[Mick]

Belmont's HC is on his way to Kansas State, so that makes sense.

Frankly with college free agency, teams declining the NIT makes more sense to me than the acceptances. Maybe if you just want to keep hooping or maybe coaches have enough contract incentive for making the "postseason" to force accepting an off-brand postseason. For Power 4 teams with double digit losses, what is the point? You had your chance to make the one meaningful tournament.

Finished my bracket. UVA gets revenge against the Evil Empire in the most satisfying way possible. I started to use AI to create a bracket but stopped when it said Indiana and Auburn could get past the first round. God help us all.

Fun NIT fact: There have been 29 NIT Most Valuable Players in the last 30 years (no tourney because of COVID in 2020). Of those 29:

- 18 never played a single minute in the NBA.
- 11 made an NBA roster. Of the eleven, here's how many games each played:
[*]Kosta Koufos (2008, Ohio State) — 686 games (11 seasons, 2008–19; solid backup center role with multiple teams).
[*]Robert Traylor (1997, Michigan; award vacated) — 438 games (7 seasons, 1998–2005; known as "Tractor Traylor").
[*]Kenrich Williams (2017, TCU) — 436 games (8 seasons through 2025–26; ongoing with OKC Thunder; versatile forward).
[*]Lamar Stevens (2018, Penn State) — 220 games (primarily 2020–25; forward with Cleveland and others).
[*]Renaldo Balkman (2006, South Carolina) — 221 games (6 seasons, 2006–11; forward with Knicks and Nuggets).
[*]Erick Strickland (1996, Nebraska) — Approximately 300+ games across multiple seasons/teams (1996–2005; guard known for scoring bursts; exact total aligns in the mid-to-high range among the group based on career logs).
[*]Dajuan Wagner (2002, Memphis) — 103 games (4 seasons, 2002–06; high draft pick hampered by injuries).
[*]Colby Jones (2022, Xavier) — ~70 games (3 seasons through 2025–26; guard/forward with Kings, Pistons, etc.; ongoing).
[*]Chasson Randle (2015, Stanford) — ~50–60 games across sporadic appearances (2016–21; guard with multiple teams, mostly brief stints).
[*]Pierre Jackson (2013, Baylor) — 8 games (1 season with Dallas Mavericks; brief call-up).
[*]Landers Nolley II (2021, Memphis) — 0 regular-season NBA games (played in G League/internationally after NIT MVP; included in the prior "played in NBA" category due to roster appearances or two-way context in some records, but no regular-season GP).

- zero made an NBA All-star team

Not exactly a hotbed of talent, the NIT.

[Mick]

Belmont's HC is on his way to Kansas State, so that makes sense.

Frankly with college free agency, teams declining the NIT makes more sense to me than the acceptances. Maybe if you just want to keep hooping or maybe coaches have enough contract incentive for making the "postseason" to force accepting an off-brand postseason. For Power 4 teams with double digit losses, what is the point? You had your chance to make the one meaningful tournament.

Finished my bracket. UVA gets revenge against the Evil Empire in the most satisfying way possible. I started to use AI to create a bracket but stopped when it said Indiana and Auburn could get past the first round. God help us all.

Fun NIT fact: There have been 29 NIT Most Valuable Players in the last 30 years (no tourney because of COVID in 2020). Of those 29:

- 18 never played a single minute in the NBA.
- 11 made an NBA roster. Of the eleven, here's how many games each played:
[*]Kosta Koufos (2008, Ohio State) — 686 games (11 seasons, 2008–19; solid backup center role with multiple teams).
[*]Robert Traylor (1997, Michigan; award vacated) — 438 games (7 seasons, 1998–2005; known as "Tractor Traylor").
[*]Kenrich Williams (2017, TCU) — 436 games (8 seasons through 2025–26; ongoing with OKC Thunder; versatile forward).
[*]Lamar Stevens (2018, Penn State) — 220 games (primarily 2020–25; forward with Cleveland and others).
[*]Renaldo Balkman (2006, South Carolina) — 221 games (6 seasons, 2006–11; forward with Knicks and Nuggets).
[*]Erick Strickland (1996, Nebraska) — Approximately 300+ games across multiple seasons/teams (1996–2005; guard known for scoring bursts; exact total aligns in the mid-to-high range among the group based on career logs).
[*]Dajuan Wagner (2002, Memphis) — 103 games (4 seasons, 2002–06; high draft pick hampered by injuries).
[*]Colby Jones (2022, Xavier) — ~70 games (3 seasons through 2025–26; guard/forward with Kings, Pistons, etc.; ongoing).
[*]Chasson Randle (2015, Stanford) — ~50–60 games across sporadic appearances (2016–21; guard with multiple teams, mostly brief stints).
[*]Pierre Jackson (2013, Baylor) — 8 games (1 season with Dallas Mavericks; brief call-up).
[*]Landers Nolley II (2021, Memphis) — 0 regular-season NBA games (played in G League/internationally after NIT MVP; included in the prior "played in NBA" category due to roster appearances or two-way context in some records, but no regular-season GP).

- zero made an NBA All-star team

Not exactly a hotbed of talent, the NIT.