A lot of people don't think that the NIT matters and they don't think that the teams participating care about winning it. Don't tell that to Indiana State basketball and Seton Hall basketball. Both teams felt like they should've been in the NCAA Tournament, and when they were left out, the NIT was their only chance to continue competing together. The Pirates and Sycamores met in the NIT championship on Thursday night, and Seton Hall won a close one.
Both teams have played great in the NIT and the championship game was a great way to end the tournament. The game was close the whole way through, but Seton Hall basketball finished the game on a 9-0 run to win 79-77. Indiana State basketball was heartbroken.
“Guys sobbing and gutted,” An emotional Josh Schertz said after the game, according to a tweet from Rick Semmler. “Have to put everything into it. To be great at anything have to be willing to have your hearts broken. Our hearts our broken tonight.”
Josh Schertz also offered his congratulations to Seton Hall. That's a tough way to go out. The Sycamores were up by seven points late and had put themselves in a great position to win the basketball game. The Pirates stepped up late, however.
“Obviously, congratulations to Seton Hall, that’s a really good basketball team,” Schertz said, according to an article from nj.com. “They’re really deserving champions.”
Indiana State basketball did not end up winning the NIT, but there is still a lot for them be proud of from this season. They were ranked in the AP Poll at one point in the season, and a lot of people thought that they were good enough to be in the NCAA Tournament. It didn't end the way they wanted it to, but the Sycamores had a good year.
Seton Hall wins the NIT
Seton Hall basketball also had a terrific season, and it was also surprising to not see them make the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Shaheen Hollaway was very surprised when he didn't hear his team's name called on Selection Sunday.
“Super disappointed, super shocked,” Holloway said on Selection Sunday. “Can’t believe that a team that won 13 games in the supposedly the second-best conference in the country numbers-wise don’t make it. I don’t think I’ve ever been a part or seen anything like that.”
The NIT meant something to this team, and also to Indiana State and the rest of the teams that competed. They felt like they got robbed, and they went out and showed how good of a team they are.
“I’m super proud of them,” Holloway said. “I’m just so happy for those guys. If you guys saw the look on these guys’ faces when they didn’t make the Tournament. And as their leader, it was the worst feeling in the world not knowing what to say to them. I’m looking like, ‘Fellas I don’t have an answer for you.’ From that and going in to getting drenched by those guys [in the locker room], it’s the best feeling in the world.”
The Pirates didn't make it to the big dance, but they are feeling good after winning the NIT.
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