IUPUI set a school record for victories in a season with 26. The Jaguars lost just seven times throughout the year, went undefeated at home and finished the season among the top 75 teams in terms of RPI. However, none of that was enough to convince any of the postseason selection committees, as IUPUI was on the outside looking in to both the NIT and the newly created College Basketball Invitational after losing to Oral Roberts in the Summit League tournament championship contest.

I guess for a team like ours, we've got to win 30 games or win the conference tournament," IUPUI coach Ron Hunter told the Indianapolis Star. "That's the cruel part of life. I don't know what else we can do except win every game."

Being left out of March Madness puts a very disappointing mark on what was one of the Jaguars' best seasons ever. Led by Summit League Player of the Year George Hill, IUPUI never lost more than two games in a row while enjoying winning streaks of six and eight games at different times throughout the season.

Hill led the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals, and ranked among the Summit League's top five in all four categories as well. It was a well-deserved campaign for Hill, who had to take a medical redshirt last season because of a broken foot. And unfortunately for the rest of the league, Hill still has one season left, as he'll be looked upon to lead this team again next year.

IUPUI wasn't a one-man show, however. While Hill was the star, he had a strong support group in fellow guards Gary Patterson and Austin Montgomery and forward Jon Avery, who all averaged double digits. And unlike last year, the Jaguars were able to avoid the injury bug. Of IUPUI's starting five, four players started every game they played in.

Helped by their perfect mark at home, the Jaguars challenged all season for the Summit title, even giving eventual champion Oral Roberts its first league loss of the year in February. However, an upset by Centenary and a late-season defeat to Oakland made the Jaguars the league's No. 2 seed, where they had a rubber match with ORU. IUPUI led the championship game in the second half, but faded down the stretch and eventually lost by seven points.

So while there are tons of accolades to look back upon, it will be hard for Hunter and his players to really enjoy what took place this season because of the postseason shutout. Being a mid-major, Hunter is right -- sometimes a team has to win the league tournament, no matter the record. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but it also should fuel the Jaguars for next season.

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