Arkansas won't accept invitation from NIT

By Jeremy on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 04:47:59 PM EST

Citing his team as "physically and emotionally exhausted", Arkansas head coach Stan Heath announced today that the Razorbacks won't accept an invitation to the NIT.

The Razorbacks were 18-12 overall, 6-10 in the SEC during the 2004-2005 season. They had opened up the season at 13-1, but had lost 11 out of their last 16 games, including two mediocre performances in their last two games (at Auburn and Tennessee in the SEC Tournament).

Diaries ::

There is more to this that the AP won't tell you. If you know anything about Arkansas, you know about the popularity of the Razorbacks in the Natural State. While there are 3 other Division 1 basketball programs in Arkansas (UALR in Little Rock, Arkansas State in Jonesboro, and UAPB in Pine Bluff), Arkansas is the most well-known program, for obvious reasons.

UALR won the Sun Belt East Division and sports an RPI of 60. It was a possibility that the NIT would have matched up Arkansas and UALR in the 1st round. The NIT is about money and in the state of Arkansas, an Arkansas-UALR game would have been a sellout. The two programs haven't played each other in years and this would have been a great opportunity for the 2 programs to meet.

I find this decision by the Razorbacks (believe me, this wasn't just Stan Heath's decision) to be cowardly at best. This is an SEC program. Are they afraid of getting beat by a Sun Belt team? I don't care how physically or mentally wounded Arkansas is, they should have accepted the NIT bid, if it would have come. And yes, it would have come. Once again, the NIT is about money. The fans in Arkansas would have gone to a game or two at Bud Walton Arena, one of the best college basketball venues in the country.

The NIT isn't what Stan Heath wanted. Heck, nobody aspires to be an NIT team. But for this team, the NIT could have done wonders for them.

But instead, Arkansas fans will have to wait until November to see their Hogs on the hardwood. Too bad.


Display:
Arkansas won't accept invitation from NIT | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

oh yeah, here is the link from the AP (none / 0)

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news?slug=ap-nit-arkansas&prov=ap&type=lgns

by Jeremy on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 04:50:20 PM EST

A New Record! (none / 0)

I think Ronny Thompson has set the record with assisting 2 teams that declined NIT invites (Georgetown & Arkansas).

by Jimmy McHoya on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 05:09:18 AM EST

Doug Gottleib (none / 0)

thoroughly ripped into Arkansas and for good reason..the NIT is a privelege for Arkansas considering where they;ve been..did they ask the players is they wanted to skip the NIT?..im not familiar with Arkanas bu im sure they have some seniors who wouldve had a chance to play basketball one last time..i think this is a total cop out by theRazorbacks and they should be ashamed of themselves..not cohesive?..give me a break

by RS on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 05:57:51 AM EST

Arkanasas deserves criticism here (none / 0)

The fact that the players voted to accept a tournament bid from the NIT, then the coach met with them and they agreed to decline the very next day is very low class.  The kids wanted to play, and the scholl could have used the money.  Poor decision on the coaches part.

by brocktune on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 09:41:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

trust me, this wasn't stan heath's decision (none / 0)

This was Frank Broyles' decision all the way.

While he has said the right things in the local media about how he can't do anything about having to play a team like Arkansas-Little Rock in the NIT, deep down, he doesn't want the Razorbacks to play any in-state team, regardless of the situation.

Broyles has had a policy in place for years where he refuses to schedule the Razorbacks to play any in-state team. I don't think I've ever heard of that policy in any other Division 1 athletic programs. Only in Arkansas, I guess.

Arkansas has 1 senior, Michael Jones. He's the last remaining player from the Nolan Richardson era.


by Jeremy on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 12:59:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Arkansas won't accept invitation from NIT | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)
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