NIT sends Eagles south for first round

0 Comments | Milwaukee Journal, The, Mar 13, 1995 | by DARRYL O. LEDBETTER

The Journal staff

This month marks the 25th anniversary of Marquette University's 1970 National Invitation Tournament championship.

If the NIT selection committee wanted to get the Golden Eagles back to New York for a nostalgic return visit, it didn't tip its hand Sunday when the pairings were announced.

Marquette (17-11), a strong candidate to play host to a first- round NIT game because of a strong attendance average and a solid season, was sent on the road to face Auburn (16-11) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.

"I'm excited to be in the NIT," said Marquette's first-year coach, Mike Deane. "The NIT has played a big part in Marquette's tradition. We are going to do our best to try to get to New York."

The first three rounds of the NIT will be held at campus sites. The semifinals and finals will be held March 27 and 29 at Madison Square Garden.

Al McGuire's 1969-'70 squad, which finished 26-3, defeated Massachusetts, Utah, Louisiana State and St. John's on the way to the NIT title. Dean Meminger was named the most valuable player, and Joe Thomas and Ric Cobb were selected to the all- tournament second team.

But that was back when an NIT berth was more attractive than it is now. In fact, Marquette turned down a spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament that year because the Warriors were placed in the Midwest Regional, rather than the Mideast. The NCAA had just signed its first big television deal in 1969 and the tournament had not become the 64- team spectacle that it is today.

Marquette, which went to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last season, figured to contend for its third consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. A midseason swoon in which it lost six of eight games proved too much to overcome.

In light of that slump, the Golden Eagles thought they needed to win the Great Midwest Conference tournament to have a shot at the NCAA tournament. But St. Louis routed Marquette, 73-56, in the semifinals Friday at the Bradley Center.

Deane said Marquette never considered not accepting the NIT bid. Georgia Tech turned down the NIT.

"That would never happen from our perspective," Deane said. "It's tournament experience."

Deane pointed out other merits of the NIT.

"You have to keep in mind that the top 64 teams are not in the NCAA tournament and that half of the NIT is among those top 64 teams," Deane said. "There are seven or eight elite teams this year. Then there are 40 to 60 teams that, on any given night, they are capable of winning."

Deane cited the NIT's television contract with ESPN as one of the reasons the tournament did not pay much attention to geographic matchups.

Marquette's home attendance average was 13,821 this season, compared with Auburn's 6,091.

In years past, the NIT was known to match up teams with the thought of drawing big gates. But that's less of a factor with added television revenue.

Also, the NIT used to wait until the first round was finished before picking second-round matchups. Although the NIT this year does not have brackets, its organizers have second-round opponents set up. The Auburn- Marquette winner will face the winner of Southern Mississippi's game at St. Bonaventure in the second round.

"Where that is played is to be determined by the NIT," Deane said.

Deane is still completing his research on Marquette's first- round foe from Alabama.

"Auburn is a team that if they won one or two more games, they would have been in the NCAA," Deane said. "They have maybe even more quality wins than we have. We are expecting a very difficult game."

Deane knows that the Tigers, in their first year under former Clemson coach Cliff Ellis, run a three-guard offense with one forward and a center.

"That's really the way we play," Deane said. "Roney {Eford} is more of a swing guard for us."

Deane spent eight seasons at Siena College before succeeding Kevin O'Neill at Marquette. Deane guided the Saints to three NIT berths, including a third- place finish last season.

He doesn't plan to bring up Siena's run to the semifinals with his Marquette players.

"It's a little different perspective at Siena," Deane said. "Siena and Marquette are at different levels. It's important that we point out that it's a reward for Tony {Miller} and Will {Gates} in their senior years and it's a valuable learning tool for the young players.

"It's a statement that your season was solid. Not spectacular, but solid."