The women’s basketball team wanted to make the NCAA tournament, not the WNIT.

But looking back on it, playing more games in the WNIT is much better for Kansas in the long run than going one-and-done in the Big Dance.

Monday, Kansas took home a 78-69 victory against New Mexico to advance to the WNIT’s “Formidable Four.” It’d be wrong to call it the Final Four with the women’s NCAA tournament advancing to its semifinals as well.

It was the third game in the WNIT for the Jayhawks, who will play at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday against Illinois State. They’ve got a shot at winning the whole tournament Saturday if they can beat the Redbirds.

That could mean five tournament games for a team with freshman Aishah Sutherland, a freakishly athletic post who is getting better by the game, and junior Danielle McCray, a forward making sports writers look ludicrous for leaving her off one of their three All-America teams.

“We’ve really grown as a team that plays together and plays for each other,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said.

If the Jayhawks had crept into the NCAA tournament field two weeks ago, they would have likely drawn a double-digit seed and faced an elite team with no desire to lose to the Jayhawks. Although Danielle McCray might have scored 45 points to carry her team to victory, it’s doubtful she would have.

By playing in the WNIT, the Jayhawks have gained experience playing semi-quality teams from other conferences. Three players have seen the most growth in the five-game postseason thus far, and they all brought their games last night.

McCray scored 32 points, including eight on three consecutive possessions with the game on the line. It’s about time to pencil McCray in for more than 20 points on any given night. She hasn’t scored less since February.

Junior Sade Morris, averaging nearly 20 points a game in the postseason, played Robin to McCray’s Batman, scored 14 points and effectively kept New Mexico’s defense honest.

But it was the freshman who provided the most hope for the present and future. Sutherland came off the bench to score 15 points and grab seven rebounds for a team desperately needing a post presence.

Sutherland has enormous potential, which she showed when she changed shots on the defensive end and pulled down huge rebounds on the offensive end. If she can grasp the offense this summer, she will become a force in the Big 12.

And with McCray scoring like she’s playing a video game on easy mode, Morris driving and taking attention away from McCray, and Sutherland providing tough, physical play underneath the basket, the Jayhawks are likely the favorite to win the WNIT.

A championship in the lesser tournament won’t satisfy the Jayhawks’ desires to make it to the NCAA tournament. However, it will make them a better team and provide the players with a reason to work hard in the summer.

The drive for next year’s NCAA tournament has already started. It continues Wednesday night.

— — Edited by Casey Miles