A Whole New Kind of NITexas

March has arrived in style.

We’ve got an NIT format, and this is it:

• 16 teams.
• Games begin March 17^th.
• Championship March 28^th.
• All games in Denton and Frisco, which are both north of Dallas. (Denton’s where North Texas is at—good Waffle House right off 35; Frisco is where the FCS National Championship game is, and also where some guy whose address got flipped with mine got caught speeding by a camera? That or someone was trying to scam me. I sent it back.)
• No automatic bids.
• No word on any “bracketing principles” (the things that, in normal years, say teams from the same conference can’t meet prior to the regional finals and that kind of deal).

It’s an NIT.

It’s back.

And the people are excited.

(or at least I am)

The NITuation:

The Bracket

Our NIT Bracketology is updated, so please peruse that for the bracket itself. It’s a good one. Dare I say, a great one?

Next in Line

Below the field, from closest to close:

Louisiana Tech
Penn State
Winthrop
Mississippi
North Texas
Marshall
Navy
Kentucky
Providence
St. John’s
Belmont

Next out of Line

Above the field, from closest to close:

Drake
SMU
Xavier
Colorado State
Georgia Tech
Colgate
UConn
Virginia Tech
Boise State
North Carolina
Oregon
VCU

Moving In: Stanford, Syracuse

Welcome to the party, friends. Neither played yesterday, but both climbed up as our model received the updates on how the ratings systems interpreted Saturday’s happenings.

Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song): Penn State, Louisiana Tech

Penn State was probably already gone because they’re so far under .500 and scheduling difficultly is only embraced to an extent in college hoops. Louisiana Tech’s gotta be bummed, though. I mean, right there still, but work to do.

***

And that’s the NITuation.

Today’s other notes:

• Michigan State was playing a risky game with the universe, but after losing at Maryland they’re back in the heart of our world. Sparty on.
• Memphis’s victory at Cincinnati pulled them up a good bit. A “whoa nelly” good bit. Look out there, fellas.
• Utah State put a pounding on Nevada in Logan. Not just looking for a bid. These guys want to contend.
• Syracuse hosts UNC tonight. Narrow underdog, but might still need a win to stay above the cut line.
• Oregon hosts Arizona. It’s a chance for the Ducks.
• Saint Louis hosts UMass. Don’t do anything rash, Billikens. You’re in position.

I know it’s a couple weeks away still, but…

Bona NIT, everybody.