The SMU Mustangs just missed the NCAA Tournament field and are now one win away from the next best thing: an NIT championship. But in order to get there, SMU will have to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who seem just as hungry to win a title at Madison Square Garden.
SMU vs. Minnesota, 2014 NIT Championship: Larry Brown and Richard Pitino square off for NIT crown
The Mustangs are looking to make a statement after being left out of the NCAA Tournament while the Gophers are building for next year.
Jeff Zelevansky
SMU reached the title game by overcoming a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Clemson, 65-59, in Tuesday night’s semifinal. Minnesota also played a close one on Tuesday, topping Florida State 67-64 in overtime, despite not making a field goal in the extra session.
The Mustangs came into the NIT on a three-game skid that booted them from the NCAA tourney's field of 68. They're led by the inside-out duo of Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy. Kennedy had 21 points and nine rebounds against the Tigers in the semifinals.
Minnesota struggled through Big Ten play, finishing 8-10, which was part of a stretch where it lost nine out of 14 games. Andre and Austin Hollins lead the Gophers. Austin scored 17 against the Seminoles, but that pales in comparison to the 32 he dropped in the quarterfinals against Southern Miss.
When the Mustangs and Gophers meet in New York at 7 p.m. ET, it will not only feature a meeting of two talented teams, but also of two intriguing coaches.
Hall of Famer Larry Brown has turned the SMU program around in just two seasons with a bright future ahead. Winning a championship with the core of the team returning, plus five-star recruit Emmanuel Mudiay coming in next year would be another huge step forward.
Richard Pitino, in his first season at Minnesota and only his second as a head coach, is the son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino. The elder Pitino was in attendance on Tuesday to cheer on his son.
Richard has led Minnesota to 24 wins so far, the team’s most since advancing to the Final Four in 1997.
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