Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992 TAG: 9203110063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Radford is one of many teams with no chance at an NCAA Tournament berth still hoping for a spot in the National Invitation Tournament.
Since the NIT's party line is that any team with a .500-or-better record is a candidate for its 32-team field, Radford (20-9) could have a shot.
"I really have no feel for that," Radford coach Ron Bradley said. "But we did win our conference championship [in the regular season] and we did win 20 games. I would hope that that's worth something."
Fellow Big South member Liberty University, a 22-game winner and another conference semifinal upset victim, could be another NIT possibility.
"[Radford and Liberty] have had outstanding seasons," said Frank McLaughlin, who chairs the NIT selection committee. "We'll be looking at both thoroughly."
Even with 64 teams going to the NCAA, competition for NIT berths will be intense. That's especially true when teams with higher national profiles than Radford and Liberty - James Madison (21-10), Richmond (22-7), Wisconsin-Green Bay (25-4), Manhattan (23-8), Temple (17-12), Louisiana Tech (23-7), and Southern Illinois (22-7) - could be available.
All those were either first or second seeds in their conference tournaments but failed to win.
JMU, Richmond, Green Bay, Manhattan, Louisiana Tech, and Southern Illinois all either tied for or were the undisputed regular-season champion of their respective conferences. Not all - and maybe none - will earn at-large NCAA bids.
That doesn't even count teams such as Virginia (15-12), which, despite a terrific schedule and considerable national reputation, is not assured of an NCAA at-large bid.
Another point that could hurt Radford and Liberty is their weak showing in national power ratings. USA Today's Sagarin ratings of Division I teams at the end of the regular season had Radford ranked 195th out of 300 teams and Liberty 174th.
The Sagarin is one of four ratings used by the NIT selection committee, which comprises athletic directors of the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association, the governing body of the NIT. The members of the MIBA are Manhattan, St. John's, New York University, Wagner and Fordham. McLaughlin, the president of the MIBA, is athletic director at Fordham.
Despite winning 22 games and tying for the regular-season Big South title, Radford was one of only a handful of 20-game winners that did not make either the NCAA or NIT in 1991.
"Anybody can look at the Sagarin ratings and have a pretty good idea who we're going to take," McLaughlin said.
Meaning that teams such as JMU (69th) and Richmond (73) have to like their chances for an NIT bid.
"Richmond is a [postseason] tournament team, with their reputation," McLaughlin said. "You'd have to be from Mars not to know that."
So what then for Radford and Liberty in this gaggle of hopefuls?
Several things:
Despite losing two of its last three, Radford played well down the stretch. The Highlanders won eight straight and 14 of 15 going into a loss at North Carolina-Asheville in the regular-season finale. "How you play in the month of February is very much a factor," McLaughlin said.
The NIT is strictly a money-making proposition; fan support is a factor. Liberty, with its rowdy student following, probably will get some consideration in that regard. Liberty is also one of the more improved teams in Division I, perhaps making it a squad tournament officials identify as a Cinderella. The NIT loves those.
Geography could be in Radford and Liberty's favor. Assuming that JMU and
Richmond are extended NIT bids, the committee would have to consider the convenience and money-making potential of a sort of Virginia NIT state championship. They could have, say, Radford at James Madison and Liberty at Richmond in the first round, with the winners to meet in the next round.
"We meet on Sunday for a long, long time and go over all of this [before announcing the matchups]," McLaughlin said. "This is a very serious responsibility and I can assure you that all the potential teams will get every consideration.
"But, really, anything else at this point is pure speculation because so much can happen in the conference tournaments this week. It can drive you crazy."
by CNB