NEW YORK – In a battle of two programs, frequent participants but never an NIT champion, Wichita State emerged victorious. The Shockers defeated Alabama 66-57 in the title game on Thursday at Madison Square Garden. A tempo-free look follows.
Possessions:
Wichita State 65
Alabama 65
Offensive efficiency:
Wichita State 102
Alabama 88
A few stats of note of the tempo-free variety:
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Wichita State had a 29 percent turnover rate, which is extremely high as twenty percent is considered the cutoff. The Shockers were fortunate that Alabama did not take advantage scoring-wise (Alabama had only a 17-14 advantage in points off turnovers) of these miscues. Still, having almost one third of your possessions expire due to a TO can be detrimental in a close game.
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The defense of Wichita State came up big. Alabama shot a 39 percent eFG percentage. A 2 of 14 mark from three-point range was a major contributing factor.
Notes
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The three-point shooting of Graham Hatch proved a difference in the stretch. Hatch buried two treys late to give the Shockers some breathing room. The senior guard scored 12 points. Taking only 4 shots, Hatch was a perfect four of four beyond the arc. His effort, notably at crunch time earned him the Most Outstanding Player award.
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Garrett Stutz, a teammate of Hatch, was also in consideration for the award. The 7-foot junior had the outstanding game in the rout of Washington State in the semifinal, then played a respectable game (eight points and two blocks in 22 minutes) in the final. Hatch got the nod for MOP, with his crucial threes down the stretch. Both Stutz and Hatch were on the All-Tournament team.
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A major factor for Alabama was JaMychal Green. The junior forward turned in a fine 12-point, four-rebound effort, but logged only 25 minutes due to another night of foul trouble. Green faced a similar situation in the Crimson Tide semifinal win over Colorado.
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Tony Mitchell led all scorers with 13 points. The 6-6 forward added a game-high 12 rebounds, but did commit five turnovers and like Green, ran into foul trouble. The problem was with Mitchell and/or Green out, Coach Anthony Grant did not have a great deal of options.
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Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall noted how important depth was. The Shockers had it, and Alabama could have used it. Wichita state enjoyed a 27-7 advantage in bench scoring. The play of the reserves was critical in just getting the Shockers to New York.
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“In the Virginia tech game (a second round NIT game won on the road by Wichita State) we had J. T. Durley foul out,” Marshall said. “Garrett Stutz came in and scored seven points in overtime to get us the win.”
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Both teams faced a few bumps in the road on their journey to the Big Apple. Alabama lost three early in the year at the Paradise Jam. Included were setbacks at the hands of Seton Hall, Iowa and St. Peter’s in close winnable games. By mid-January the Tide was upsetting the likes of then-12th-ranked Kentucky. Ironically, Kentucky eliminated Alabama in the SEC tournament prior to the Tide’s NIT run.
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Wichita State suffered an upset loss at the hands of Indiana State in the MVC tournament. With no NCAA bid coning their way the Shockers decided to make the most of the NIT.
“We had a team meeting before the NIT,” Hatch said. “We decided to put in extra time shooting, practice and play hard and make the most of the opportunity.” They did in a big way.
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Marshall was not a bit surprised by the meeting, with Hatch being a big part of it. “In my 26 years of coaching,” he said, “I do not think I coached a kid who from his freshman year worked as hard as Graham Hatch to make himself a better ballplayer.”
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Wichita State finished 29-8, a school record for wins while Alabama wrapped up at 25-12.
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The final drew only 4,873. Wichita State, though, had a vocal, enthusiastic contingent that turned the post-game awards celebration into a Shocker Party.
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Marshall, throughout the week in New York made very little mention of a disappointment about not getting in the Big Dance. The Wichita mentor showed a very keen sense of basketball history and appreciation for the tradition and history of the NIT. Naturally, he was thrilled the Shockers are now an even bigger part of it.
The All-Tournament team:
Graham Hatch, Wichita State – Those late game threes in the final were daggers.
Garrett Stutz, Wichita State – A breakout 24-point, 11-rebound game in the semis.
JaMychal Green, Alabama
Trevor Releford, Alabama – Freshman point guard hit the game-winner versus Colorado.
Alec Burks, Colorado – Missed the shot at the buzzer but scored 20 in the semifinal loss to Alabama.
