Nebraska ‘disappointed’ to not make NCAA Tournament, says Tim Miles

Nebraska coach Tim Miles petitioned loudly for his Huskers to make the NCAA Tournament, even going so far as to say, “We’re in,” last week. But when the brackets were revealed Sunday night, Nebraska’s name wasn’t called. Instead the Huskers are NIT bound, and Miles is certainly upset.

“Disappointed not to be in the NCAA Tournament. You hope that for your guys. We had done some unprecedented things here at Nebraska,” Miles said. “You can make for and against, as always.”

Classy, as always, @CoachMiles.

Go prove everyone wrong in the NIT, @HuskerHoops. pic.twitter.com/1LJy38wIe3

— Nebraska On BTN (@NebraskaOnBTN) March 12, 2018

Four Big Ten teams — Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan — made the 68-team field, while Nebraska and Penn State couldn’t escape the bubble.

The No. 5-seed Huskers will play No. 4-seed Mississippi State in the first round of the NIT Tournament on March 14 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. Nebraska last appeared in the NIT in 2011, when it fell to Wichita State, 76-49. The Huskers have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2014.

Nebraska won 22 regular season games this year, with notable wins over Penn State and Michigan. The Wolverines enacted revenge on the Huskers in the Big Ten Tournament, knocking Miles’ team out in the quarterfinals and effectively ending their national tournament hopes.

Now Nebraska most focus its attention on the NIT field. James Palmer Jr., who’s averaging a team-high 17.3 points, will be tasked with helping make sure the Huskers don’t let the snub beat them down too much.