So you're honestly telling me 16-15 with a Top 10 SOS and Top 100 RPI is definitely in and we wouldn't have to win a game in the Big East Tournament. But if we lose and end up 15-16 but win a game in the Big East Tourney there's "a huge chance" we could be left out of the NIT? There's something wrong there. Either the win doesn't solidify anything and we still have to win a game in the Big East Tournament and losing to Providence means we'd have to win two in the BET or you're right on it solidifying our spot but then I'm right that one loss doesn't all of a sudden just plummet our chances especially if we win a game in the Big East Tournament.
First of all, you never said anything about 16-15 in your initial post. Secondly, I do think going into the Big East Tournament at 16-15, there is a probable chance we are in the NIT before playing our first game in the conference tournament. If we lose our first round game next week, then we're 16-16 and it might be leave us on the fence. But, I do believe winning one more game to get us to 17-15 would give us the breathing room needed to get a call for the NIT (even, if we lose the following game to go 17-16).
If we're 15-16, and win our first round game to go 16-16 and lose the next game, then we're 16-17 and more than likely, left at home. So, like I said in my initial post.... Saturday's game is huge for us. It gives us breathing room and a smidget of room for error. Lose Saturday, and two wins will likely be needed next week. Win Saturday, and a loss in the opening round may put us on the fence. But one win, and I'm confident we're in the NIT. IMO, we need to stay at .500 or better. Simple.
My bad, I thought you had typed above that we were playing with house money for the NIT if we won on Saturday.
I'm not saying Saturday isn't huge for us. It absolutely is. Every game since the Duke or maybe since Nova has been bigger than the last. But I'd rather us try to motivate the rest of the team to put in another performance like they did against Butler and maybe even better. Challenge them. I say it's worth the risk. If we lose, then alright we probably to have win two in the Big East tournament which is absolutely going to be difficult. But I just think that if we can beat Providence on the road on a senior day without our best player and after beating Butler in double OT with a late comeback instead of a late choke, it's a perfect stage setter for the Big East Tournament.
It could give the rest of the team the motivation and, more importantly, the confidence to step up and give Shamorie some help. It's definitely risky, but while, like you, I'd be confident of NIT changes if we beat Providence and went 1-1 in Big East Tournament, it's still no guarantee and we might have to win two anyway. I think this could be a great motivational moment for the rest of this team so I think it's worth the risk.