Marquette Basketball: 5 reasons to be excited for an NIT run

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GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 17: The Golden Eagle is seen as the Marquette Golden Eagles take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Hang a banner

This NIT bid provides both nothing and everything for Marquette.

On the surface, this is simply a consolation tournament that no one outside of Milwaukee will remember, even if the Golden Eagles advance to MSG. It’s hardly anyone’s goal to play in the NIT, and even when the tournament starts, motivation can sometimes wane.

But Marquette also has plenty to gain. For starters, a 20-win season would be a nice round number and anything beyond that may help chill Wojciechowski’s future hot seat. There will be more playing opportunities for the young guys and more coaching opportunities for Wojo. A tournament setting provides a different learning opportunity from the regular season marathon.

And while hanging an NIT banner is not the ultimate prize, it would certainly be a welcome accomplishment. It would validate an up-and-down season and give the team something to take pride in. Hopefully, it also establishes a stronger foundation for a hungry squad in 2018-19. No one – fans, players, coaches, or the university – is satisfied with the results this year, but winning the NIT would make the pending offseason much more palatable.

Next: Gear up for March Madness

For the entirety of Marquette’s 30-year-run inside the BMO Harris Bradley Center, there was a 1970 NIT banner hanging in the rafters. When the new arena opens next door, and the Golden Eagles begin their season in November, it would be a proper kickoff if MU had another NIT banner to unveil.

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