A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Two college campuses in cities 45 minutes apart were caught up in different types of emotions last night. Selection Sunday has long been a staple of Connecticut basketball behind the success of UConn, but it was another program that gathered to celebrate as the Huskies waited a few extra hours to be told they would have no postseason — a first after 19 straight seasons.
I was fortunate enough to have an eye on both these circumstances, so here’s a rundown of some thoughts:
First off, good for the NIT in keeping to its plan. Since being taken over by the NCAA, March’s second tournament said it wouldn’t pass up deserving programs for big names, and that was the case.
Like Jim Calhoun said, the Huskies had a good idea they weren’t going to the postseason, a product of missed opportunities contributed to by youth. It was an obvious disappointment, but hearing Calhoun talk on a conference call last night, there didn’t appear to be any inkling of surprise.
For a while I thought getting into any postseason would help UConn; give it’s young team a chance to maybe win a few games and gain some confidence. But if the Huskies were to exit early in the NIT, that probably would have been even worse and potentially more embarrassing.
The other side is that by staying home this March, the stage is set for the ultimate motivator this offseason.

On the other side of things in New Britain, Central Connecticut was thrilled to know it’s playing Ohio State as a decided underdog — more importantly not going to the play-in game.
Coach Howie Dickenman, a Norwich native, spoke briefly at a pep-rally event — his two captains did the same — and then led his team into its locker room to watch the selection show. There was an obvious buzz as the players waited to see their name on CBS, a moment that probably goes underappreciated at bigger programs.
Waiting for the players afterward to do interviews, I chatted with another writer from the state and we talked about how great of a story Central has been. The best thing is how winning a game isn’t what’s going to make this season a great one for the Blue Devils. Getting to the tournament is the ultimate goal and they’ve already accomplished that.
Like I said in our conversation, these are the stories you get into this business for.