Reports of the Bison Men’s Basketball season being over apparently were greatly exaggerated. NDSU was selected to play in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Sunday night and will head to Laramie, Wyoming to face the University of Wyoming. It was a wild 24-36 hours for the Bison, head coach Saul Phillips told me Sunday night that things “started to heat up late Saturday night and figured there might be an outside possibility of playing in the postseason.” Phillips told me the call came at 8pm Sunday night after the NIT took both Minnesota and Stanford, each of those teams were committed to the CBI if they had no other options. So the Bison will play at least one more game. Many thought, including Phillips himself that NDSU had played it’s last game last Sunday at the Summit League Tournament after the quarterfinal loss to Western Illinois, “Up until last weekend had a good chance at postseason play and it doesn’t feel good that we’re not going to get it.” Well NDSU has a new lease on life after being selected for this tournament. The Bison will certaintly welcome another chance to get on the court, especially after how the last month and a half went for NDSU, as they lost 9 of their last 13 games. A chance for a group of 3 sophomores and a true freshman to experience postseason basketball can only be good after Phillips said that this upcoming summer will be “huge”. Plus it’s a chance for NDSU to go up against a solid conference in the Mountain West. We’ll see if they’re able to take advantage of this new lease on life.
The CBI:
- Fifth year of the event, consisting of 16 teams, two final teams will play a best of three championship series
- Teams pay 35,000 to host 1st round games, up to 75,000 for the semifinals
- Past champs or finalists include: Creighton, VCU, Oregon State and Tulsa
Wyoming:
- 20-11 record; 6-8 record in Mountain West
- Larry Shyatt in 1st year as Head Coach
- Beat 3 NCAA Tournament Teams (Colorado, Colorado State and UNLV)
- 6-8 record in last 14 games, allow just 55 points per game, rank in top 10 in nation
This is the 2nd matchup between NDSU and Wyoming in recent years, many will remember the football team went to Laramie in 2008, losing 16-13. More on the game later today on WDAY 6 Sports and on Dizzo’s Den on 970 WDAY at 6:30 with Jeff and I.
It will be interesting if the seniors, who last I checked were a part of the team, will get at least a few minutes in this game.
Its about winning. Not about making our seniors feel good about themselves. You must come from the generation that believes everyones a winner and you get a ribbon just for showing up. Sorry this is not the 8th grade volkey. Its big time D1 basketball
I don’t want to speak for Steve, but my guess is his comment has nothing to do with 8th grade warm fuzzies. It has everything to do with the fact that these guys were good enough to play for you the last month or two, but not in the tournament. Carlson the best player in the game vs WIU a week before, then doesn’t play 1 second against them in the tourney?
Some of us just question the motive for sitting them. We all want the best team put out there to try and win.
lundberg > lindberg. carlson should have gotten some time in the tournament
Long way to go to get to the real big time gabby.
And they did a real good job at winning with the seniors playing 0 minutes in the conference tournament.
The game the Bison played at home with the Seniors in the lineup they were blown out. Without them in the lineup in the tournament the Bison lost in a close game.
The young guys are more athletic and more talented than the Seniors and Junior on this roster.
If the NCAA is “The Big Dance” and the NIT is the NCAA JV tournament then what exactly is this? I’m happy the Bison season is extended by at least one game but I’m not exactly sure as to why. Let this be an excellent precursor as to the type of bowl invitation the football team would receive should they move to FBS.
If we go 1 and done its not impressive but if we win the tournament or even get a televised game would be cool. Some decent teams in there and the Gophers were going to accept an invite so its somewhat respectable. Teams include ; NDSU, Wyoming, Western Illinois, Milwaukee, TCU, Oregon State, Washington State, San Francisco, Delaware, Butler. Princeton, Pitt, Wofford and Evansville. Also quarter finals games and up are televised on HDNet. Here is some info on tbe tournament Stanard http://www.gazellegroup.com/events/cbi/index_main.htm
Make no mistake I’m happy for these young men but I do question as to the “exposure” they will receive. To the casual observer the NCAA is the main attraction. How many actually follow he NIT other than the locals? The others are sort of like the 7th & 8th graders playing in another gym while the varsity plays.
Dom do you think the Bison woudl bid to get a home game if they can get by Wyoming?I would guess they would want to maybe bid a game like that and play it in the Fargodome. This could be a good thing and the Bison can maybe end this season with a good taste in their mouth( or is it mouthes???) Go Bison!
Not making the NIT is unimpressive but any post season tournament is good for exposure. I would imagine this will be tougher than the Summit Championship
The main thing this does is lets the team practice a little bit more this year. The more they win the more practice they get which will eventually help next season.
I agree with you Bison, Look how many more practices the Bison football team had this year! We should see the bebfits of that this coming season.
Totally agree with you guys. Extending your season can only help for next year. Good luck Bison!
Saul/gene would of gotten more respect if they wouldve.declined this.
