Sports

Baylor, Iowa ready for NIT final

Many expected Baylor to be playing in a championship game, just not this one.

Brittney Griner and the Lady Bears were supposed to be playing for the NCAA women’s national title, not Pierre Jackson and Cory Jefferson for the men’s NIT final.

“It would be really big [for us to win a title],” Jackson said. “This tournament isn’t as bad as people think. There are some great teams in it, a lot of competition. Last time Baylor was here we lost it, so we still can make history”

Baylor was in this same position in 2009, one game away from the NIT crown with a Big 10 opponent standing in their way. The Bears lost to Penn State 69-63 in a Nittany Lion-packed Madison Square Garden.

“We had a great group travel out here [this time],” Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. “I thought last time we were in a championship it was against Penn State and I think Joe Pa came with about 12 or 15 buses. I think it’s a little more even this time.”

In order to vanquish their Big 10 and NIT demons, the Bears will have to find a way to stop Hawkeyes guard Roy Devyn Marble, who has scored 20 or more points in each game this tournament. Iowa has also won all four games in the NIT by double figures.

Marble and his teammate Eric May have enjoyed their time in New York City. The NIT tournament marks just the sixth time that Iowa has played in the state and the third time in Madison Square Garden.

“I can’t complain with how [the city and MSG] has treated me,” May said. “A win [Thursday] will make it a whole lot better, take care of that.”

As impressive as Marble has been for Iowa, Jackson, the Big 12’s leading scorer and assist man, has been the Bears’ biggest weapon.

Jackson, who had 24 points and a game-high 10 assists, has three straight double-doubles heading into the title game.

“Jackson is a really good point guard,” Marble said.

“When you have a general like that, he puts your defense in jail every time he brings the ball down like that,” Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery said.

The schools have only met one time before Thursday’s title game, with Iowa winning 67-44 at home on Dec. 2, 1983.

asulla-heffinger@nypost.com