Syracuse Women's Basketball Snubbed From NCAA Tournament, Will Host NIT Game

Well, I guess at least one Syracuse Basketball team needs to get screwed by an NCAA committee every year. Unfortunately it was the women's turn again.

The 2011 Women's NCAA Tournament Brackets were announced last night and Syracuse (22-9, 9-7) was not among the teams selected. The snub by itself is tough to take but when you factor in the other teams taken it gets a little strange:

The selection committee picked nine Big East teams, including two squads (Georgetown and St. John’s) that tied for seventh in the conference standings with SU at 9-7 and one (West Virginia) that finished a game behind at 8-8. SU beat St. John’s during the regular season and lost to West Virginia and Georgetown on the road. The Orange also fell to the Hoyas by one point, 61-60, in the second round of the Big East Tournament after leading by 11 points late in the second half.

Brian Higgins, who covers the women's team for Syracuse Sports Network, made his case on Twitter, comparing the NIT-bound Orange to the NCAA-bound Longhorns.

Texas...you're up. Longhorns (19-13, 7-9 Big 12), Orange (22-9, 9-7 Big East)

Texas: 3 wins against tourney teams, 2 total teams, Kansas State and Texas Tech twice.

Syracuse: 5 wins against tourney teams: St. John's and Marquette on the road, Ohio State, Louisville and St. Francis(PA) at home.

Yes Texas had a better non conference strength of schedule...but is their getting pounded by Stanford, Tennessee and Baylor twice better than Syracuse losing to UConn and Baylor? SOS is great...but how bout beating someone.

1 Final Stat: SU finish to the season (6-2), Texas (3-6)

Unfortunately, Syracuse's SOS and lack of one more quality win seemed to be their undoing. The silver lining, if you want to find one, is that they're one of the favorites to win the WNIT. Last year, Syracuse made a run to the WNIT quarterfinals where they lost to Michigan.

This year, the tournament begins in the Dome against Monmouth (23-9) on Thursday, March 17 at 7 p.m. It's a great chance for Syracuse fans to get in on the women's team now as they continue their climb. Coach Q has this team improving each year, congrats on another post-season bid.