Each year, the winner of the NIT is called The Best of the Rest, meaning the best of those left out of the NCAA tournament. Michigan played in the championship game tonight, but came up short, so they're the runners up. I guess we could say that they are the Best of the Rest of the Rest.
Bidding for its second NIT championship in three years, the Michigan men's basketball team fell behind early and never recovered as South Carolina captured its second straight NIT crown with a 76-64 victory Thursday, March 30, in New York City. The Wolverines (22-11), who trailed 10-2 early and were down 39-27 at the break, made a late run to cut the margin to nine points but could not get any closer. Daniel Horton closed out his brilliant senior season with 18 points, while Brent Petway and Chris Hunter added 12 points apiece.