Tonight is, quite possibly, the night. It’s possible another night will be required, but tonight could well be the night. Tonight could well be the night that the most revered championship in basketball* (*aside from the NIT, the Maui Invitational in years someone I like wins it, and the now-defunct Vegas Sixteen) is won.
Fittingly, it’s NIT alumni closing in on the trophy.
On one side, you have Bobby Portis, he of the two double-doubles in the 2014 NIT. On the other, you have Cam Payne, he of the back-to-back 20-point performances in the 2015 NIT (after a double-double in the opener, and very coincidentally, we posted the ending of his final college game on Saturday morning). Each is part of the long, proud legacy of those who have competed on college basketball’s biggest stage. Neither, though, won it.
Ideally, you’d want an NIT champion on your roster when trying to win the NBA Finals. You’d want someone who’d done it, like Joe McDonald or Tony Carr. But in a pinch, you’ll take Payne or Portis. After all, they’ve gotten closer than anyone else making meaningful contributions to these teams. Keep an eye on them tonight. Having stared down the greatest glory man can offer, odds are slim they’ll wilt from this lesser moment.
