It’s easy for players and coaches who received NCAA bids to back the notion of expanding the Big Dance to 96 teams. But it’s more convincing when players on teams that didn’t get in question the wisdom of expansion.
“Of course I would love to be in it, but I like the set-up the way it is,” said St. John’s forward Justin Burrell, who will lead the Red Storm into a first-round NIT game tonight at Memphis.
“It’s amazing right now,” continued Burrell. “Look at the anticipation the final weeks of the season. Look at the stories about the bubble teams. You lose all that if you go to 96 teams.”
The Red Storm (17-15) wasn’t in the hunt for an NCAA berth after losing to Marquette in the second round of the Big East Tournament. The Red Storm’s only shot was to win the tournament, which also would have secured coach Norm Roberts’ future.
As reported exclusively in the The Post last week, Roberts (81-100), barring a miraculous finish, won’t be retained for a seventh season. When his five-year contract was rolled over two years ago, the parameters were shifted with a greater emphasis on postseason play.
St. John’s bought its way into the College Basketball Invitational last season, but sources in the athletic department told The Post that if the Red Storm did not receive an NIT berth, the university would not have paid the $60,000 entry fee to play in the CBI this season.
Burrell and swingman Paris Horne said with conviction that they thought St. John’s would be a very dangerous team next season. But barring a miraculous run to the NIT title, a new coach will lead it.
“I’m not angry or frustrated by the talk about Coach,” said Burrell. “I find it intriguing. The business of college basketball is intriguing. You have guys coaching at one school who have been at two other schools.
“The only reason they’re thinking about expanding is so they’ll have more games and can get more television money,” he added. “It’s like there’s no integrity left in the sport.”
There was no integrity when Roberts took over at St. John’s. Players were in bars the night of losses, soliciting prostitutes for sex. The NCAA found violations that included under-the-table cash payments to former center Abe Keita.
Roberts has changed the culture at St. John’s, and if the tournament field were 96 teams, his job might be safe. But expansion might come a year too late, unless, of course, St. John’s wins the NIT.