If you were scripting a movie, that would have been the finale. Indiana State, breaking away at long last, grown men and women leaping up and down in the stands of the most hallowed gym in basketball’s most hallowed state. Seton Hall, rallying back anyway. Robbie Avila missing a would’ve-been dagger. Al-Amir Dawes elevating for a preposterous three to tie the game. Two more chances for the Sycamores, both missed. Dre Davis, the local kid playing in front of a hostile local crowd, spinning to the hoop and finishing through a pair of defenders. Ryan Conwell’s heave hitting the front of the rim hard. Indiana State fans filing out shocked and silent. News breaking that Josh Schertz is accepting the Saint Louis job.
It is unfair for Seton Hall to be the afterthought here. Seton Hall was everything we ask basketball teams to be, five gritty veterans and their wise young coach refusing to play anything but their absolute hardest, because these five games were basketball games and that’s how they play basketball. Seton Hall was tough. Seton Hall was skilled. Seton Hall deserved this championship, and we are proud that the NIT has such a worthy group of people wearing its crown. Al-Amir Dawes absolutely deserves the Most Outstanding Player nod he received. Kadary Richmond should forever be a legend in South Orange.
It’s hard, though, to not focus on the Sycamores. They were resurrected this year after decades in the dark. They were a beautiful basketball team, led by a lovable big man with a million nicknames and some passes that could make John Stockton blush. They were the hope of a university, the darling of a state that knows its way around the little guy. Now, it’s over. Their head coach is gone. The risk of their starters transferring is high. Back to the tomb they go. They had their chance, in Hinkle Fieldhouse, to end this season a champion. Instead, it was heartbreak. Perspective will undoubtedly come with time. But even for the players, bright futures ahead of them whether they stay or whether they go: This meant something. The heartbreak on Robbie Avila’s face leaving the court was beyond what you normally see from NIT runners-up, especially those not facing the end of their college basketball career. This was special. This was really special.
We were asked whether this is the greatest NIT of all time. I’m sure the question would make some New York college hoops folks angry, but I don’t think it’s out of line. There were probably greater NITs—1970 comes to mind—but given how directly fans can consume the tournament now, with all games televised, and given its current size, and given how lackluster the worst of the last forty years have been…this had to be up there, especially in context. Last night’s was the greatest basketball game I have ever seen in person. The fact it was the NIT Championship added to that. It didn’t subtract. That means something.
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On the NIT Bracket Challenge front: Our final scoreboard is up. Congratulations to Boxwithnoedges, our champion. Congratulations to Dylan Heinrich, our second-place finisher via tiebreak. Congratulations to Jack Navarrete, our third-place finisher. Congratulations to Fargo, our dog, the celebrity scoreboard champion despite having picked Indiana State to win it all.
It was a great, great NIT, and a great college basketball season, and while the NIT content doesn’t stop in the offseason, it definitely slows. So thank you to all of you who’ve been following along with us as this tournament has progressed. It was an honor for us to have you here, and we hope you’ll stick around through these quieter months. If not? The 2025 NIT is only 347 days away.
