With two famous names on the sideline, the NIT championship has a New York feel.
One coach is a rising young star, the other is in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career.
Richard Pitino leads Minnesota into the title game Thursday night against 73-year-old Larry Brown and SMU at Madison Square Garden, a building both basketball junkies revere.
Brown was born in Brooklyn and raised in nearby Long Beach. He grew up going to games at the Garden and coached the resident New York Knicks to a 23-59 record during the 2005-06 season.
The 31-year-old Pitino is the son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, a Hall of Famer who guided the Knicks to a division crown and two NBA playoff appearances from 1987-89.
SMU is looking for its first NIT title.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
