Look here.
Do you see them?
Hanging out there, fourth from the top when you sort by “Win NIT?”
It’s the Tarheels.
Oh wait turns out that’s two words.
Tar Heels.
Seeking a glory that has evaded them since the days of Dean Smith.
Smith, lest you have forgotten, established himself as one of college basketball’s historic greats when he won the 1971 NIT. He was a great in other ways, too, of course, but this was his crowning basketball achievement.
Since he retired, the program’s fans have remained ardent supporters of the team, despite years and years in college basketball’s desert, nowhere near NIT relevancy. Their hopes looked to be rewarded at the beginning of the decade, but longtime power Dayton had other plans. Now, they again lie within striking distance of the most rewarding of prizes.
To pull this off, UNC needs to do a few things:
- Stay at or above .500 overall: This is no longer a rule for NIT admittance, but it’s certainly helpful.
- Do not accumulate any more good wins: Beating Oregon was ok, but don’t try that stunt again.
- Maybe lose one you shouldn’t: How about one of these six, all happening in the next month? Wofford (H), UCLA (N), Yale (H), Georgia Tech (H), Pitt (H), Clemson (H). UNC could get away with winning all six as long as they also lose to Gonzaga on Wednesday, but a loss would open up some room for, say, a win at Wake Forest or at home against NC State down the line.
- Convince Cole Anthony playing in the NIT will help his draft stock: This may be essential to actually winning once in.
Yes, hope is rising in Chapel Hill. Cautiously, of course. But rising nonetheless.
