The Final Four is Set…For The NIT
March 25, 2009 - 11:56 pm by TheRiot
Well the much anticipated Final Four is already set. Yep, it’s already all mapped out. For the National Invitation Tournament.
Let me guess, you don’t care? It’s the Not Interested Tournament or the Not Invited Tournament to you. Sure, fine. No really, that’s fine.
I’m not going to try and convince you the NIT matters. Truth is it doesn’t. I know that.
But to some teams it really is kind of a big deal. Look at those San Diego State Aztecs. They beat Patty Mills and St. Mary’s on Wednesday to advance to the NIT semifinals for the first time ever. These dudes get to play in Madison Square Garden (which is cool, but smells like stale beer and homeless people).
After they won last night, Aztec fans — including Phillips and McD in spirit — rushed the floor and some passed out apples to the players, which they hopefully didn’t eat. Those San Diegans (?) are genuinely excited and I’m not about to rain on their parade.
SDSU gets the wonderful honor of playing Baylor. The Bears beat Auburn to also advance to the NIT semis for the first time. Scott Drew has done a wonderful job there. At least now players aren’t shooting/killing teammates after which the coach endeavors to cover it up.
Ouch.
In the other semifinal we have Penn State and Notre Dame.
Was there a bigger disappointment in college basketball this year than Notre Dame? The Irish were ranked as high as No. 9 before stumbling through the Big East season and finishing way off the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Frustrating season for the Irish. And it ends with a third trip to NYC, where they play bad historically. Could be a loss on the way, but sharpshooter Kyle McAlarney gets to finish his career a stone’s throw from where he grew up on Staten Island.
That’s heartwarming.
As for Penn State, maybe it got snubbed on Selection Sunday. Maybe. But for a team that’s been historically bad in the Big Ten, it’s good to see them have some postseason success. Hell, it’s more than IU can say right now.
So there, that’s what you need to know about the NIT finals.
Still don’t care? Yeah, me either.
4 Responses to “The Final Four is Set…For The NIT”
I think Georgetown was a slightly bigger bust than Notre Dame. Just by a hair. At least Notre Dame has won some games in the post season.
However, I think I’ll root for Penn State, just because, listening to the way the Domers bitch and moan about Big Ten basketball, I think that’d be funny to see them taken down by a team that they railed against for being on the bubble.
By MJenks on Mar 26, 2009
After watching Notre Dame in Maui to start the year, I have to agree with TheRiot. That team was going places. They fell apart for no good reason. I know the Big East was incredible this year, but with the talent and experience they had there’s no way they should have been as bad as they were.
By Phillips on Mar 26, 2009
I’m not arguing at all; as far as seasons go, based on expectations, this one has “Epic Fail” written all over it in big, block, capital, white letters.
I’m just saying Georgetown’s season was a slightly bigger bust is all.
By MJenks on Mar 27, 2009