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Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
I caught the NIT fever in 1974 when a sharpshooter of a guard from Albany, NY named Ticky Burden used to drop in 25-footers like layups for the University of Utah. The Utes finished second in the NIT that season and I thought, “Damn, if the NIT has guys like Ticky Burden, it must be a great hoops tournament.”
Nearly 50 years later, I never thought the National Invitational Tournament, circa 1938, would ever drop in on Las Vegas. The NIT and The Garden. I always thought they’d be tied at the hip.
But here it was at Orleans Arena in 2023. To be truthful, there are not too many people in the stands for the NIT final tonight at this venue off Tropicana Avenue, one of the nicest mid-size arenas around Las Vegas.
Let’s face it, the two teams are not brand-name basketball powers. North Texas, with the Mean Green nickname, and the UAB Blazers.
But with both Texas and Alabama bounced from the NCAA March Madness tournament, the Mean Green and the Blazers are the only teams from the states of Texas and Alabama still playing hoops in the postseason. Conference USA also is enjoying a banner year with Florida Atlantic in the Final Four and North Texas snagging the NIT crown.
Las Vegas has become America’s receptacle for sports events looking for a home.
The East-West Shrine college all-star game? Sure, come to Allegiant Stadium.
The NIT? Here’s $150,000 courtesy of the LVCVA and come to Orleans Arena. It seemed like a lot of money for the number of folks in the stands tonight. The announced attendance was 1,290 in the 8,000-seat arena.
Gold Cup soccer game? Allegiant Stadium is here.
Las Vegas used to attract the odd stuff like the three-wall outdoor handball tournament played in a parking lot across from the Strat.
Now, even cornhole, curling and disc golf enjoy popping in to Las Vegas for sports action.
Tonight, it was the NIT’s turn.
The Mean Green celebrated with a NIT title with a 68-61 win over fellow Conference USA foe, UAB.
Let’s look at the happy team.