Former college basketball coach Tom Crean has criticized teams for declining invitations to the NIT tournament. Crean expressed frustration over the lack of interest from high-major programs in the NIT, highlighting concerns about player availability due to the transfer portal. Several programs, including Syracuse and UNLV, have opted out of the NIT, with differing reasons such as focusing on recruiting or player decisions. Crean's impassioned remarks have sparked debate on the significance of the NIT and the role of coaches versus players in such decisions.
Some of the teams that declined the NIT Invitation⁉️😤 https://t.co/40qDfILid8
Already sided with the teams that skipped the NIT, so that's no biggie. Very much on the side of players determining what they want (and don't want) to do.
I really hope the players are the ones who decide not to accept an NIT bid. Coaches should not be the ones making those decisions.
At least 7 programs who missed the NCAA tournament are now REJECTING the NIT. “There's plenty of time for the portal…there’s not plenty of time for guys to continue to play that may never get to play again. And that is absolutely ridiculous." https://t.co/rfh52MUKGy
Former coach and current ESPN analyst Tom Crean blasted schools declining NIT invites. 🔽 https://t.co/VJBgnXQxqE
Some teams declined NIT invitations, citing the need to start recruiting the transfer portal. Kevin Kruger says UNLV is “going to do both”: “We expect to have a great group of guys coming back, so we won’t be as dependent on the portal.” https://t.co/I9OjgFAdUK
I feel some kinda way about Syracuse turning down an NIT invitation. As an alum I stay out of basketball affairs respectfully. Curious to why Red would turn down a chance to get better. Team didn’t play well enough to make the dance which is fine but we too good for the NIT?🤷🏾♂️
Tom Crean was HEATED at programs electing to skip the NIT 😡 (via @espn) https://t.co/tgMMvXWC3L
Didn’t Tom Crean and IU decline an invite to the NIT when he was coach or am I misremembering it…..I may have it wrong but I don’t think I do. https://t.co/6IdlvB6h9w
Tom Crean nailed it with his impassioned rant against teams declining NIT invitations https://t.co/SUkeDhY0Ut https://t.co/1NDbEoRs4B
Ex-college basketball coach Tom Crean scolds teams for skipping NIT https://t.co/kdVNy8jLd1
Added problem now is also that coaches don’t even know who they will have available for the NIT. Might wind up rolling out a team with walk-ons having to play because kids are gonna go into the portal. And Rabby is right. Most high-major programs don’t care about the NIT. https://t.co/PgfgulFaES
Furious Tom Crean goes off on teams declining NIT invite https://t.co/9PxjASN9DU https://t.co/TCbtkEr4DW