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Look at you, wallowing in misery because the Hoosiers aren't going to the NCAA Tournament. You've probably started talking yourself into them making a run in the Big Ten Tournament, capturing that elusive auto-bid, and getting to play in Dayton on a dang Tuesday.
Have you ever wondered why you would pine so badly for the Big Dance? Year-in and year-out it demands you jump through all these hoops, like "win games" and "don't lose to Fort Wayne", AND FOR WHAT? A dice roll's chance at a trophy? Give me a break. You deserve better than that
YOU DESERVE THE NIT.
THE NIT IS A GREAT PLACE. A JUDGMENT-FREE ZONE. THE PLANET FITNESS OF POSTSEASON TOURNAMENTS. IF YOU EXERT TOO MUCH EFFORT IN A GAME YOU GET A TECHNICAL. TOWEL OFF AT THE NEXT TIME OUT, SON. IF ONE OF THOSE SWEAT BEADS DRIPS OFF YOUR TEMPLE YOU'RE OUT OF HERE.
JUST SEE WHAT ALL THE FOLKS ARE SAYING:
"... the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball." - Wikipedia
"We're already here, we might as well play." - Devan Downey, South Carolina
"It's still a lot of fun." - Alex Loughton, Old Dominion
IT'S. STILL. A LOT. OF. FUN.
CHECK THE PROS AND CONS!
| PROS | CONS |
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Less teams than the NCAA Tournament, ergo more exclusive. |
Probably gonna lose at home in the first round. |
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Airs on the ESPN family of networks, ergo no commercials for 'Impractical Jokers' |
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Last couple of games are in NYC, ergo Indiana can get accustomed to the arena that will literally and unironically host the 2018 Big Ten Tournament. |
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Winner is often referred to as the "69th best team in America." |
THE SCIENCE IS SETTLED. ALL HAIL THE TRUE KING OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL- THE NIT.
NIT BRACKETOLOGY UPDATE 3/1:
Indiana is in good shape for a bid! The good folks over at NYC Buckets current project Indiana as a 4-seed which would be the last seed line guaranteed to host a game. I wouldn't imagine they'd drop down after losing on the road to Purdue and, regardless, they have two winnable games left to either move up a line or fall out of the dang bracket altogether.
Over at the NIT Bracket Project, they like Indiana's chances even better, currently projecting them as a 2-seed, but that was prior to last night's game.
NIT BRACKET CHALLENGE:
I made this offer back when I first started here in 2014 and I'll do it again now: if Indiana makes the NIT I will be hosting a bracket challenge with a legitimate prize that I'll determine in the next couple of weeks.