By: Nicholas Nathanson and Brady Lynch

In the middle of the Big Dance, it's easy to overlook the NIT…but did you know the NIT was once the most prestigious tournament in college hoops? Founded in 1938, the NIT originally featured six teams a and was played in Madison Square Garden to promote the men's game and bring more eyes to NCAA universities via media attention. Today, it's known as a secondary tournament, but it's always a stacked field nonetheless. Here's how the 2023 men's and women's NIT went down.

Men's NIT Championship

University of Alabama-Birmingham: 68; University of North Texas: 61

Last week, UAB and North Texas, both members of the C-USA and winners of 25+ regular season games, battled it out in the NIT Championship game.

A rematch of the Conference-USA semifinal tournament game that knocked out regular season champion North Texas left us on the edge of our seats until the very end. The Mean Green got their revenge on a UAB team that knocked them out of a potential Conference-USA final with FAU, beating the Blazers 68-61.

Related: Cinderella Stories: 5 of the Best Upsets in Men's March Madness History

How We Got Here

North Texas senior guard Kai Huntsberry, who played at the community college and D2 level before arriving at UNT, shined bright on the biggest stage. The Mean Green's second leading scorer, poured in a crucial 14 points in the first half.

The other huge contributor, and perhaps the leader of this Mean Green team, came alive in the second half. As he had been all season, North Texas senior guard Tylor Perry came up clutch once again. The guard, who ended with 20 points on the night, dictated the second half with 14 points, including a dagger three for the Mean Green which cemented their lead. However, this doesn't sum up his performance. The senior, who spent two years at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas had an incredible defensive performance, with five steals, a career high from him. 

While the Mean Green may have prevailed, this was each team's game for the taking.

One of the best in the business was back at it again. UAB star senior guard Jordan Walker, who finished the season averaging 22.3 PPG, 5th in the nation, added 21 points and 6 assists.

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He contributed 11 in a row (points and assists) for the Blazers in two separate occasions, once in the first and once in the second half.

However the game-changer in this one was the Mean Green's defense which stymied Walker to just two points in the last eight-plus minutes of the game, while forcing two turnovers from the star guard in that span. 

This is a huge win for this North Texas program. However, on top of the game itself this has even bigger implications for the Conference-USA which has now made their name heard at the national level.

We Want Our Respect

FAU might have been the only Conference-USA team to make the Final Four, and the annual Men's March Madness, but they aren't the  only Conference-USA Men's basketball team to make their name known this year.

The Conference USA went 18-3 in postseason play this year–an impressive feat regardless of conference. One team made the March Madness Final four. Another won the NIT. The last one, Charlotte, just won the CBI defeating Eastern Kentucky. If this postseason has taught us anything it's that in March, greatness is anyone's for the taking–including the mid-majors.

Women's NIT Championship

University of Kansas: 66; Columbia University: 59

On  the women's side, the Kansas Jayhawks made history, winning their first ever WNIT championship over Columbia 66-59 at Allen Fieldhouse in front of 11,701 fans. 

Related: Buzzer Beater! The 5 Best Upsets in Women's March Madness History

The Jayhawks completed their dominant postseason run on top after withstanding 11 lead changes in the first half to win the women's NIT. It was a back and forth game for the entire 40 minutes, but Kansas was able to use an 18-3 run at the end of the third quarter to cement a lead heading into the last 10 minutes of regulation. 

Big Leadership

They were led by senior center Taiyanna Jackson who posted her 23rd double-double of the season and 5th of the WNIT tournament with 17 points and 21 rebounds. Zakiyah Franklin led all scorers with 19 points, followed by Wyvette Mayberry who had 12 points. Chandler Prater was just short of a double-double, contributing 9 points and 11 rebounds. 

Despite being down 2 at the half, Columbia came out firing at the start of the 3rd quarter, going on an 8-0 run thanks to Abby Hsu who led the Lions with 19 points. She came out of the halftime break hitting a pair of threes followed by another basket allowing Columbia to regain the lead 36-31 to start the third quarter. This is when the battle-tested Jayhawks would go on their 18-3 run, making the score 49-39 to start the fourth quarter. 

Columbia was able to cut the lead down to six three times in the fourth quarter but Kansas never looked back after their impressive second half run. Jackson was named 2023 WNIT Most Valuable Player, and the Kansas Jayhawks finished their 2023 season on a high note with a 25-10 record and a WNIT championship. 

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* Originally published on April 4, 2023, by 2aDays Staff