Over the 32 days leading up to college basketball season, we’re profiling 32 different teams who could be in the NIT mix, aided in this effort by those who know them best (or the closest we could get). Today, Matt Cox responds by email to our questions about Wisconsin.
Matt Cox is a self-described “outer prong of the 3-Man-Weave trident.” He helped write the ALMANAC_v2, which has been said (by Matt) to be regarded by many as the best 2nd edition publication to hit the shelves since NBA Street volume 2. He is on Twitter/X at @matty_cox.
Here’s the full list of 32 for 32’s published so far, with links:
- Auburn, with the Sickos CBB Committee
- BYU, with Mitch Harper
- Cincinnati, with Zach Fries
- Dayton, with Tyler Cronin
- Duquesne, with Tristan Freeman
- Indiana, with Matt Cox
- Iona, with Sam Federman
- Iowa State, with Joe Stunardi
- James Madison, with Bennett Conlin
- Loyola, with Ky McKeon
- Michigan, with the Sickos CBB Committee
- Missouri, with Jim Root
- North Texas, with Harry Miers
- Northwestern, with John Templon
- Notre Dame, with Stuart McGrath
- Ohio State, with Mark Titus
- Oregon State, with Andy Dieckhoff
- Penn State, with DJ Bauer
- South Carolina, with Brian Rauf
- St. Bonaventure, with SBUnfurled
- St. John’s, with the Sickos CBB Committee
- Syracuse, with the Marshall Street Podcast
- Texas, with NIT Stu
- Utah, with Andrew Crowley
- Virginia Tech, with Ken Pomeroy
- Washington State, with Dave Andersen
- Wisconsin, with Cole Amundson
The Barking Crow: After a thrilling run in 2019 and a devastating near-miss in 2021, the Hoosiers find themselves in something of an NIT sweet spot entering the year, at least to our far-off gaze. They’re in the high 40’s in KenPom; they aren’t getting much preseason love in the polls; Mike Woodson is no longer among the shiniest objects stepping to the podium at conference media days. Do national perceptions of Indiana match what the IU community thinks this team has? In other words, what’s the expectation for the 2023–24 Hoosiers?
The IU community, while endearing and lovable, seems irrationally sold on this rendition being as good, if not better, than a year ago. I find myself caught in the middle between that prognosis, and the national media’s skepticism, which portrays the Hoosiers as a highly flawed roster with negative shooting. The expectation should be a return to the NCAA Tournament, but the path there seems bumpier and sweatier than a year ago. However, it’s this journey that may potentially position the Hoosiers as an NIT darkhorse in 2024.
TBC: They say you can’t move forward until you deal with the past. What stopped Indiana from making the 2023 NIT?
When in doubt, blame the NCAA. Jalen Hood-Schifino should’ve never stepped foot on the Assembly Hall hardwood. Drop him in the pros from day 1, where he belonged, and IU is a deadeye lock for an NIT berth last season.
TBC: Among other notable additions, Kel’el Ware joined the Hoosiers this summer, coming from Oregon, who reached the 2023 NIT quarterfinals. How do you expect that experience to affect this Indiana team, and how hungry do you suspect Ware is to get revenge on Wisconsin for ending his season?
He’s already tipped his hand. His effort / motor in last week’s exhibition showdown against storied intra-state rival UIndy drew many local critiques, but that’s the skeleton key evidence to exacting that revenge you speak of next March.
TBC: One of those other notable additions is Mackenzie Mgbako, who appears to have been the victim of a misunderstanding recently at a Taco Bell. Can we expect any Taco Bell NIL deals for Mgbako going forward, or is that relationship irreparably damaged?
Taco Bell had a golden opportunity, and squandered it. It’s time for Del Taco to pick up the phone…
TBC: I think often about a lot of NITs, but especially 2017’s, when Indiana declined a first round home game, citing that students would be on spring break. (Among other things, this helped fuel the rise of Josh Pastner, in our hearts if not in the broader basketball world.) In 2019, Indiana accepted a first round home game, hosting all the way to the quarterfinals. One interpretation of the pivot is that Indiana thought itself too good for the NIT in 2017 but had come around by 2019. Another is that Indiana feared an angry mob would bring pitchforks for Tom Crean in 2017 and Indiana either didn’t fear this or welcomed it with Archie Miller in 2019. A third is that it really was all about spring break. Do you find yourself favoring one interpretation more than the others?
It was, and always has been – and always will be – about spring break. It’s a time when all Indiana students can take time away from their studies and laborious classwork and travel to the nearest (or furthest) NIT venue and root on their favorite blue blood cohort. Rumor has it Indiana sent a mob of fans to the Robert Morris / Kentucky game in Pittsburgh back in 2013, adorned in Kentucky blue, but never made it through the gates. The rest, as we know, is history…
If that opportunity ever arises again, I intend to stand among them.
TBC: The NIT Final Four is coming to Hinkle Fieldhouse this season as part of The NIT Traveling Road Show™, which is not a phrase that anyone has trademarked (yet). Is there any other basketball team in the world that could draw a larger crowd for the NIT Final Four at Hinkle than the Indiana Hoosiers?
Maybe if Team USA basketball played in Madison Square Garden, and the city of New York forced all Manhattan residents to attend via threat of eviction. Even then, I think Hinkle would draw more.
TBC: Dare we dream of an NIT title?
Among the late great Bobby Knight’s lengthy list of accomplishments lies the illustrious 1979 NIT Championship. What better way to honor the General than a repeat run at NIT glory in 2024.
