If history means anything, the NIT could be a big stepping stone for this team.

From www.nit.org

In the past, there have been several teams that have had a final four finish in the NIT in one year and then followed it up the following year with a final four finish in the NCAA. The list includes:
TEAM
NIT (Finish)NCAA (Finish)
Oklahoma St. 1944 (4th) 1945 (1st)
Kentucky 1947 (2nd) 1948 (1st)
Bradley 1949 (4th) 1950 (2nd)
St. John's 1951 (3rd) 1952 (2nd)
Temple 1957 (3rd) 1958 (3rd)
NYU 1959 (3rd) 1960 (4th)
Loyola Ill. 1962 (3rd) 1963 (1st)
North Carol. 1971 (1st) 1972 (3rd)
NC Charlotte 1976 (2nd) 1977 (4th)
Purdue 1979 (2nd) 1980 (3rd)
Virginia 1980 (1st) 1981 (3rd)
Georgia 1982 (3rd) 1983 (3rd)
Louisville 1985 (4th) 1986 (1st)

A historical note that in the early years the best teams played in both the NCAA tournament and then the more prestigous NIT. In 1950 CCNY (City College of New York) was the only team to win both the NCAA and NIT (1951 was the year of the CCNY scandal).

Even as late as the 70s (maybe even early 80s) there were fewer teams in the NCAA thus the NIT had a really good field and it was a stepping stone. Hell in 1978 Texas won the NIT championship and then started the next season ranked very high (if not #1). It has happened in the past but it is a different game now.

All that being said it is a great stepping stone for the young players on the A&M squad and will give them post-season experience that is invaluable.

the NCAA has been the premiere of the two since the 50's. Since the scandals teams have shied away from the NIT.

what scandal?

You know, the big one...

I hope that happens but none of those examples are in the last 20 years and most were from before the NCAAs included 64 teams, so the NIT was a litle more exclusive.

La Fours:

http://www.sportslawnews.com/archive/history/HT5.html

http://espn.go.com/classic/s/basketball_scandals_explosion.html

Sweet! Our tourney play is so stellar on a regular basis that I definitely see this stat applying to us!! We're a lock for the F4, baby!

Lets win it all this year and next

Is there a reason why those trends end in the mid 80s?

Probably because thats when the NCAAs expanded and the NIT field became weaker.

1) kids started leaving the draft early. maybe not as early as 86, but soon thereafter.

2) kids started going straight to the pros after HS.

Syracuse Orangemen:

2001-2002: NIT Semi-finals (L to South Carolina)
2002-2003: NCAA National Champions

Correction...

Syracuse Orangemen:

2001-2002: NIT Semi-finals (L to South Carolina)
Enter Carmello Anthony
2002-2003: NCAA National Champions

Carry On.

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