ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997 TAG: 9703250102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Survivors Arkansas, Michigan, Connecticut and Florida State give the NIT a strong final four field.
Nice Final Four, isn't it?
Four high-profile programs from high-profile conferences with rich histories, big-name coaches and big-time players.
Well, with all due respect to the four schools heading to Indianapolis this week, this year's NIT semifinalists have equally impressive resumes.
Arkansas, Michigan, Connecticut and Florida State. In any other year, they might be playing deep into the NCAA Tournament. This year, though, they form a stellar NIT semifinal field competing for the 60th title of college basketball's oldest tournament.
Connecticut (17-14) will play Florida State (19-11) in tonight's first semifinal followed by Arkansas (18-12) vs. Michigan (22-11). The winners meet in Thursday's championship game.
``The four of us could be in there also,'' Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said of this year's NCAA Final Four. ``I don't think the winner here is the No.65 team in the country, far from it. ... The NCAA is a great tournament, but when you look at all 64 teams there, there are probably 25 or 30 of them who couldn't win the NIT.''
Richardson isn't talking trash. He's led the Razorbacks to three Final Four appearances in 12 years, including 1994, when Arkansas defeated Duke for the school's first NCAA title.
His inexperienced team - one senior on the entire roster - was inconsistent during the regular season, but has jelled in the postseason, winning all three of its NIT games at home.
``Sometimes, I don't know which team is going to show up, but when the right one does, then we're pretty good,'' Richardson said.
So is Michigan. After starting the year ranked No.9 in the nation, the Wolverines missed the NCAA by losing six of seven games during a late stretch in February.
The Wolverines' first two NIT wins came at home before a thrilling 67-66 victory at Notre Dame last week to earn their trip to New York.
Connecticut and Florida State will be meeting for the first time since 1995, when the Huskies routed the Seminoles 79-61 on national TV.
Seminoles coach Pat Kennedy was so embarrassed with his team's performance that night, he wrote a letter of apology to FSU fans and sent it to a local newspaper.
``I thought it was as bad a game as we've ever played,'' Kennedy said. ``Our guys were plenty excited when they found out who we were going to play.''
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB