Illinois State loses to ‘NCAA Tournament-caliber’ Auburn in NIT semifinals: ‘What we’re building is special’

INDIANAPOLIS — Perhaps the most notable Cinderella playing in Indianapolis this week went down on Thursday night. Certainly none of the four teams playing at Lucas Oil Stadium in Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Final Four qualifies as a Cinderella by March Madness standards. But across town at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, Illinois State saw its season end with an 88-66 loss to Auburn in the NIT semifinals.

As a No. 4 seed in the 32-team tournament, the Redbirds were the underdog in a semifinal round that featured three No. 1 seeds.

After its win, Auburn will meet Tulsa in the NIT title game Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tulsa took down New Mexico 74-69 in the first semifinal Thursday. For Illinois State, the NIT semifinal provided a big-time platform in a historic venue and on ESPN.

Coach Ryan Pedon hopes its the next step for a program that has improved its win total in each of his four years at the helm. NIT Final Four photos: Auburn 88, Illinois State 66 “It’s great for our guys to be able to see what it looks like when you do get to that stage,” Pedon said. “Auburn’s a really good team, really well coached.