The NIT [R]

[SueB]

For those who care (such as myself - since I have three "teams-of-interest" in the little dance this season), here is the bracket:

http://www.nit.org/nit/index.htm

Funny, I never even realized they HAD a bracket. I always thought they kind of winged it and paired teams up it as things went along. Anyway ...

Play begins tonight with Toledo at Marquette on ESPN. Tomorrow, ESPN is showing Missouri at Michigan with Iowa at Saint Louis on ESPN2. Wednesday, it's Purdue at Notre Dame on ESPN2 and LSU at Oklahoma on ESPN.

[WarrenWallace]

The Milwaukee media is going nuts cause supposedly Marquette told the NIT that it did not want to play UW-Milwaukee. Both schools are located in Milwaukee and Marquette won't play them.

[JG]

Originally posted by SueB

Funny, I never even realized they HAD a bracket. I always thought they kind of winged it and paired teams up it as things went along. Anyway ...


They only started having a backet a couple years ago.

[SueB]

First result - Marquette over Toledo, 87-72.

If justice can be served, UW-Milwaukee will win two games and get the matchup with Marquette they wanted to begin with.

[MLSNHTOWN]

I really like some of the big school matchups. LSU v. Oklahoma, Mizzou v. Michigan, Colorado v. Oregon. Quality matchups. I come from Big XII country, so with four teams in the NIT, it will be fun to watch. Though, I really don't think any of them are particularly good teams. Should be interesting to see who comes out of the NIT.

[SueB]

Great games last night. Better than the 64/65 game. Unfortunately, 2 of my 3 teams lost. :(

Saint Louis 70 Iowa 69
Nebraska 71 Creighton 70
Michigan 65 Missouri 64

[FearM9]

Just got back from watching Boise State University (my alma mater) take it to the Runnin' Rebels of UNLV. In the first half we really made them our bitch, but in the second half UNLV cut our lead down to I think 9 points but we eventually got the win. Great crowd...great ballin'. UNLV really didn't want to be there though. Who could blame 'em...I think in the past seven days they've played 4 games with their hopes of making it into the Big Dance obliterated by a last second three pointer from the Utah State Aggies.

I *think* BSU is suppose to play some Wisconsin school next...I'm not too sure.

[SueB]

Results to-date. Note that "opening round" and "first round" games have taken place - the winners of the "opening round" will play in the "first round" next:

OPENING ROUND
Tue March 16
Nebraska 71 Creighton 70

Wed March 17
Rhode Island 80 Boston University 52
West Virginia 65 Kent State 54
Boise State 84 UNLV 69
UW-Milwaukee 91 Rice 63
George Mason 58 Tennessee 55
Austin Peay 65 Belmont 59
Niagara 87 Troy State 83

FIRST ROUND
Mon March 15
Marquette 87 Toledo 72

Tue March 16
Saint Louis 70 Iowa 69
Michigan 65 Missouri 64

Wed March 17
Villanova 85 Drexel 70
Virginia 79 George Washington 66
Rutgers 76 Temple 71
Florida State 91 Wichita State 84 (2 OT)
Iowa State 82 Georgia 74
Notre Dame 71 Purdue 59
Oregon 77 Colorado 72
Hawaii 85 Utah State 74
Oklahoma 70 LSU 61

Fri March 19
Rhode Island at West Virginia
Niagara at Nebraska
Austin Peay at George Mason

Sat March 20
UW-Milwaukee at Boise State

SECOND ROUND
Sat Mar 20
Virginia at Villanova - ESPN2, 11 am

Mon March 22
Rhode Island/West Virginia at Rutgers
Saint Louis at Notre Dame (Ft Wayne)
Nebraska/Niagara at Hawaii
Oklahoma at Michigan - ESPN2, 9 pm

Tue March 23
Boise State/UM-Milwaukee at Marquette
Iowa State at Florida State
George Mason/Austin Peay at Oregon - ESPN2, 11:30 pm

QUARTERFINALS
Wed March 24 - 7 pm
Wed March 24 - 9 pm, ESPN2
Thu March 25
Fri March 26

SEMIFINALS - Tue March 30

FINAL - Thu April 1

[FearM9]

Originally posted by FearM9
I *think* BSU is suppose to play some Wisconsin school next...I'm not too sure.

WOOHOO!!! We play UW-Milwaukee at the Idaho Center Saturday night. I'm going! Last night's game was soooo damn fun!

[TheSlipperyOne]

Originally posted by FearM9
WOOHOO!!! We play UW-Milwaukee at the Idaho Center Saturday night. I'm going! Last night's game was soooo damn fun!

Why the Idaho Center and not the Pavillion?

Go BSU!

[FearM9]

Originally posted by TheSlipperyOne
Why the Idaho Center and not the Pavillion?

Go BSU!

Tomorrow night we are hosting the Western Gymnastics Conference Championship in the Pavilion and then on Saturday Metallica is in the house.

Apparently the UW-Milwaukee v Rice (was it Rice??) game in Milwaukee drew less than 4,000 while the Pavilion had over 9,000 in attendance. NIT officials were really pleased by this and that's why they chose Boise (well Nampa) to host again.

[FearM9]

Well we beat the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee this past Saturday night. A HUGE win. However in the second half UW-M brought it to within one point down the stretch, but we somehow got the win. Over 10,000 in attendance at the rodeo arena for this mofo. Tonight we take on one of last year's Final Four participants...Marquette. I think the official Vegas line is that Marquette is a 3.5 point fave. They've had ALOT of rest...maybe 1.5 to almost 2 weeks? BSU played Saturday night...drove to Salt Lake on Sunday..flew in Chicago and ended up in Milwaukee Monday afternoon. A pretty grueling travel iteniary. Marquette is a lil' bit bigger on the inside than BSU. They've got size...we've got momentum. I think if we can shut down their leading scorer (Deiner??), I think we will be OK. Jermaine Blackburn can't have an awful shooting night like he did on Saturday though (1 for 9 I think). The Broncos are definately gonna need his production tonight.

IF the Broncos win...we either play Floriduh State or Northern Iowa on Friday (or was it Saturday) night? However, apparently both arenas will be used on whatever night it was they are scheduled to play. Therefore it is entirely possible that BSU can hose ANOTHER NIT game...this would be our third!!! And if we win that game...then we are off to Madison Square Garden!

[FearM9]

NOT Northern Iowa...I meant to say Iowa State.

[mellon002]

Hail to the Victors.

[WarrenWallace]

Well, the NIT Final Four is set. Oregon, Rutgers, Michigan, Iowa St. Not that bad of a draw I guess. I bet that if the NIT had it there way, they would have wanted Michigan, Rutgers, Notre Dame, and Marquette. Probably cause ND and Marq would fill more seats than ISU or Oregon.

[WarrenWallace]

The Semifinals are tonight from Madison Square Garden.

[whirlwind]

Well, we're on a serious roll right now and it'll take a great effort from Rutgers to keep us from taking home the silverware.

And that's with 4 underclassmen in the starting lineup.


Go blue!

:D

[mellon002]

Go Blue! Have they already played the finals?

[DamonEsquire]

Yep. Michigan brings home. Their needs was detrimentally after subtraction of 100 wins.

[mellon002]

Big victory for Michigan. Tommy Amaker is a great coach and Michigan is on the rise. I always wonder how some coaches just have the magic touch it seems like.