Inside the Article:
Michigan‘s NCAA Tournament dreams vanished with a disastrous second half against Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament opener. The Wolverines' 1-for-17 shooting stretch sealed their postseason fate, and they'll miss the Big Dance for the first time since 2015. However, they may receive an invitation to the NIT, a 32-team tournament featuring the best remaining teams that didn't make the NCAA Tournament field. But, the Wolverines have not yet decided whether to accept or decline the invite.
Key points
- Michigan's NCAA Tournament hopes were dashed after a loss to Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament.
- The Wolverines may receive an invitation to the NIT, a secondary postseason tournament.
- Michigan has not yet decided whether to accept or decline the NIT invite.
- Several programs have turned down NIT bids in recent years.
- The Wolverines last participated in the NIT in 2007.
- Michigan has been a regular in the NCAA Tournament and has had plenty of March Madness success in the last decade.
- The NIT could be a valuable learning opportunity for Michigan's young team.
- The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Sunday, with the NIT bracket to follow.
Why it matters for Michigan basketball and the NIT
Michigan's men's basketball team must decide whether to accept an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) after a second-half meltdown against Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament dashed their NCAA Tournament hopes.
The Big Picture: The Wolverines are facing a decision
Michigan's men's basketball team is facing a decision about whether to participate in the NIT after their NCAA Tournament dreams were dashed. Accepting the invitation could provide valuable experience for the Wolverines' young players and give them a chance to finish the season on a high note. However, declining the invitation could send a message that Michigan expects to be a regular in the NCAA Tournament and is not satisfied with a secondary postseason appearance.
What they are saying
“Yes, they want to continue to keep playing. I want to see them playing, and I want to be out there coaching them in the postseason. We'll go back home. We'll talk about what's the plan for the future, and we'll go from there.” – Coach Juwan Howard
“We talked about in the locker room that we'll wait until we get back to talk about it as a group.” – Junior center Hunter Dickinson
The Bottom Line – To NIT or not to NIT?
Michigan's basketball team faces a difficult decision about whether to accept an invitation to the NIT after their NCAA Tournament dreams were dashed. While the NIT could provide valuable experience for the Wolverines' young team, declining the invitation could send a message about Michigan's expectations for postseason success. Ultimately, the decision will impact the team's trajectory going forward.
