Indiana State’s basketball team, the Sycamores, experienced a disappointing outcome despite a strong season. The team’s 28 wins, including standout performances from players like Robbie Avila, were not enough to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. This marks the first time since Larry Bird’s era in 1979 that the Sycamores have had such a successful regular season without a tournament appearance.
The NCAA selection committee opted to include three 20-win teams from the Big East Conference over Indiana State. Committee chairman Charles McClelland explained that unexpected conference tournament outcomes resulted in bids being “stolen,” leaving deserving teams like Indiana State on the outside looking in.
Despite their exclusion from the NCAA Tournament, Indiana State has been selected as a No. 1 seed in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Coach Josh Schertz expressed disappointment, especially considering the team’s strong metrics and NET ranking of 28.
Other teams, like Oklahoma and Pittsburgh, also missed out on NCAA Tournament bids despite competitive seasons. Pittsburgh coach Jeff Capel expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their improvement over the course of the season.
On the other hand, St. John’s, led by coach Rick Pitino, opted not to participate in the NIT, instead choosing to focus on preparing for the next season. The Big East, despite having three 20-win teams snubbed, secured high seeds in the NCAA Tournament, with defending champion UConn leading the pack.
Overall, the selection process and criteria for tournament bids have raised questions and criticisms from coaches and fans alike. UConn coach Danny Hurley described the process as a “shell game,” emphasizing the committee’s subjective evaluations of teams and their seasons.
