BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Marshall made a deep run in the Conference USA basketball tournament, but eventually took its final, decisive lumps.
It was inevitable, in retrospect. Perhaps this eyebrow-raising Thundering Herd team was living on borrowed time after two come-from-behind wins in a row, earned with three buzzer-beaters.
Or perhaps that 99-90 loss Friday to eventual champion Middle Tennessee was a logical step in the development of coach Dan D’Antoni’s tenure, which wrapped up its second season.
After all, only two Herd teams have even come close to playing in a C-USA semifinal.
“For this game, I felt like we learned how hard you have to play to advance in a tournament,” D’Antoni said.