Flyers and Tar Heels not so different
April 01, 2010
Nate Waggenspack
Photo by Ryan Kozelka
The teams in the NIT finals come from different ends of the college basketball spectrum.
First there is North Carolina, one of the most successful teams in college basketball history, last year's National Champion and another national championship a few years back. They are perhaps the most popular team in the nation as well, with a fan base that spans the country.
Then there is Dayton, a mid-major program that has had its success in the past and had a little bit more of it recently, but never really risen to the national spotlight. The Flyers have a loyal fan base, but it is mostly students and alumni. There are not many college basketball fans who decide to become UD fans.
For tonight's NIT Championship game, however, throw out all your preconceived notions about these programs. They are more similar than you think.
Look at UNC, a team loaded with young talent that was picked to challenge Duke for the ACC crown this year. Instead, the Tar Heels suffered injuries and fell into obscurity in their conference, finishing 16-16 on the regular season, and 5-11 overall.
Dayton came into the season with high expectations as well. The Flyers were picked to win the Atlantic 10 and many thought they could be a sleeper pick to reach the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Also full of talented players, UD's season did not go as planned as they finished 8-8 in the A-10 and could not win in close games.
In the NIT, though, something has happened to both of these teams. They have begun to play in the way that many assumed they would throughout the season. Both have won impressively on the road (North Carolina at UAB and Mississippi State; Dayton at Cincinnati and Illinois) and won tight games in Madison Square Garden to make it to this point.
For both programs, the NIT was a consolation prize, a reminder of their failures during the season. They have not seen it that way, however. They have chosen to take it an opportunity for redemption. An NIT title represents something they can show for this season, and something for their fans and themselves.
These teams may come from different worlds as far as college basketball is concerned, but make no mistake: they will be playing with the same intensity and desire tonight.
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