NIT an insult until you recall month ago

John Rohde

Published: March 15, 2008

As a group of Cowboys exited the floor inside the Sprint Center, an Oklahoma fan chanted "N-I-T. N-I-T,” followed by "How does it feel?”

This was meant as an insult, of course.

But given where OSU was one month ago, it qualifies as a compliment.

In mid-February, the Cowboys were 11-12 overall, 2-7 in Big 12 play and headed nowhere.

Sean Sutton's days as coach were numbered and OSU fans were sharing their wish lists of his successor.

Then a five-game winning streak quickly healed some wounds.

There was hope for the Cowboys and life for Sutton.

Even though OSU dropped three of its last four games, a 17-15 overall record figures to be good enough to receive an NIT bid.

As for Sutton's future, that's still up in the air.

When money is no object — and it's not when it comes to contract negotiations via Boone Pickens — all bets are off in terms of someone's job security.

At this stage, however, OSU athletic director Mike Holder would have more explaining to do if he fired Sutton than if he kept Sutton.

Thursday's 76-72 opening-round victory over Texas Tech guaranteed Sutton a winning record.

Exactly what that means, heck, who knows?

The Cowboys were competitive in every league game they lost early, other than a 21-point loss at Kansas State.

But coaches don't get contract extensions on near-wins.

Then came a five-game redemption that consisted of four underdog victories, including one over No. 4 Kansas in Stillwater.

OSU finally showed it could finish games rather than just simply hang around.

The Cowboys saw what they were capable of doing.

When something like that happens, is a player happy about his team's progress, or infuriated it took so long to reach its potential?

"It makes you mad,” junior point guard Byron Eaton said. "We could have played like this the whole season. We dug ourselves into a hole.”

The Cowboys weren't in a bottomless pit, but it was a significant ditch.

"This is a team that really never showed what it can do,” sophomore guard Obi Muenelo said. "All of us know that we're capable of more than this.”

Before the season, assistant coach James Dickey sensed it would take some time for things to click.

"We were really young, and it takes a while,” Dickey said. "Our young guys really got better.”

An NIT berth is not guaranteed, but it is anticipated.

"We never gave up when we were 1-6 (in league play), so whatever happens after this we're not going to give up,” senior forward Marcus Dove said.

In a way, what the OU fan chanted on Friday did strike a nerve, simply because every Division I team begins the season thinking N-C-A-A, not N-I-T.

If the Cowboys receive an NIT invite Sunday, they will accept — but not with glee.

Can OSU players put on a happy face and get juiced about the NIT?

"I think we can,” Eaton said. "We turned it around. At least we get to play again. We had a great run and we've got to carry it on into postseason play and into next season.”

In Dickey's eyes, a postseason berth would be significant.

"It's important to be in postseason,” Dickey said, "especially for a young team.”

This would be the Cowboys' third straight NIT appearance. They have yet to survive the first round, losing at Miami two years ago and at home against Marist last season.

"If we do go,” Dove said, "we're not going to end the season like last year.”

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