STARKVILLE — The consistent rule of thumb of teams participating the National Invitational Tournament is the more motivated team typically wins.
Motivation and energy is normally a factor because of their two sets of teams that are involved in the event – the ones that are angry they weren’t included in the NCAA field and those who are just excited to be a part of a postseason.
Mississippi State University would be categorized as the team with a sour taste to their season not being completed in the NCAA tournament and will have to rebound just over 48 hours after selection Sunday to return to the court.
“It’ll be a huge challenge for us, as you well know, but there is no one to blame but us,” MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. “We had our opportunities. Most of the time this time of the year you’re trying to play your way in and we basically played our way out. We had a bad two-and-a-half week stretch and lose five in a row, and, again, had plenty of opportunities in all those games to close it out.”
After being one of the final teams to be left out of the NCAA field, MSU (21-11) was also confused at receiving a 4-seed in the NIT and being forced to play the University of Massachusetts tonight in the opening round (6 p.m., ESPN2).
“Like I say, when you leave decisions to other people of whether you’re in or out, then don’t ever be disappointed in the outcome of it,” Stansbury said. “There’s no one to blame but us. That’s it. We didn’t win enough games to get it done, so when you leave it in someone else’s hands, anything can happen and that’s what happened.”
The one thing Stansbury isn’t publicly worried about his the chatter outside the program that the 14-year coach is feeling the heat in terms of job security after missing the NCAA field for the third straight season.
“I’m not worried about any of that performing,” Stansbury said. “I’m worried about how you perform in the NIT.”
UMass, which hasn’t been in any postseason since 2008, is led in scoring by 5-foot-9 sophomore guard Chaz Williams’ 16.4 scoring clip and sophomore forward Raphiael Putney averaging 10.3 points per game.
“It’s great for us to be back in the postseason,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “It’s a first for me, and I’m happy for the kids who put in such good work this year and played with their hearts. They’re excited. It’s another chance to keep playing and showcase the program.”
Williams will run up against MSU’s All-SEC guard Dee Bost (15.6 points per game), who is coming off one of his worst performances in the 71-61 loss in the first round of the SEC Tournament Thursday vs. the University of Georgia.
“It was good to get back on the court again,” Bost said. “We’ve got a bad taste we need to get out of our mouths. We have a lot to prove.”
Tuesday’s winner faces Seton Hall University or Stony Brook University at a place, date and time to be determined but if top-seed SHU wins the matchup, then the winner would go to New Jersey to play in the second round.
In NIT action, MSU is 7-7 all-time, including a 6-4 ledger with Stansbury at the helm.
The Bulldogs last played in the NIT in 2010, beating Jackson State before dropping a 76-74 decision to North Carolina.
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