Friday, October 15, 2004
poorly suited
Even if the NIT wins its lawsuit and the court bars the NCAA from compelling member schools to participate in its postseason tournament, does anybody really believe a team would turn down an invitation to the NCAA Tournament to the play in the NIT?In 1970, upset with his team’s regional assignment and acting before the NCAA enacted its monopolistic requirement, Al McGuire rebuffed the NCAA’s invitation and committed his Marquette club to the postseason NIT instead.
But times have changed. The NCAA Tournament has established itself as the game’s premier postseason event. Millions of fans tune in to watch CBS’ coverage of March Madness. No athletic director today could allow their college or university to forego significant revenue and hours of free media for the sake of a coach’s ego.
