Illinois State turns down bid?

[Bmarq04]

Poor decision.

The team can play 2-4 games and grow a little bit.

I agree that teams can gain valuable experience, but I'm not sure this team can. There is speculation to other players leaving and we don't know who will/won't be back.

If all the players and staff weren't on board, then I agree with the decision to save the money. I really don't buy that everyone in the locker room wanted to be out there again. And, if only some did, the odds of enough players pulling together to even get to game #2 was slim.

Woulda liked to see them out there again, but I'm ok with using the money for flights and hotels to bring in some new blood.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I don't see the big deal here. It isn't like they were turning down an NIT bid.

The CIT/CBI tourneys may be a good vehicle for some teams, while for others they are completely worthless.

[cu8493]

Creighton's run through the CBI tournmanet was a lot of fun. It gave the guys a chance to go into the summer feeling really good about themselves and in my opinion was the genesis of the extraordinary chemistry that this year's team has developed. Who cares of its just the CBI? Once the ball is tipped, you get into the action and the fact that you aren't playing to get to Atlanta is quickly forgotten.

However, I also remember the feeling after Dana's final season at CU. I was so tired of Cavel Witter and company that I really didn't care whether they played another game. Once in a while it is just time for a team to hang it up. I could see that being the case at ISUR, as clearly is wasn't working this year - except that one game in Omaha

[mvcfan]

I can see it both ways. It may or may not tell us something about the Seniors who don't want to play. It's not realistic, but it could help a team to let the Seniors go and play with what will be there next year. Get a head start although it may be a short one. The coaches may feel like they need to recruit better players more than play with what they have now too.

[hot nuts]

I'm a Redbird fan and I wish they'd accepted, I just enjoy going to the games. I don't buy into anybody being above any of the tournaments. Perhaps the administration wouldn't pony up the money or the staff thought they'd be better off hitting the recruiting trail, either way I'm disspointed as a fan.

[Mikovio]

I see these tournaments either as a reward for an overachieving team or as an excuse for a young team to conduct more practices and build toward next year. ISU doesn't really fit into either category, except that maybe its coaching staff could use some development. Jim Les used these tournaments to pad his win totals with home games vs mediocre teams and mask a program that was at that time spinning its wheels, and a deep run by Muller may just supply the same false confidence.

So if ISU turned down a bid for reasons along these lines, I'm fine with that. But if it's because they can't afford it, meanwhile they're pouring tens of millions into a football program chasing a I-A pipe dream, then they need to either reassess their priorities or the serious basketball schools in this conference need to seek greener pastures.

[BCPanther]

I think we're reading too much into these tournaments.

Its simply a chance to play some more games. No more, no less. Participating or not participating really doesn't say anything about a program's strength in my eyes.

Its not where I hoped UNI would be this year, but I love Panther Basketball and if I have a chance to see them play 5 more games this month, I am all for it. Its a long ways to November...

[unipanther99]

I think you've got to play these games for the seniors.

[SHOXMVC]

If there is a basketball organization that invites your team to play past the second weekend in March, you accept. No questions asked. Lace em up and play. If you are a true competitor, you play...period. Stop with the waaambulance excuses. It appears the birds just don't have what it takes to be a winner. You have to be willing to push through the pain in order to experience success. Complete fail. Thanks to bird fans who have expressed their disappointment. You deserve better.

[Lakesbison]

I am glad we are not playing in a s*** tournament like the CIT or the CBI. At least a bid to the NIT would be respectable. I get the philosophy let our returning players get more experience but i think the only postseason tourney we should play in is NIT or NCAA. If you don't make it to those tournaments you did not have a good enough season. The CIT and the CBI tournaments are a waste of money. Lets say our goodbyes to the seniors and turn our focus to next season.

CBI is only 16 teams with BCS schools.

CIT is the joke, all small mid majors and uni. ha.