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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > April > 02 > Entry
Editorial: Flyers’ win is right good-bye for NIT
Chris Johnson was the perfect Dayton Flyer to hoist the Most Valuable Player trophy Thursday in the wake of a championship victory over North Carolina.
Three years ago, Johnson was a mostly overlooked, skinny senior at Columbus’ Brookhaven High School. University of Dayton Coach Brian Gregory saw in the now quickly maturing sophomore the primary attributes he seeks for his players — athleticism, basketball skills and heart.
With whispers growing louder about Johnson’s professional basketball prospects, he won’t be overlooked anymore. Ironically, the impending demise of the just-conquered National Invitation Tournament means Dayton won’t be overlooked anymore either.
It was fitting that the Flyers should win what was almost certainly the last NIT title. The legendary event, with its showcase championship game at Madison Square Garden, first propelled Dayton basketball to national prominence.
In the 1950s and ’60s, the Flyers were fan favorites for New Yorkers as almost annual contenders for the title at a time when the NIT, not the tournament run by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, was the dominant college basketball championship.
But the NIT is now owned by the NCAA, which later this month will consider a plan to expand its championship basketball tournament. ESPN and other national media are reporting that expansion to a 96-team NCAA tournament, and the demise of the NIT, is a certainty.
The expanded NCAA tournament is a win for Dayton and other local college basketball programs like Wright State and Miami.
As a consistently good, but usually not first-place, team from outside the power conferences, the Flyers are perpetually on the bubble for selection by the NCAA. Too often, including this year, the Flyers have been good enough to make the field, only to be edged out by middling teams from major conferences. That won’t happen with an expanded field.
Perhaps the fantastic run of the past few weeks — during which the Flyers beat good teams from four major conferences — will happen on the big stage next time.
Still, many fans think the NCAA is making a mistake. The 64-team bracket has produced magic since the field was expanded in 1985, propelling the tournament to become a national obsession. The NIT, which evolved into a consolation bracket for those left out of the “Big Dance,” at least offered the excluded teams a real banner to shoot for.
It’s easy to feel a touch of nostalgia for the NIT after witnessing Dayton’s triumph. The team’s seven seniors include five key players — Mickey Perry, London Warren, Rob Lowery, Marcus Johnson and Kurt Huelsman — who together pushed the program to a higher level by playing hard, never giving up and sticking together.
After last year’s NCAA success (defeating now Final Four-bound West Virginia in the first round), hopes for a repeat performance this year didn’t work out. This year’s squad lost too many close games.
But the brand of basketball the seniors brought to Dayton — enthusiastic, relentless and high-flying — re-energized the program.
Watching them celebrate a well-deserved championship was a treat.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorials, Higher Ed, Scott Elliott, Sports and Recreation
Comments
By No it was not d weeds
April 2, 2010 7:52 PM | Link to this
It was never a bigger than the NCAA. It was equal to, some year slightly better, some years slightly worse. STOP IT PLEASE. UD never won a ” National ” Championship. They won 2 NITs back in the 1960 when it was a good old boy network mostly of private college and a few selected state schools. You people do not know what you are talking about. It was not how good you were but rather who you knew. Enough already.
By amy katz
April 2, 2010 8:28 PM | Link to this
No one said UD won a National Championship - guess your x education didn’t include reading comprehension. The NCAA declares that the winner of their tournament is the national champion; however, that doesn’t change the fact that for a time many teams preferred the NIT. For example, many consider George Mikan of dePaul to be one of the great all time centers, but he never played in the NCAA as DePaul routinly choose the NIT. Do some research rather than relying on the losers from online message boards hat think they know NCAA history
By Jason Smoth
April 2, 2010 8:46 PM | Link to this
dear No it … The NIT regularly invited the best teams. Until the mid 1970s, the NCAA only allowed 1 team per conference (through the ’50s the NCAA field was 8 and into the 70s was in the 20s). So when UCLA and USC finished 1 and 2 in the country in 1971 (and USCs only losses than year were to UCLA) USC was not invited to the NCAA. The reason many teams preferred the NIT is that it was often viewed as a stronger field. (some years a 2nd or 3rd place team in one conference could be better than another team that won their conference). Under those rules, teams like x, kansas state, michigan state, baylor, would not have been invited
By Binnie Huelstiff
April 2, 2010 10:49 PM | Link to this
We’re #66! We’re #66! Raise the banner high to the dusty rafters of UDump Arena! Right next to the 2010 preseason A-10 champions banner, er…nevermind.
By Joe
April 3, 2010 12:23 AM | Link to this
The current Madison Square Garden opened in ‘68 and the Flyers won the first NIT played there. Now the NCAA is considering expanding the field to 96 thus eliminating the NIT. If that happens UD will have won the first and last NITs played @ MSG.
By max
April 3, 2010 7:15 AM | Link to this
I don’t want to see the NIT abolished. I have enjoyed watching the NIT over the years. And this year, to see the Flyers come together and win the NIT added excitement to the March Madness.
By They are folding
April 3, 2010 8:23 AM | Link to this
Good riddance. Who really wants to watch the worst teams play in a consolation tournament anyway?
By want a moro..
April 3, 2010 8:50 AM | Link to this
It’s amazing how xavier fans life’s are so sad they have to come to a newspaper story to talk about a team they don’t like. If my life ever got that pathetic, I’d rather die than go on living
By Bookie
April 3, 2010 11:03 AM | Link to this
To Joe Very first NIT tournement 1938 with Temple over Colorado 60-36. Renovation of MSG really has nothing to do with it, just more seats.