NIT goes legit

[GIGAFAN99]

Did anyone see the NIT bracket?

Well if you didn't, there's no UConn or St. Johns trying to boost possible MSG ticket sales.

So it looks like the NCAA has sent a pretty clear message here that the NIT is not going to be a party for famous names who miss the NCAAs. And they might be sending the subtle message that this is being positioned as a future merger for NCAA expansion.

[DanMcQ]

NIT Selections and Game Times

BE:

First Round
NORTH
Tuesday, March 13



Toledo (19-12) at Florida State (20-12), 6 p.m.



Utah State (23-11) at Michigan (21-12), 7 p.m.



MVSU (18-15) at Mississippi State (18-13), TBA

Wednesday, March 14



Providence (18-12) at Bradley (21-12), TBA

EAST
Tuesday, March 13



NC State (18-15) at Drexel (23-8), 8 p.m.



Alabama (20-11) at Massachusetts (23-8), 9:30 p.m.



Marist (24-8) at Oklahoma State (22-12), 10 p.m.



Delaware State (21-12) at West Virginia (22-9), TBA

WEST
Wednesday, March 14



Fresno State (22-9) at Georgia (18-13), 7 p.m.



Vermont (25-7) at Kansas State (22-11), 8 p.m.



Austin Peay (21-11) at Air Force (23-8), 11 p.m.



Hofstra (22-9) at DePaul (18-13), TBA

SOUTH
Wednesday, March 14



ETSU (24-9) at Clemson (21-10), 6 p.m.



South Alabama (20-11) at Syracuse (22-10), 7 p.m.



San Diego State (21-10) at Missouri State (22-10), 10 p.m.



Appalachian State (25-7) at Mississippi (20-12), TBA

Second Round
NORTH
Thursday, March 15



Utah State-Michigan winner vs. Toledo-Florida State winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 17



MVSU-Mississippi State winner vs. Providence-Bradley winner, TBA

EAST
Thursday, March 15



Delaware State-West Virginia-winner vs. Alabama-Massachusetts winner, 9 p.m.
Friday, March 16



NC State-Drexel winner vs. Marist-Oklahoma State winner, 9:30 p.m.

WEST
Monday, March 19



Austin Peay-Air Force winner vs. Fresno State-Georgia winner, TBA



Hofstra-DePaul winner vs. Vermont-Kansas State winner, TBA

SOUTH
Monday, March 19



ETSU-Clemson winner vs. Appalachian State-Mississippi winner, TBA



San Diego State-Missouri State winner vs. South Alabama-Syracuse winner, TBA

[HoyaTejano]

I was about to comment on that.

Take note:
1. Syracuse is not a 1 seed.
2. Neither UConn or St. John's even invited.

Plus, I had never put 2 and 2 together on the NIT coming under NCAA being a step towards expansion.

[TigerHoya]

Apparently the 3rd round isn't bound to higher seed hosting (IE if Cuse gets that far and had decent attendance in the dome in 1 and 2 they can take it away from a higher seed.)

[vamosalaplaya]

Looks like this quote from last week's NY Times proved inaccurate:

"UConn’s players are looking at the N.I.T. after being ousted by Syracuse in the first round of the Big East tournament."

Guess Calhoun can get an early start on running off all his players.

[ichirohoya]

Was this UCONN not getting invited or Calhoun pulling an Esherick and saying No to a bid?

[akhoya0914]

UCONN wasn't invited, AFAIK. Quick read of UCONN's boards on Rivals and news reports re: UCONN/NIT bid seems to suggest that UCONN suffered too many losses (team with lowest # of wins is NC State, with 18-15 combined with an incredible run in the ACC Tournament; UCONN was 17-14) although most of it is just speculation. I tend to take anything said by a UCONN fan with a grain of salt, however.