Mike (Archer) Occhiogrosso
Class of 1972
Giving up is something you never want to do in sports and almost anything in life you’ve worked hard to achieve.
College basketball is in the middle of March Madness. With two more weekends to go, millions will be watching and betting on their school if they can get into the tournament. St. Bonaventure University has a long history of basketball tradition. As members of the Atlantic 10 Conference, the committee usually takes only the conference champion and offers one or two at large bids.
The Bonnies finished in the middle of the pack and won two A-10 tournament games to reach the semi-finals, where they lost to Duquesne, the eventual champion. The Bonnies finished the season and playoffs with twenty wins, but that’s not quite good enough to get an NCAA tournament bid.
The consolation prize for not making the field of sixty-eight is to get a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, which picks thirty-two teams. Dick Vitale referred to the NIT as the “Nobodies Interested Tournament.” But it is a chance to continue and have something to show for your season of hard work.
I was surprised when the NIT field was announced, and the Bonnies were not invited. I was even more shocked when I found out why. Joe Manhertz, St. Bonaventure’s Athletic Director, sent a letter to the school and alumni explaining what happened.
“Considering the logistics of what would have been an NIT road game, we proactively decided Sunday afternoon to inform the NIT selection committee of our concerns regarding roster uncertainty, given injury and the transfer portal, that would have left us at a competitive disadvantage.Together, the athletics department administration and the coaching staff decided in the best interest of our student-athletics.” Said Manhertz.
Manhertz pointed out that the school had been pulled out of consideration even before the NIT committee offered a possible invitation. Manhertz went on to apologize for not being more transparent about the decision.
The reaction of the St. Bonaventure community was outrage. Manhertz then resigned. He admitted to a need for a better understanding of the importance of the NIT to the Bonaventure administration, community and alumni. Basketball is an obsession at Bonaventure. It’s a vital part of the college experience. It helps students get through the long, cold, snowy winters.
The final insult was to the players. They only found out about the decision when the public did. In his resignation letter, Manhertz wrote, “What I learned is that (the NIT) means a lot more to the Bonaventure alumni than it does to the Bonaventure players.”
I haven’t seen any player reaction. But if they supported this decision, the coaching staff must examine the type of kid they’re recruiting.
Manhertz had been Athletic Director for two and a half years. It’s mind-boggling that he did not understand Bonaventure’s pride and passion for basketball. It’s part of the school’s heartbeat. Offering a list of weak reasons, like we would have to play a road game, injuries, and the transfer portal, makes me cringe.
As a graduate of the Class of 1972, saying we don’t want to play is something I never thought I’d hear from St. Bonaventure.
occh4@comcast.net
