Dear Illinois Basketball team, a letter from the NIT (Express mail)

[Carpet]

Dear Illinois:

We have watched your impressive wins over # 5 Ohio State and # 9 Michigan State this year. We have also seen that you have hit some hard times losing six of your last seven games.

At 16-9 it looks like you will need to win 4 of your remaining 6 games, plus one more in the Big 10 Tourney to be invited to the NCAA Big Dance. May the luck of the Irish be with your team during this stretch run.

While we may be the little sister of Tourneys, we at the NIT would love to have your team come to our dance. Why it may be true the only teams that ever remember the NIT are those that are playing in it, we offer Madison Square garden for our championship.

If things do not work out for you Illini we are waiting with open arms.

Sincerely,

The NIT SELECTION COMMITTEE

[Taxman]

Well, the NIT didn't want them.

They must have declined or did not get invited to the College Basketball Invitational.

Better luck next year

[Carpet]

On Friday the players of Illinois voted almost to a man that they did not want to play in the NIT. The loss of the head coach has devestated this team.

Soon the word went out that Illinois players do not want to play in the NIT if invited. According to NCAA by-laws teams are required to play if selected.

It has become crystal clear that the NIT selection committee knew Illinois did not want to be selected and so it is done.

[Carpet]

I Cannot put into words that best describes my feelings with this Basketball program.

It is a wounded cub that gets beat up early in life and responds next year wiser and hungry .