Watch: Former Indiana head coach Tom Crean goes off on teams declining NIT invites
Over the past couple of seasons, a growing story line for college basketball has been high-profile teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble missing out on the Big Dance, then declining invitations to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).
This year, that list is headlined by St. Johns, Oklahoma and Pitt, who found themselves on the outside looking in at the field of 68 and decided to call it a season rather than compete in the event.
ESPN analyst and former Marquette, Indiana and Georgia head coach Tom Crean said on Sunday that he doesn't like it.
"There's no question about it, I would want to coach. I would want to develop my team," Crean said.
"There's plenty of time for the portal, there's plenty of time to negotiate NIL deals. There's not plenty of time to play. There's not plenty of time for guys to continue to play that may never play again. That, to me, is absolutely ridiculous. Give your players and coaches a chance to keep coaching and playing."
Crean makes some great points.
Since 2019-20, St. Johns, Oklahoma and Pittsburgh have combined for two bids to the "Big Dance," so the opportunity to play postseason basketball each season is far from a given, and the likelihood of being true contenders in the NCAA Tournament is even smaller.
So while the disappointment in missing out on the main event is understandable, the NIT still provides a great opportunity for the teams in the field.
For the schools like St. Johns, Pitt and Oklahoma, who could have hosted up to three more home games, the tournament is a chance for the university to sell more tickets, merchandise and concessions.
For the players, it's another opportunity to raise a banner for their school, showcase their talents for the future and to play the game they've devoted their lives to just a few more times to before heading to the real world.
It's also a shot to become one of the few teams to end their season with a win.
Regardless of the highs and lows of a season, all but three teams end the year with a loss. Participating in a postseason tournament (whether the NCAA Tournament or the NIT/College Basketball Invitational) gives more programs the chance to close things out with a win and carry positive momentum into the offseason.
Ultimately, every school has the right to decline their invitation to the NIT.
But coach Crean is right. Playing college basketball is a privilege many never have, and any chance to play in the postseason is one schools, coaches and players alike should seize.
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