TexasTerror
July 23rd, 2014, 08:29 AM
In light of the SWAC's request and approval for schools who are postseason ineligible to have a spot in the postseason tournament, the NCAA has changed one of the long-standing rules regarding NCAA transitioning institutions.
Schools like Northern Kentucky, Grand Canyon, Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian can begin competing in league postseason tournaments, though they would not be eligible for the league's automatic berth. Big, big change. Could lower some recruiting hurdles, etc...
Each league would presumably get the decision and may have to tweak league by-laws. Some may hold by keeping APR ineligible teams out and/or some may hold and keep transitioning teams out. This could be interesting...
As you can tell below, Northern Kentucky is stoked!
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Northern Kentucky University men's basketball coach Dave Bezold said the toughest part of the last two years was being unable to compete in Atlantic Sun championships.
The Norse will have their chance this year.
A new NCAA policy grants all 15 of NKU's sports programs eligibility for conference postseason championships starting in 2014-15. Although NKU is two years into a four-year reclassification process to Division I and cannot compete in NCAA tournaments until the period is complete, the clarification allows the Norse to qualify for, participate in and even host A-Sun championships.
"We're ecstatic," Bezold said. "It gives players in the middle of the season something to play for, to know they can compete in the conference tournament. Now we're able to grow our programs two years faster. It's a tremendous thing for student-athletes across the board."
Under the former rule, a conference lost its NCAA tournament automatic bid if an ineligible team won the league tournament. The new policy allows conferences to award the highest-ranked finisher the automatic qualifier, meaning if NKU wins an A-Sun tourney before its reclassification is finished, then the team it defeats inherits the NCAA bid.
Full Story (http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/othercolleges/2014/07/23/nku-can-compete-conference-championships/13031217/)
Schools like Northern Kentucky, Grand Canyon, Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian can begin competing in league postseason tournaments, though they would not be eligible for the league's automatic berth. Big, big change. Could lower some recruiting hurdles, etc...
Each league would presumably get the decision and may have to tweak league by-laws. Some may hold by keeping APR ineligible teams out and/or some may hold and keep transitioning teams out. This could be interesting...
As you can tell below, Northern Kentucky is stoked!
===
Northern Kentucky University men's basketball coach Dave Bezold said the toughest part of the last two years was being unable to compete in Atlantic Sun championships.
The Norse will have their chance this year.
A new NCAA policy grants all 15 of NKU's sports programs eligibility for conference postseason championships starting in 2014-15. Although NKU is two years into a four-year reclassification process to Division I and cannot compete in NCAA tournaments until the period is complete, the clarification allows the Norse to qualify for, participate in and even host A-Sun championships.
"We're ecstatic," Bezold said. "It gives players in the middle of the season something to play for, to know they can compete in the conference tournament. Now we're able to grow our programs two years faster. It's a tremendous thing for student-athletes across the board."
Under the former rule, a conference lost its NCAA tournament automatic bid if an ineligible team won the league tournament. The new policy allows conferences to award the highest-ranked finisher the automatic qualifier, meaning if NKU wins an A-Sun tourney before its reclassification is finished, then the team it defeats inherits the NCAA bid.
Full Story (http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/othercolleges/2014/07/23/nku-can-compete-conference-championships/13031217/)