CMJ

Not unprecedented though. I feel like every March there is at least one school in the NCAA or NIT that has a local school do this because they can't send their band. In fact I want to say Farleigh Dickinson's first game they didn't have their band and Dayton's band filled in.

From what I remember they asked him if he knew McCasland would be a good coach someday and Drew said yes otherwise he wouldn't have hired him for his staff.

Solomon Bozeman is who gives me championship nightmares.

NT 61 UAB 59

The SEC and Big 10 are more prestigious historically than the Big 8/12, but of the two I'd only put the SEC above the Big 12 the last twenty five years. The Big 10 has one national title in that time span, and that was in 2000. They've made some Final Fouls where they didn't take it all the way, but I think I'd still rather be the Big 12 (even if it's mostly been Kansas pulling the cart for most of the last two decades plus). Best two leagues in that span have been the ACC and Big East.

I have, but only when the shooter has thrown their leg out much more than Perry did.

If we keep UAB under 60, we win. If they score 60-64...tossup. If they get over 65, Blazers probably hold up the hardware. Can't dig a big hole tomorrow.

My Mom, who I gather is roughly your age because she wrote for the Daily in the mid to late 70s, called last night and said it was bigger than anything when she was in school and knew Coach Blakeley was smiling. The NIT did after all invite independents back then and we didn't get the call (Mom was in his office when he found out neither tourney invited us...he was not happy) Now was the 70s team better than anything Mac has had? Sure, probably so - though given FAU's run, perhaps not. Post season wins tend to trump regular season ones though (no matter how big) because they get remembered in the books. There's no wikipedia page for the West Texas win. An NIT title would live forever.

Not a doubt. Best coach at NT since whoever our Golf Coach was 70 years ago.

I said it a few days ago in another thread. If we win this, I believe it's a bigger deal than the Purdue win. As accomplishments go, I feel like winning the NIT Championship and winning a Round of 64 game in the NCAA are roughly equal. I know beating Purdue was a top 20 win, but this would be five wins over quality opponents in a row, two over Power conference schools, one a true road game, and two at a neutral site. In a tournament with a storied history. Plus we'd get a nice trophy out of it.

Longform highlight reel.

A thread on one of Kentucky's boards. Ostensibly it's about FAU's run, but there a few posts near the end giving CUSA their due. https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/final-four-bound-34-3-13-kenpom-florida-atlantic.390379/

I still can't believe we're playing in this game. I knew we had the team that could win the tournament, but it's still a bit surreal.

I tend to think all the extra facilities play a bigger role than the arenas themselves in recruiting. Like your practice facilities and whatever recreation you put in the Mean Green Village where the athletes hang out, that kinda stuff. UCLA renovated Pauley Pavilion about ten years ago, but before they did so the old Pauley was very old school. I thought it was cool, but I doubt any McDonald's All-Americans were impressed with it. Still the Bruins got a lot of top notch kids. It wasn't just the tradition -- I'm sure it was all the extras.

CUSA to everyone else.

My wife and I are driving in on Thursday. Granted it's easier for us since we're coming from LA. She has a work thing in Vegas this weekend anyway, so we're just leaving a day early.

I wouldn't. It was huge though. If anything maybe the SLC title that got us into the Dance.

Biggest game in the History of Western Civilization.

I want them to play about 6 overtimes.

Arguably the owner of the three biggest wins in program history 1. Purdue (NCAA Round of 64) 2. Wisconsin (NIT Semis) 3. Oklahoma State (NIT Quarters)

I think I was more proud of the Purdue win. This is damn close. Some of the best defense I've ever seen.

I can't go with you there my friend. Even though I think we need to put more focus on basketball, football needs to be at NT.

I saw someone on the AAC board who is there say they've never seen so much red leave so quickly.

CUSA has really shown up.

13 points given up in the 2nd half