Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 16, 1992 TAG: 9203160125
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Answer: N.I.T.
In the case of Radford University, that is, no invitation to tournament.
Despite winning the regular-season title in the Big South Conference, despite winning 14 of their last 16 regular-season games, despite going 20-9, Radford for the second year in a row, was snubbed by the National Invitation Tournament.
"I'd had some hope that we'd make it, but there were an awful lot of upsets [in the conference tournaments]," Highlanders coach Ron Bradley said.
All .500 or better teams that were not tapped by the NCAA Tournament selection committee were considered by the NIT. Apparently, Radford lost out because of its relatively weak national power rating. According to the Sagarin ratings in USA Today, the Highlanders were 195th out of 300 Division I teams at the end of the regular season.
The same soft type of schedule also must have hurt 22-game winner and fellow Big South member Liberty, which also got a cold NIT shoulder.
Radford won 22 games a year ago and stayed home. It was one of only a handful of 20-game winners that did not make either postseason field.
State teams James Madison, Richmond, and Virginia all received NIT invitations this season.
"We had our fate in our hands," Bradley said. "If we'd won our conference tournament, we wouldn't have had to worry about any of this."
Radford went into the league tournament a week ago as the No. 1 seed, but was upset by Charleston Southern in the semifinals. Campbell went on to beat the Buccaneers in the final and thus received the league's first automatic bid to the NCAA.
The Camels' reward is an opening-round match with defending national champion Duke, the top seed in the East Regional.
Radford upgraded its schedule this year in the hope of gaining some national respect, but Bradley conceded that the Highlanders may have to do more than that.
"You have to do something to get somebody's attention."
by CNB