Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer offers praise for Women's NIT

vivian_mills_rutgers.jpgFor the first time in a long time, Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer's team is on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

Near then end of a wide-ranging, 35-minute session with reporters on Thursday, someone asked C. Vivian Stringer about the NIT. Of course. After a loss to St. John’s last week, Stringer told reporters she wouldn’t take her Rutgers squad (17-13, 9-7 Big East) there. It was the NCAA Tournament or bust.

Before the question was finished, Stringer put her hand on her head. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. “Let me just make a statement. Let me make a statement.”

Stringer would explain over the next four minutes or so, that she meant no harm to the NIT. She just wanted to empathize to her players that their expectations should be to contend for a national title. They should not settle for a consolation prize. Still, Stringer says, “if that were something that we need to look at, then we would possibly do that.”

They will know more after this weekend, when they travel to Hartford for the Big East Tournament. The Scarlet Knights open play in the second round against the winner of Cincinnati v. South Florida.

Here’s what she said:

“Number one, the NIT is a blessing to men and women, because it gives those teams, those bubble teams and those teams that are just as good as some of those other teams in the NCAA, an opportunity to play. It give you a chance to extend your season. I initially did that when I was at Iowa because our team had only won seven games. And the fans were the best in the world, just like I say these fans here in New Jersey deserve the best. All these . . . jokes about New Jersey, come on.

“And I’ve said this before, I’m here because I want to be here. Not because I have to be here. I’m here because I want to be here. And I didn’t come here to bring anything other than the best in terms of what these fans deserve. But the NIT, it’s not a bad thing at all . . .

“It would allow us to practice a little bit longer, for one. And so that can be good for the young people that we have. But my reference has only to do with the mindset. Because this group of young people that I have had to be taught that less than the best is not going to do. And so you’ve got to continue to strive.

“I would think that the fans and you guys would be the first ones on my neck, ‘OK, well here she comes in here.’ I can hear it now, ‘She gets paid well enough. What is she thinking about? She wants to go to the NIT.’ Come on, guys. I can’t think like that. I never did and never will.

“But here’s the point: It’s not a knock on the NIT. But because these young people – I have so many freshmen. We only have three upperclassmen. I don’t want them settling. Because the difference is, I’ve made a number of adjustments. Number one, I think they’ve told you, we don’t even call patterns. I’ve never done that before. I’m trying to do anything and everything. I’ve played April [Sykes]as a point guard. Come on.

“I’m trying to be creative, because my job is to motivate and to help each person to be fulfilled and to take advantage of all their skills . . . If I didn’t do that, then I would be a hard-nosed coach that just decided that this is the way it’s going to be. But in doing this, the bottom-line is still that I want for us to contend and put in ourselves in a position where we can seriously consider a national championship.

“I made a comment and I feel so bad, because, one, I just appreciate the NIT or the WNIT for taking the time to give so many teams, because so many teams have used that as a jumping off point for them to do very well in the NCAA. And there’s been historical facts that ‘Hey, they won the NIT and here, they’re in the Sweet 16.’ So there’s a lot of good to be said.

“But as I am working with these young people, so many of them, the vast majority of this team, will be left. And I need to have their minds set on levels of expectation. Levels of expectation. Not ‘well, what do you think of this, Coach? Is this going to be acceptable?’ No, it’s not. I expect more from you.

“And so, once we’re there and if things befall us, whether it’s people injured as it happened or as you know, we approached the season with numbers less than we needed, then I can accept that. But I’m not so bent on, it’s not a power play, me versus them or anything like that. I just want to promise to prepare their minds and to treat the people here to the best. And I want you to get used to that.”

So there you go.

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