NCAA Tournament snub still driving TCU to win NIT title

TCU hasn’t forgotten about the NCAA Tournament snub just over two weeks ago.

It’s still fresh. It’s still a talking point. It’s still a motivating factor in the NIT.

“It’s still not totally gone,” TCU junior guard Desmond Bane said. “It’s always going to be there in the back of your mind. But winning the NIT championship will help us get over it a little bit.”

Instead of sulking and letting the season go down in disappointment, TCU has been determined to use the “snub” to send a strong message. The Frogs (23-13) have defeated every team in the NIT so far by double figures, and intend to do so again with Texas on deck in the semifinals tonight at Madison Square Garden.

The winner advances to the NIT title game where it’ll face the winner of Lipscomb/ Wichita State on Thursday night.

For TCU, the goal is to win this tournament for the second time in three seasons and become one of just a handful of teams with multiple NIT titles. West Virginia is the only Big 12 school with multiple titles.

That would help soften the blow of the lingering NCAA letdown.

It still resonates with TCU, given the talk during the NIT opening news conference Monday at the Marriott Marquis. After all, it’s hard not to wonder just what could have been had the Frogs gotten in the Big Dance.

“We thought we were going to get to the NCAA Tournament, like I think pretty much everybody else,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “And then it was a devastating day for us when we found out. How were we going to respond? The first game was hard against Sam Houston State.

“After that, it became all about getting to New York. That’s what’s so great about this thing.”

TCU overcame a slow start to defeat Sam Houston State, 82-69, in the opener, and then advanced with an 88-72 victory over Nebraska and a 71-58 victory over Creighton.

“We found a way to come together and get it done,” TCU senior forward JD Miller said.

Now it’s on to a Texas team that TCU defeated twice in the regular season during Big 12 play. The Frogs are viewing it as a one-game season, though, and not resting on the previous matchups.

The Selection Sunday disappointment continues to bring plenty of motivation anyway.

“I was really disappointed we didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, that was our main goal,” senior point guard Alex Robinson said. “But if we end up winning the NIT championship, it’ll all be worth it.

“It would be awesome to put another NIT championship banner in Schollmaier Arena.”

Did you know?

Dixon has coached 43 games at Madison Square Garden in his career, posting a 28-15 record.

Joked ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla, “That’s more than some Knicks coaches.”

Final word

“TCU is playing as well as it has played probably since it had a full complement of guys back in December when it won the Diamond Head Classic. Desmond Bane and Alex Robinson are one of the best backcourts around, Kevin Samuel keeps getting better, Kouat Noi is on his way someday to probably being an NBA player and JD Miller is finishing his career with a flourish. They’re playing well.” -- Fraschilla