If you would have said Alabama State would be playing in the NIT five months ago, most Hornet players, coaches and fans would be thrilled for a team picked to finish eighth in the SWAC. But ASU players are anything but happy about going to the NIT after going 13-3 in the SWAC and winning the regular-season tournament, only to be upset by Jackson State in the second round of the SWAC tournament. The Hornets were the big favorite to win the tournament and coming up short was a major letdown. Alabama State will compete in the NIT by virture of winning the regular-season championship. The Hornets travel to top seed Arizona State March 18.

Alabama State scrambled to catch a plane at 5 p.m. March 17 to head out to Arizona. It's the longest distance any team has to make in the first round.

ASU is making its first-ever NIT appearance. Junior Player of the Year Trant Simpson paces the Hornets, averaging 14.8 points a game and leading the team with 31.5 minutes a game. Junior transfer Brandon Brooks averages 9.9 points a game, while junior newcomer Chief Kickingstallionsims averages 8.1 points a game. Alabama State's only nonconference wins came against Paul Quinn, SMU, Auburn-Montgomery and Oakwood. The Hornets lost to Auburn by three points, Miami of Florida by nine and Southern Mississippi by 14.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.