Bruce Weber explains why ‘there’s no doubt’ Kansas State would play in NIT if invited

Kellis Robinett
·3 min read
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The goal for the Kansas State men’s basketball team is simple.

Bruce Weber wants the Wildcats to finish the regular season in the strongest way possible, which means winning the Big 12 Tournament and securing an automatic berth into March Madness.

But what happens if K-State (14-15, 6-11 Big 12) falls short of that lofty aspiration? Let’s say the Wildcats beat Oklahoma in a 3 p.m. Saturday game at Bramlage Coliseum and then wins two games in Kansas City. That would give them a winning record and late-season momentum, but it would not get them into the NCAA Tournament.

What then?

Well, Weber hopes the Wildcats will have an opportunity to keep playing, potentially in the NIT.

“There’s no doubt,” Weber said during a video conference with reporters on Friday. “I want these guys to have a chance to play in the postseason. I have said all along that I think we’re good enough to be an NCAA team ... We have got a lot of things that are on our side. I would like these guys to have a chance to play in something.”

K-State has not played in a postseason tournament since it reached the Big Dance in 2019. It has not participated in the NIT since 2009.

“Obviously, our goal is still the NCAA,” Weber said. “We have talked about having a great week starting tomorrow. Let’s have a special March and see if we can change the tide and the outcomes. When it comes to the NIT, it’s not what our goal was, but at the same time it would give these guys a nice experience and a reward for how they’ve persevered and all they’ve gone through.”

Playing for a trophy later this month is so important to Weber that he is exploring the possibility of adding a replacement game to K-State’s schedule, potentially against Northern Illinois, on Monday at Bramlage to help the Wildcats finish with a more attractive record.

Though there is no rule against the NIT selecting a team with a losing record, it has never done so before.

You won’t find K-State on any of the current NIT projections, but that could change quickly if the Wildcats are able to string together some wins.

The Wildcats can finish as high as sixth in the Big 12 standings. That, combined with a NET ranking of 64 and one of the nation’s toughest schedules, could certainly warrant an invitation.

The NIT is a 32-team tournament consisting of teams that narrowly miss out on the NCAA Tournament. Games are scheduled to begin on March 15 on campuses and end on March 31 with the final four teams playing at Madison Square Garden in New York.

No one at K-State is using the NIT as a rallying cry or as extra motivation as the season draws to a close.

But it is being viewed as a consolation prize, not something the Wildcats would ignore.

That is one reason why K-State players voted in favor of playing a replacement game next week, should one be added to the schedule.

“One win just puts us above .500,” K-State senior guard Mike McGuirl said. “There are a lot of teams out there that have good records, just because they had some easy games. We have a tough schedule, and it would be nice to add another one to the win column just to fall back on in case we don’t make the NCAA Tournament.”