Cardinal to face BYU in NIT opener

Once Stanford lost to UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals, head coach Jerod Haase knew the Cardinal’s thin hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid were dashed.

The Cardinal are not done, though. And they’ll get to host another game at Maples Pavilion, where they’ll play BYU at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

If the Cardinal (18-15) beat the Cougars (24-10), they’ll play the winner of Tuesday night’s game between Oklahoma State (19-14) and Florida Gulf Coast (23-11). Oklahoma State would host the second-round game if it wins, but the site if Florida Gulf Coast prevails is uncertain.

Haase is just happy his team is still playing.

“There is value to it in so many different ways,” he said. “One is the opportunity to be around your teammates, the shared experiences. These are lifetime experiences that you gain a lot from. It’s also an opportunity to improve as a team and to play to win some games.”

Stanford’s RPI, due mainly to a 6-7 record in nonconference play that was compiled mainly without guard Dorian Pickens (foot injury) and forward KZ Okpala (academics), was just 86.

It will be Stanford’s ninth appearance in the NIT. The Cardinal took part in the tournament three times during the eight-year tenure of former head coach Johnny Dawkins, winning it in 2012 and ’15.

They also participated in the NIT four times under Mike Montgomery, taking the title in 1991, and once under Trent Johnson.

BYU, which finished third in the WCC with an 11-7 record, lost to Gonzaga 74-54 in the conference tournament final after beating St. Mary’s 85-72 in the semifinals.

The Cougars are led by sophomore forward Yoeli Childs (18 points per game), junior guard Elijah Bryant (17.9 ppg) and sophomore guard TJ Haws (11.8 ppg).