Indiana previously hosted National Invitation Tournament games. It done it in 1979 (en route to the tournament victory), 1985, and most recently in 2005. However, offered the opportunity to host Georgia Tech as the higher-seeded club in the first round of this year’s tournament, Indiana officials declined, allowing Tuesday night’s game to be played in Atlanta.

Several reasons were presented. First, ESPN stated that Assembly Hall was under renovation. Indiana later clarified that they did not wish to host an NIT game due to their students’ spring break, despite the fact that 11 of the 16 selected hosts are also on spring break. Finally, Hoosier Athletic Director Fred Glass came clean. Hosting an NIT game.

I would counter by saying the Dec. 28 home loss to a Nebraska team that finished 12-19 devalued the arena perhaps a little bit more, but agree to disagree.