The RoundHouse | 3/29/2019 7:30:00 AM
The Shockers are all-in on the National Invitation Tournament, much to the delight of their fans and the consternation of Internet trolls.
There are two good outcomes from an NIT run – adding wins and adding experience that pays off in future seasons. Wichita State is convinced it is accomplishing both this season by heading to Madison Square Garden and bulking up next season's roster with (at least) four games of post-season swagger.
"Being in the NIT and winning three road games against high-major programs, and going to New York to play in the Final Four, like that sounds pretty amazing to me and the rest of the team," Wichita State senior
Markis McDuffie said. "And that just shows a lot of promise for the team next year."
Wichita State won its eighth consecutive NIT game on Tuesday at Indiana. That win ties it with Dayton and Purdue at No. 6 on the NIT's list of consecutive wins. The record is 10, shared by South Carolina and Purdue. Two more wins also puts WSU on the list with 18 schools with two or more NIT titles.
Some schools turned their NIT win streak into bigger and better. Ohio State fired its coach after winning the 1986 NIT to start a nine-game NIT win streak.
The NIT is what a school makes of it. Wichita State turned its 2011 title into seven straight NCAA appearances.
A look at what the NIT's top win streaks are made of:
Purdue – eight in row in 1974 and 1979.
The Boilermakers won the 1974 title, defeating Utah in the championship game. In the semifinal, they defeated Jacksonville and freshman guard Marty Gross, who later became one of Marshall's assistants at Wichita State.
In 1979, they tied with Michigan State atop the Big 10. Michigan State, and Magic Johnson, swept the season series to claim the NCAA bid and won the national title. Purdue went to the NIT and lost to Indiana in the championship game.
Future success?
The 1980 Boilermakers, with Joe Barry Carroll as the leading scorer, advanced to the Final Four, where they lost to UCLA in the semifinal.
Dayton – eight in a row in 1962 and 1968.
The Flyers started their run to the 1962 title with a 79-71 win over the Shockers in the first round in Madison Square Garden. Dayton defeated St. John's in the title game.
In 1968, Dayton defeated Kansas 61-48 in the title game.
Future success?
While seniors led the 1968 Flyers, they regrouped to play in the NCAA Tournament the next two seasons.
Michigan – nine in a row in 2004 and 2006
The 2004 Wolverines defeated Rutgers 62-55 to win the title. After a 13-18 record in 2005, Michigan returned to MSG. It defeated Old Dominion in the semifinal before a 76-64 loss to South Carolina.
Future success?
A 2007 trip to the NIT signaled the end for coach Tommy Amaker. Michigan replaced him with John Beilein, who returned the Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
Memphis – nine in a row in 2001, 2002 and 2005
John Calipari started his tenure at Memphis with a 2001 trip to MSG and a loss to Tulsa in the semifinal. A win over Detroit in the third-place game started the nine-game streak that continued with five wins in 2002, including 72-62 over South Carolina in the title game.
The Tigers returned in 2005 and lost to Saint Joseph's in the semifinal.
Future success?
Memphis played in the NCAAs in 2003 and 2004 in between NIT runs. The 2005 trip to the NIT title game previewed its greatest success under Calipari – four straight NCAA berths, two to the Elite Eight, the 2008 title game and a Sweet 16.
Ohio State – nine in a row in 1986 and 1988
Ohio State fired Coach Eldon Miller after winning the 1986 NIT, sending him to Northern Iowa. The Buckeyes defeated Wyoming 73-63 in the championship game. In 1988, Ohio State and coach Gary Williams lost to UConn 72-67 in the title game.
Future success?
The 1987 Buckeyes, in Williams' first season, advanced to the NCAA Tournament with much the same roster as the NIT champs. Williams and the Buckeyes returned to the NIT in 1989, after which he departed for Maryland.
Penn State – 10 in a row in 2009 and 2018
Penn State – with former Drake coach Kurt Kanaskie on the coaching staff - defeated Baylor 69-63 to win the 2009 title. In 2018, the Nittany Lions topped Temple to open the NIT and won it 82-66 over Utah.
Future success?
In 2010, Penn State slumped to an 11-20 record. It played in the NCAA Tournament in 2011. Penn State's streak is active after this season's team failed to make a post-season tournament.
South Carolina – 10 in a row in 2005 and 2006
The 2005 Gamecocks, coached by Dave Odom, defeated Saint Joseph's 60-57 in the title game. They returned the next season to defeat 76-64 in the title game.
Future success?
Odom's teams recorded losing records the next two seasons before he retired. South Carolina replaced him with Darrin Horn. The school did not return to the NCAA Tournament under 2017 under coach Frank Martin.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
