INDIANAPOLIS – There was no room in the NCAA Tournament for these men or women. But they have come here with fire in their game because all you need are two hoops, a ball and maybe a trophy to win and the blood gets pumping in March and April.
This is the headquarters of those left out. The inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, the men’s NIT, both in hallowed Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Big Dance, it ain’t. But it’s a week of hard and honest labor to win something in a place that cherishes the game. There are worse ways for teams to spend the early days of April.
“Any postseason’s great,” said Villanova guard Lucy Olsen of the Wildcats trying to win the inaugural WBIT. “You can only be the first once, so I think it would be awesome.”
While the men’s and women’s Final Fours will soon be making thunder, here are two days on a less glitzy stage. But it’s still April in college basketball.
MONDAY
The men’s teams practice in the morning. That includes Seton Hall, who some believe was the most unjust victim of Selection Sunday. With each passing Connecticut rout in the NCAA Tournament, one of the Pirates’ season victories grows more glorious. They beat the Huskies by 15 points. That wasn’t enough to get them in the door.
“Talking…
