Dispatch
Men's basketball: Buckeyes' run through NIT good for all concerned
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 3:21 AM
By
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Two weeks ago, the disappointment of not making the NCAA Tournament still fresh, Ohio State coach Thad Matta was asked whether he would rather lose the first weekend of the NCAA than win the National Invitation Tournament in New York. Matta, who has been in the NCAA Tournament 11 times as an assistant or head coach, did not hesitate. The former, he said.
Reminded of that last week, he smiled.
"Now I'm glad (we're going to) New York," Matta said.
It's not lip service.
Matta and his players say they have enjoyed extending their season longer than they probably would have in the NCAA Tournament, which plays its Final Four this weekend in San Antonio.
The NIT's final foursome squares off tonight in Madison Square Garden. Florida and Massachusetts meet in the first semifinal, Ohio State and Mississippi in the second. The winners play for the championship Thursday night.
"Hopefully, we've got 80 minutes of basketball left," guard Jamar Butler said. "Like coach always says, there's an award at the end."
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