*Attached video is our coverage of ISU’s round one victory in the NIT
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After the Indiana State Sycamores men’s basketball team pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the first round of the NCAA National Invitation Tournament against Southern Methodist University, an Indiana-based sports commentator is taking notice.
Pat McAfee, former Indianapolis Colts punter, pro-wrestling announcer, and professional sports broadcaster, invited ISU’s Robbie Avila on his talk show Thursday.
During the discussion, McAfee made it known that he believes the Sycamores were, in his words, “screwed” by the NCAA selection committee in being left out of the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
“You guys, do you feel like with the way your team plays, you’re gonna watch every game and be like, ‘we could’ve played in this game, we could have won this game’ is that just natural do you think?” McAfee asked Avila.
“100% yeah, all the guys watching these games. ya know, obviously the teams out there, they just kind of earned their way in, but every game we watch we’re like ‘we coulda did that,'” Avila responded.
McAfee then told Avila, in order to show the selection committee how wrong they were, the team needs to win the NIT.
McAfee even took it a step further, although hedging his language to prevent rule violations, that should the Sycamores win the NIT, he wanted to “sponsor” each player with a NIL deal that would give them each $10,000.
McAfee also had Avila play 1 on 1 in his studio basketball court against a man dressed in an NCAA logo, which Avila won 5-0.
“The day after the NIT championship, we will meet again about a potential sponsorship for everybody on your roster,” McAfee said. “Boom, we just did it.”
