Indiana vs. Wichita State: 2019 NIT Tournament game preview, TV schedule
Wichita State and Indiana face off in the NIT quarterfinals for a chance to play in Madison Square Garden. Who will keep their season alive?
TV schedule: Tuesday, March 26, 7:00 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana
At one point in this season, Wichita State had a record of 8-11 and was likely to not have any hope at postseason play. Since then, the Shockers have gone 13-3, including solid wins over Temple and SMU. The late run propelled them into the NIT as one of the last at-large teams.
On the road in the NIT, Wichita State defeated both Furman and Clemson on their way to the quarterfinals. Markis McDuffie and Jaime Echenique led the way, combining to score around 40 points in each game. Tough defense combined with the coaching of Gregg Marshall has not only made the Shockers a tough out in the postseason but it’s a preview for how dangerous this team will be next season with most of their talent returning.
Another team that has looked good with young players is Indiana, who after missing out on the NCAA Tournament had to play in the NIT without their best player Romeo Langford, who’s sitting out as he gets ready to enter the 2019 NBA Draft.
But senior Juwan Morgan is playing, which has been a problem for the opponents. He had 28 points in the comeback win over Saint Francis in the first round, then 15 in the 63-60 victory over Arkansas in a closely-contested second round matchup. With Langford out other Hoosiers have had to step up, most notably Aljami Durham and Devonte Green. Archie Miller and Indiana looks to continue the development of the younger players returning for next season so that they can end their drought of the NCAA Tournament.
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While McDuffie and Morgan are expected to perform for their respective teams, it’ll be the role players who’ll have the most impact on the outcome of this game. The Hoosiers have played well in the NIT but Wichita State has played well for over a month. Look for the momentum to send the Shockers to New York.