No NCAA berth for IU

The Hoosiers will have to put away their dancing shoes for another year.\nThe IU men's basketball team failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row Sunday as its name wasn't called by the NCAA's Selection Committee.\nInstead, the Hoosiers are relegated to playing Vanderbilt Wednesday in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. at Assembly Hall and will be aired on ESPN2.\nLast season, IU wasn't eligible to make the NCAA's because it didn't boast a winning record -- finishing 14-15. This year, the Hoosiers ended at 15-13, but looked to have a chance at the NCAA Tournament before their loss Friday to Minnesota.\nThe Commodores, a member of the Southeastern Conference, were in the same boat as the Hoosiers. Heading into the SEC Tournament, Vanderbilt teetered on the NCAA Tournament's bubble, but that bubble was burst after a first-round loss to Auburn. \nFive teams from the Big Ten got into the NCAA Tournament. Illinois, Michigan St., Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa will all go dancing in March. Both Minnesota and Iowa were seeded below IU in the Big Ten Tournament with No. 5 and 7 seeds, respectively.\nIU coach Mike Davis hoped his 10-6 record within the Big Ten and overall strength of schedule would be enough to get into the NCAAs.\n"I feel like we're at 10-6 and playing the schedule that we've played that we should be fine," Davis said after the loss to Minnesota.\nThe Hoosiers ended up not fine, but they won't have to prepare for an unfamiliar opponent. \nIU split a home and home series with Vanderbilt during the two seasons prior. In 2002, the Hoosiers took care of the Commodores with a 73-56 win in Bloomington. Vanderbilt returned the favor in 2003 -- winning 73-60 in Nashville, Tenn.\nIU coach Mike Davis declined comment late Sunday night. Davis said he will comment Monday on the Hoosiers' postseason, but said Friday that his young Hoosiers would benefit from any postseason experience.\n"We need to play more games," Davis said.\nIf the Hoosiers are victorious, IU could play one of four teams. The Hoosiers will play the winner of the Kent St./Western Kentucky and Houston/Wichita St. battle. \nJunior Marshall Strickland said playing in the NIT can benefit the Hoosiers.\n"We're going to play as long as we can and try to win as long as we can -- especially for our young guys," Strickland said Friday. "Getting more experience on the court will benefit us down the road"