What are UConn’s, Houston’s, Purdue’s and North Carolina’s biggest questions?
College basketball’s National Invitational Tournament is in the same big, sad boat as all the bowl games that don’t impact the College Football Playoff. As harsh as it sounds, it’s just the way things have become: If it’s not about the national championship, it no longer matters that much.
A cavalcade of major programs — Indiana, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, Memphis, Ole Miss, Oklahoma — have turned down chances to play in this year’s NIT, and the temptation is to regard them as brats and babies. But they’ve all decided getting a jump on roster building for next season is more important, which, in 2024, it is.
Meanwhile, any of those programs would kill to be in the shoes of the one that has become most infamous for falling short in the NCAA Tournament: Purdue.
The Boilermakers wouldn’t know the way to the Final Four if there was nothing but a straight railroad track and a black-and-gold locomotive pointed in the right direction. Hall of Fame coach Gene Keady never got them there. Future Hall of Famer Matt Painter hasn’t, either. Still, the Boilers — the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region — always give themselves a chance. They’ve been a top-four seed in seven straight tournaments.
“Anybody can have a good team,” Painter said, “but can you have a good program? …
“We’ve worked very hard and done the right things in our program. All you try to do is fight to get it in the best position possible.”
They’ve never been in a better position on Painter’s — or Keady’s — watch. Center Zach Edey was more dominant as a second-time national player of the year. In point guard Braden Smith, he has a first-team all-Big Ten running mate.
