The Spartans’ dreams of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament officially ended Sunday when the selection committee passed on the MSU women’s basketball team.
As the final bracket was being displayed, the emotions began to show in the Spartans. No tears were shed, but it was obvious the team knew it was only a couple of wins away from an NCAA Tournament bid.
MSU (16-12 overall, 6-10 Big Ten) tallied impressive wins throughout the season, including games against then-No. 8 Georgia, then-No. 14 Minnesota and then-No. 15 Wisconsin, but it wasn’t enough. The Bulldogs, Golden Gophers and Badgers each received top-10 seeds in the Tournament, but the Spartans only have the National Invitational Tournament to prolong their season.
Six Big Ten teams made the NCAA Tournament field of 64.
Sophomore forward Julie Pagel said the big wins forced people to take notice of MSU. But she said the Spartans’ overall record and poor showing in the Big Ten Tournament shattered their hopes.
“We knew that our play in the tournament and our record didn’t mean that we were automatically in the NCAA Tournament,” Pagel said. “We didn’t prove ourselves throughout the regular season, and our record wasn’t high enough.”
The Spartans lost in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to Ohio State in double overtime.
MSU will now wait for a call with an invitation to the NIT. The field of 32 kicks off as early as Wednesday.
“We had hopes, but we know what we need to concentrate on - the NIT,” Pagel said. “If we get that call, we’ll be ready to play, because we’re given a second chance for a new season.”
MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said she knew the Spartans wouldn’t be in the field of 64 before the selection show started.
“I’ve been there six times, and you don’t get in with 16 wins,” she said. “You have to do more than we did. If we had a tradition, maybe.”
Pagel said McCallie is trying to build tradition at MSU. But as of now, she said the Spartans don’t have any tournament tradition to fall back on.
“It’s about reputation, and we don’t have that right now at Michigan State,” Pagel said. “That’s what we’re building.”
Regardless of the NCAA letdown, McCallie said she is prepared to play in the NIT.
“I’m very hopeful and very excited about the NIT prospect,” she said. “Any postseason is extremely positive for a team. And to be able to have a postseason in our second year as a coaching staff would be wonderful.”
NIT or not, McCallie said the Spartans’ overall mood after watching the selection show was “sober.”
“I don’t know how you can watch that show and watch all those other kids have fun and getting selected and be sitting here and feel good,” she said. “I feel we hit a low, and with that low I feel motivated. Because we were not accepted, the next best thing is to march through any tournament we can get our hands on. It’s a very motivational feeling.”
Junior guard Vnemina Reese said she wasn’t surprised about the team’s denial.
“You have to beat big teams, teams you’re supposed to beat, and if you don’t end the season strong, you have to win the conference tournament - and we didn’t do that,” Reese said. “But we still showed we are a very competitive team and that we are very deserving.”
