Nebraska Basketball: Huskers will face Butler in NIT Wednesday
Nebraska basketball isn’t done yet and will play in the NIT after receiving a berth Sunday. The Huskers will host Butler Wednesday in the first-round game.
Nebraska basketball fans knew their team wasn’t going to play in the NCAA tournament, but after an impressive run to close the season, it looked like the National Invitational Tournament was a possibility.
It might have taken until nearly the end of the selection show but Nebraska basketball did make the field and will get one final home game. The Huskers made the NIT last season and their first game will come Wednesday with Butler. If they win, they will likely face top-seeded TCU.
For now, though, it means that Tim Miles gets to remain head coach of Nebraska basketball.
It feels like his run with the Huskers will come to an end once Nebraska is beaten out in the NIT, however, if the Huskers play the way they did during the Big Ten tournament, they could last a while.
Here’s the full NIT bracket. pic.twitter.com/72FtkcdGHy
— Christopher Heady (@heady_chris) March 18, 2019
Obviously, the NIT wasn’ the destination the Huskers were hoping for at the start of the season and even midway through the season, they looked like a strong candidate for the NCAA tournament. But then the bottom fell out.
Isaac Copeland was injured for the rest of the season and the Huskers missed chances to win a bunch of close games. One of those near victories came last Friday against Wisconsin when the Huskers dropped their quarterfinal game to Wisconsin despite getting a lead late in the second half.
Yet, players like James Palmer, Glynn Watson Jr. and Isaiah Roby will get one last chance to play in the Vault. They will also get a chance to end their season with a trophy. The Huskers won the NIT back in 1996 and if this team is motivated, it’s a possibility.
The NIT berth also keeps Bill Moos from having to make a decision about Miles. The Huskers athletic director said he would make a decision when the season was over and when that comes will be up to Nebraska.
Next. Top 10 Nebraska running backs of all time. dark
Worst case, we get one more game to watch this team and after the run the Huskers made in the Big Ten tournament, that’s something we should all be thankful for.