Even Mike Newell could not make it happen

Jim Harris, in his 2012 article remembering when ASU almost beat Fayetteville in the 1987 NIT, recalls that Mike Newell was very frustrated that even though his team had beaten Notre Dame the previous season and was good enough to go to the NIT Final Four that year, they still could not get any media attention. If it was not going to happen then, it probably never will happen. (At least, not without three things: a sustained run of success, a promoter deluxe involved, and a coach who has a chip in his shoulder and is not willing to play second fiddle to Fayetteville. It won't happen.)