Marquette vs. UWM in first round

[tuckfinn42]

If anyone hasn't heard yet...Jack Powers has stated on a radio show today that UWM and Marquette will not be a first round matchup. Stating "They don't play during the regular season, and it's not my business to know why, but I'm not going to schedule that at this time." Very interesting...I"m not surprised though. Would have been very surprised if this was a first round matchup. Hopefully we can get a big ten team such as Purdue, Michigan or Iowa, or a team from the middle of the big east. My thinking is they'll try to match us with a common opponent though. Should be interesting.

[admin]

Let's get off the subjects of tuesday's game and move on.

I would like to know more about a letter Marquette wrote to the NIT requesting not to play UWM in the tourny. It may just be a rumor, but recently I have heard too much about it on talk radio to not believe something of this nature occured.

Any information?

Thanks,
UWMfreak

[tuckfinn42]

Don't know much more Freak. I just read that on Marquette's board and posted it over here. Sounds like Powers tried to shy away somewhat from any reasons why he wasn't scheduling it. He just didn't think it was a just first round game according to what I heard. I heard rumors too about the letter and if that's true then the NIT must have wanted Marquette bad enough where they would have made sure we weren't paired together.

[beanocook]

It wouldnt really make a lot of sense to put the two together in the first round. Now, a second or third round matchup? That makes more sense.

MU will draw well, regardless of the opponent. I do highly doubt that Marquette wrote a letter to the NIT requesting NOT to play UWM. Im not a MU fan but that doesnt float really.

UWM will be on the road at a Big Ten school in the first round. You can count on that.

[uwmbballjunkie]

Heres a link to the story on JSOnline: www.jsonline.com/sports/marq/mar04/214073.asp

The story makes MU's athletics department and the school as a whole just sound really snobby. They never actually say in the article that they would want to play us... We'll just have to see what happens.

[pnthr30]

It is widely known that Depaul did not want to play UIC last year in the NIT........and guess what, they didn't. Coincidence ..........you make the call. All I am saying is that money talks.

[PantherLou]

You're right, money does talk, but I don't think it's as simple as Cords calling the NIT and saying "We don't want UWM". I have a feeling that Marquette made it clear that they didn't care if they played UWM.

Think of it this way: Marquette vs Anyone in round one. UWM at Notre Dame (or Purdue) (or Northwestern, if they win today) and that winner vs. Marquette in round two. That gives the NIT 3 guaranteed "good draw" games.

I think the NIT is very interested in seeing Marquette advance past the first round. As we all know here, a game against UWM is hardly a guaranteed win for Marquette.

[pnthr30]

I completely agree with you PantherLou. Further, seeing as how the NIT is more of a "money hungry" tournament, I also understand what the NIT committee is doing (or trying to do) and why they are doing it. As a business decision, it probably makes the most sense for UWM and MU not to play in the first round. But, with that being said, MU has enough clout to convince people of their thoughts/wants/needs, if need be. Since none of us really know what transpired in the conversation between Cords and Powers it is not reasonable/fair to assume anything - but on the other side of the coin, if MU made a suggestion or comment (directly or indirectly), I am sure that Powers and Co. took note. It is a fact that MU travels well and has alumni all over the place, especially out east. There is no doubt that the NIT would be well served to have MU in the tournament as long as possible. Besides the alumni, MU has generated interest via their Final Four run last year so they would be a fairly good TV draw no matter who they were playing. UWM on the other hand is basically a no name who is completley untested on the national scene (with regards to a national or even regional following). So..........I am guessing that UWM is going to get stuck making a fairly long bus ride to a major program in round 1.

[PantherLou]

pnthr30 said:

So..........I am guessing that UWM is going to get stuck making a fairly long bus ride to a major program in round 1.

I hope not too long of a trip. I sure hope we can stay heere in the midwest.

As an aside, does anyone know what the TV arrangements are for the NIT? Is every game televised? Or does each school arrange local TV coverage?

[PeterPanThers]

UWM spring break runs March 21-28th...that covers both 2nd round and quarterfinals. If a matchup against MU does occur, we will once again be screwed out of having a solid student turnout.