Patrick Baldwin Jr., one of the top basketball recruits in the country, has decided to go to the HoLo (that’s what we I call the Horizon League). He’s staying home. He’ll be attending Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Much of our HoLo fascination revolves around what was once the longest active NIT automatic bid streak, and might still be (it’s gotten really messy the last two years with the cancelation last spring and then the smaller format this time around). But now, we’re asking the question:
Can a Horizon League team win the NIT?
The answer, of course, is yes. Even in post-Butler years, the league has sent a team to the NIT Championship (Valparaiso, 2016). And if you can make an NIT Championship, your conference can probably theoretically win one.
So since that question was so straightforward, let’s ask another:
Will Wisconsin-Milwaukee win the NIT?
That is murkier. I have no idea how good Patrick Baldwin Jr. makes that team. Given how hard it is to be favored over the field to win the NIT, the smart money’s on “no.” But that won’t stop the faithful from hoping. And for a fanbase potentially reeling from an Aaron Rodgers exit this football season, having that hope rewarded could be lifechanging for many in the state of Wisconsin.
Go Panthers.