Ncaa>nit>cbi>cit>section 8a bball
YMCA Tournament
More respect for declining an invite to play in a postseason tourney? Please, help me understand this reasoning.
He needs to defend his trash talk from last year when our neighbors to the north were invited to one of these tournaments. His words were: “no way ever would ndsu lower themselves to play in one of these mickey mouse tournaments.”
Is this a joke or did Phillips really make fun of these type of tournament? This might just be a post from a Sioux fan.
Saul didn’t make the remark. It came from the guy who is banned from Bisonville for all the cr@p he spews.
The other thing I never understand is why people use the “Mickey Mouse” label when they want to disrespect something. Mickey Mouse is an icon and has raked in BILLIONS of dollars for the Disney corp. In regards to his great success Walt always said “Remember it all started with a mouse!” Go Bison!
from what i understand this tournament is lower on the totem pole than the tournament our neighbors to the north played in last year, and again will play in this year as they won their league tournament again. their womens’ team won their league tournament as well. but, they will both most likely be one and done. if we can make a run in this CBI tournament it would be great for the returning players for next year.
the cbi is a better tournament then the cit for what it’s worth
More game are not what this team needs, even though it will not hurt. What they need is to get stronger and more physical. They need to learn to get up on a team and not let up. Keep the gas on. That happened the second half of the year and that is why they are in this tournament vs the other two. Without looking it up, I am sure nobody could say who won this tournament last year. Heck the NIT and big dance are forgotten by many. The only thing that would be cool is if the Bison won and ended up against the team up north who won their conference tournament which could be the biggest joke of a tournament of all tournaments.
creighton won this last year i believe they beat oregon and wichita st won the nit. i did not look this up
und is in the cit. this is the cbi
Report: Butler interested in joining Atlantic 10 Conference
http://www.indystar.com/article/20120312/SPORTS0605/120312021/Report-Butler-interested-joining-Atlantic-10-Conference
If this happens this will open up a hole in the Horizon League. Oakland fits right into the Horizon League footprint.
This move could impact the Summit and NDSU.
“cit is all low majors with autobids from crap conferences.” Interesting that you said that. Drake is from the Missouri Valley. Foot inserted into mouth — again.
Looks to me like the CBI and CIT are very similar type tournaments. Half a dozen of one and 6 of the other. The bottom line is it just gives the represented schools a chance to play a couple more games. Nobody around the country cares or watches either one. I have no problem with either one though.
The CBI can select teams from major conferences. The Gophers had a spot in the CBI until the NIT selected them. Pittsburgh and Butler are in the CBI tourney along with the Bison. The CIT cannot select teams from major conferences, just schools from smaller conferences like the Great West.
When a team wins the CBI do they get a CBI “championship” ring with the number 101 on it? 68 Big Dance teams +32 NIT.
Let’s start the chant now…”we are…number 101, we are…number 101…”
The CBI is great opportunity for more basketball and a way to maybe redeem a little respect out of a season that spiral downward the last three weeks of the season.
If NDSU can somehow pull out a win at Wyoming and Washington State beats San Francisco, is there a possibility of a home game at the BSA?
Have the game in the Fargodome! We could really pack them in and impress the Summit League as to the kind of attendence Fargo could have if given a chance.Go Bison!
Decline a “playoff” game? Who do you think NDSU is? No program declines a post-season invitation…even if it is only the CBI. NDSU should be thanking the tournament invitation committee (if there is really one) for even having the chance to play one more game.
Maybe the basketball program should take a few years off so they have time to recruit!?!?!?!
Watching the CBI tourney on TV right now. HD Net channel 306 on DIRECTV. Princeton & Evansville on now and Washington St & San Fran on at 9 PM.
Maybe Billy Big Wheel should have driven to see the “big time” class a game. Or maybe KVRR should have televised that one. All it takes is a good ad salesman… Err… Whoops!
The interview I saw with Saul he said “If they pay to fly us out to Wyoming to play a game why would I turn that down?” It sounds to me like the tournament is paying the teams travel costs.
The Summit League had its top 5 teams get into the postseason. NDSU was the #5 team.
NDSU has talent they just need to learn how to play with that talent as a team.
What postseason did Oakland make it into?
And why was NDSU chosen for the CBI over Oakland?
For those of you who are worried that if the Bison are playing they won’t get the job done recruiting, the football team played until January and they did an OK job of recruiting . . . right?
That’s rich coming from the a-hole that posts on no less than 100 message boards daily with half truths and mythological opinions on UND. And to think someone actually has you on a payroll.
LOL. Hit the nail on the head.
Go Bison! Just heard the news. Im still looking for a video feed. Great to be in the CBI. I really like the 2 out of three for the title. Hope the Herd can make it!
From what I could tell on live stats Eric Carlson did not make the trip. His name was not listed on live stats.
Bison played Wyoming tough but came up short 78-75. Bison missed a bunch of free throws tonight.
must have done well delivering pizzas