It sent shocks and grumbles through the world of college basketball this week when the NCAA announced it would expand its basketball tournaments to 76 teams.
In both a naked grab for more cash and to appease the top of the bell curve of the sport, calls from Chicago and Boston rang out: what about us?
Of the 64 schools with the most men’s tournament bids, 18 or more, only two have yet to qualify since the tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2011: the Blue Demons and the Eagles.
“What the hell are we supposed to do?” DePaul athletic director DeWayne Peevey said. “We thought the right thing would be done and roll the NIT into the big dance. Now what are we supposed to do?”
Last season DePaul finished 99th in Kenpom, third among Chicago’s college teams, behind Northwestern and Notre Dame.
In Boston, it’s a dire calamity. After a season that ended 11-20, the Eagles hired top UConn assistant Luke Murray. However, sources have told BGS that Murray was seen this morning fiddling with a key ring in Storrs trying to get back into the basketball offices.
“Any attempt to sully Luke Murray and BC basketball is a disgrace,” BC athletic director Blake James said about Murray’s alleged key incident. “Luke is 100% committed to bringing BC basketball back to the mountaintop, and when he returns my call I’m excited to talk about the future with him.”
Depaul last made the NCAA tournament in 2004, defeating Dayton in the first round. BC qualified in 2009, losing to USC in the opening round.
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