NIT bracket here -- don't get so excited
So Maryland fans, how about that NIT? Excited?
We won't be spending a lot of time dwelling on the National Invitation Tournament, just some details. The NIT turns 70 this year. It was founded in 1938 and in its first year included just six teams. Temple University won the tournament. Today, there are 32 teams. Games are played on campuses of higher-seeded teams until the semifinals, when it moves to Madison Square Garden.
Maryland is a No. 5 seed and plays its first game against Minnesota, a No. 4 seed, tonight. Other ACC teams in the field are Virginia Tech and Florida State. The Hokies may be playing with a chip on their shoulders since they're one of the debatable exclusions from the NCAA Tournament, another being Arizona State. Virginia Tech and ASU are No. 1 seeds in the NIT, along with Ohio State and Syracuse. Morgan State, which saw its own NCAA Tournament spot slip to Coppin State in the MEAC tournament championship game, plays in the first round against Virginia Tech.
Another notable in the NIT field is two-time defending national champion Florida, which struggled over the last month losing eight of 11. My personal favorite in the field, only because of their flamboyant nickname, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
And for the ever-popular NIT office pool, here's a printable version of the NIT bracket, click on the image below.
Comments
NIT 1st Round
Ohio State 19-13 vs UNC Asheville 23-9 (Big South Regular Season Champ) - OSU
Cal 16-15 vs New Mexico 24-8 (3rd Mountain West) - New Mexico
Dayton 21-10 vs Cleveland St 21-12 (3rd Horizon) - Dayton
Illinois St 24-9 (2nd Missouri Valley) vs Utah St 24-10 (2nd WAC) - Utah State
Va Tech 19-12 vs Morgan State 21-10 (MEAC Regular Season Champ) - VaTech
VCU 24-7 (CAA Regular Season Champ) vs UAB (2nd Conference USA) - VCU
Nebraska 19-12 vs Charlotte 20-13 - Charlotte
Mississippi 21-10 vs UCSanta Barbara 23-8 (2nd Big West) - Mississippi
Arizona State 19-12 vs Alabama State 20-10 (SWAC Regular Season Champ) - Arizona State
Southern Ill 17-14 (3rd Missouri Valley) vs Ok State 17-15 - Southern Ill
Creighton 21-10 (4th Missouri Valley) vs Rhode Island 21-11 - Creighton
Florida 21-11 vs San Diego St 20-12 (4th Mountain West) - Florida
Syracuse 19-13 vs Robert Morris (Northeast Regular Season Champ) - Syracuse
Minnesota 20-12 vs Maryland 18-14 - Maryland
Florida State 19-14 vs Akron (2nd Mid American East) - FSU
Umass 21-10 (3rd A10) vs Stephen F. Austin 26-6 (Southland West Division Champ) - Umass
NIT 2nd Round
OSU vs New Mexico - OSU
Dayton vs Utah State - Dayton
VaTech vs VCU - VCU
Charlotte vs Mississippi - Mississippi
Arizona St vs Southern Ill - ASU
Creighton vs Florida - Florida
Syracuse vs Maryland - Syracuse
FSU vs Umass - Umass
Quarters
OSU vs Dayton - OSU
VCU vs Mississippi - VCU
ASU vs Florida - Florida
Syracuse vs Umass - Syracuse
Semifinals
OSU vs VCU - OSU
Florida vs Syracuse - Florida
Championship
OSU vs Florida - Florida
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Chris,
Thanks for taking the time to fill that out. You have a third straight title for Florida.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Chris | March 18, 2008 10:49 AM
Bill-what, no CBI bracket? Might as well let EVERYBODY into March Madness. NCAA, do you hear the sound? Cha-ching, cha-ching. Aw, it's nice that UMBC's satellite campus down in College Park still gets to play. Go DAWGS!!
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Brian,
You guys aren't going to let this one go, are you ... like a dog with a bone. Couldn't resist. Best of luck.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: brian | March 18, 2008 11:52 AM
At least the Lady Terps get a number 1 seed and decent placement into their NCAA 64 tournament bracket!
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Absolutely.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Captain Jack | March 18, 2008 3:41 PM
Can't find a Women's NIT bracket anywhere? Can you?
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Gary,
I'll take a look. If I can, I'll post it.
Here we go.
http://www.womensnit.com/photos/bracket.pdf
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Gary | March 18, 2008 5:59 PM
Ohio State or Dayton is goin all the way
Posted by: Troy Hoffman | March 18, 2008 8:21 PM
I couldn't believe that neither SI.com nor ESPN.com had an NIT bracket available. I guess it's all about the NCAA. Thanks for posting this CBS bracket. I think Florida is going all the way. They should be in the NCAA but for their lackluster play. I'm thinking anything short of the NIT title would be a disappointment for them.
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Sonny,
If they don't win the thing, I'm wondering if they'll ever get back in the locker room.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: sonny | March 20, 2008 10:40 AM