Bucknell's men's basketball team comes up short in NIT bid

On Friday, my son and I ventured up to Hart Center on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross to see the Bison battle the Crusaders. While Bucknell came up on the short end on Friday. I was surprised they didn't receive a bid to the NIT.

Bucknell had a body of work that included a 27-1 league mark over the past two years. Two NCAA wins against Kansas and Arkansas. Three straight Patriot League championship games including two wins. A senior class that set a school record for wins with 87, ironically topping the class of 1987. They also never lost a Patriot league home game with a streak that now stands at 35-0. Seniors Abe Badmus, Donald Brown and Chris McNaughton will be missed and unfortunately didn't get a chance to showcase their talents just one more time.

I did watch the end of the game handshake. Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard hugged and spoke to the Bucknell seniors. They were the nucleus they kept the Crusaders out of two consecutive NCAA's. Willard is a class act.

What part of the season did the Bison suffer? Probably if you look at losses to Central Arkansas on a neutral court, Penn State, and Northern Iowa at home. Where you really think it mattered, Bucknell played well down the stretch and in their league.

Biggest Disappointments: Syracuse and Drexel

Biggest Gifts: Arkansas (Bucknell showed them the exit last season), Stanford

Interesting First Round Games: Villanova-Kentucy, ND-Winthrop

Early Exit: Michigan State (Great article by Tom Housenick)

Listening to the selection committee chairmen, Gary Walters is like listening to a Tony "Snowjob" Snow press conference. It seems that the so called power conference schools get selected by one set of rules while mid majors play by another set. Drexel did what it was asked to do. Syracuse went 10-6 in the Big East and are out. Look for them to struggle at home Wednesday night.

Enjoy it while your there: UCONN and Syracuse both won championships this decade and both are out(Although screwed is a better term for the Orange.) UCONN is not in the NIT.

About a month ago, Jim Boeheim commented that there are a few really good teams and about 40 to 45 that could beat each other.

Seen it's time: 64 team bracket. Last expansion was in 1985. Time to expand again. Get rid of the conference tournament. Go to top four team playoffs league playoffs.