Good lets keep making a habit of playing in post season

Charleston Pony wrote:SMU is all about the NIT making our 3rd trip in the last 4 years

https://smumustangs.com/news/2024/3/17/ ... round.aspx

SMU is one of the four lowest seeds and more than four schools declined bids. So it’s maybe a stretch to say whether SMU “made” the field or just backed into it by default.

Dukie wrote:SMU is one of the four lowest seeds and more than four schools declined bids. So it’s maybe a stretch to say whether SMU “made” the field or just backed into it by default.

Several auto bid schools from P5 conferences declined so SMU definitely "backed in" but we'll take it.


After being snubbed by the NCAA selection committee for the Big Dance, a handful of teams followed North Carolina's example from last season and declined an invitation to the NIT. The schools that have declined to play in the NIT are: Indiana, Memphis, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, St. John's and Washington.

We backed in as the 31st seed, it looks like. Even UNT was higher. Play tough D and hope to make some big shots. We play Wednesday. So, not a lot of prep time.

Charleston Pony wrote:

Dukie wrote:SMU is one of the four lowest seeds and more than four schools declined bids. So it’s maybe a stretch to say whether SMU “made” the field or just backed into it by default.

Several auto bid schools from P5 conferences declined so SMU definitely "backed in" but we'll take it.


After being snubbed by the NCAA selection committee for the Big Dance, a handful of teams followed North Carolina's example from last season and declined an invitation to the NIT. The schools that have declined to play in the NIT are: Indiana, Memphis, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, St. John's and Washington.

I think it has to do with picking top2 NET ranked teams in conference
https://www.nitbracketology.com/2024/03 ... acket.html

Several teams from P5 conferences turned down their "auto bids" that would have given them home games but the fact that we face a #1 seed and both UNT & USF were seeded higher suggests Memphis was offered before SMU and their refusal might have opened the door for us. While the NIT appeared to have put a lot of stock in NET rankings and SMU had a better NET ranking than Memphis, the Tigers went 5-2 against teams that were invited to the NCAA Tournament. Indiana State has the best NET ranking of any team in the NIT at #28

The NIT is on its last legs I'm afraid. More and more of the better teams are declining to play in the tournament. It has lost its luster. MSG replaced by Hinkle Fieldhouse says a lot. And that is a real shame given the quality of the championship teams in the old days particulary before the NCAA field was expanded.