A rare opportunity

[Inyatkin]

With all the postseason tournaments, it's exceedingly uncommon to end a college basketball season with a win, which we have a shot to do this weekend.
But it happened five times to UConn under Jim Calhoun: three national titles, an NIT win, and points to whoever remembers the fifth one ...

 

[nomar]

1996-97 vs Arkansas

 

[Inyatkin]

Yes, the much-missed NIT third-place game. I bought tickets to the final before we lost to Florida State but went anyway.

Michigan won the title. Tractor Traylor was the largest man I've ever seen on a basketball court.

 

[RoderickSpode]

I was at that 3rd place NIT game in '97. There were innumerable old ladies with hand-knit Razorbacks sweaters hanging around in front of MSG.

 

[tzznandrew]

The NIT was and is a great exercise for young teams that are on their way up. NIT 3rd Place; 1998 E8 loss to UNC in NC, 1999 National Championship.

It's in years like 2010 when it's a disappointment that it sucks. I would have loved the 2007 team to make the NIT.

 

[BUHusky]

The NIT was and is a great exercise for young teams that are on their way up. NIT 3rd Place; 1998 E8 loss to UNC in NC, 1999 National Championship.

It's in years like 2010 when it's a disappointment that it sucks. I would have loved the 2007 team to make the NIT.

I remember in 2007 getting really pissed every time the regular season winner of a small crappy conference lost in their conference tournament because that meant another NIT bid was taken. When you're getting mad over stolen NIT bids you know you're a die-hard..or there is something really wrong with you...or both.

 

[RoderickSpode]

The '97 NIT was a lot of fun. I remember Freeman had a breakout game at Gampel, I think against Bradley, that gave us a peek at his rebounding potential. That run really ended an up-and-down season on a high note. As Andrew was getting at, we added KEA to the mix that fall and never looked back.

 

[Inyatkin]

On the other hand, back in 97 the NIT was more ad-hoc, allowing a mediocre UConn team to get three home games on the way to MSG.

 

[tzznandrew]

On the other hand, back in 97 the NIT was more ad-hoc, allowing a mediocre UConn team to get three home games on the way to MSG.

That's true. You couldn't even print out a bracket, then--I mean, I tried! No seeding, just whoever could bring more fans got the home game. A whole different ballgame now.

 

[Ts5034]

In 2010 when the NIT bracket came out, I was hoping for a UConn-UNC matchup at the NIT finals at the Garden. Even though playin in the NIT is kind of a letdown, UConn vs North Carolina would have been a great game that would have had some sizzle. Too bad we lost to Virginia Tech.

 

[Inyatkin]

I remember in 2007 getting really pissed every time the regular season winner of a small crappy conference lost in their conference tournament because that meant another NIT bid was taken. When you're getting mad over stolen NIT bids you know you're a die-hard..or there is something really wrong with you...or both.

I remember watching the NIT selection show in 2007. First and last time for that.