Ok, first off, let’s answer a reader question:
No.
No.
We’re not going to talk about Creighton.
Creighton is way too far from NIT-land to be discussed here.
You know how many teams are NIT contenders right now? It’s a big number. Everybody wants in. Creighton does not want in, or at least they aren’t playing like they want in. So, sorry to the Jays fan out there, but this is the only mention Creighton’s getting today. They’re not an NIT-caliber team.
Now.
The NITuation:
Thank you to our good friend Stewie for suggesting this. Stewie, if you don’t know him, is charming, and is forgiving if you lock him on a roof overnight (it was warm and not rainy don’t worry).
What’s the NITuation? Well, it’s part of the NIT situation, but it’s not as broad as that whole thing (which encompasses literally the entire history of time). It’s something we’ll be going over from now through Selection Sunday every time our bracketology updates.
You’re a good NIT fan. You check our NIT Bracketology routinely. You know who’s in the projected field.
But it’s hard to know who’s close.
Which is why we have the NITuation.
Here’s how it’s going to work:
We’re just going to list the teams who are close, and what side they’re on.
Possible Automatic Bids Who Are on NIT Turf But Are Too Likely to Win Their Conference Tournament
Our tragic heroes. Right now this is only Marshall, who would be a 6-seed were they in the projected NIT, and Saint Louis, who would be a 2-seed.
Close, on the High Side
Destined for hellfire and brimstone at the moment, these teams could drop into the NIT with a good loss or two. All are within three seed lines of the glory. Loyola has that auto-bid thing to deal with.
Close: Stanford, Drake, Oregon, LSU
Closer: Xavier, Indiana, St. Bonaventure, Loyola, Colorado State
Closest: Boise State, Seton Hall
Good luck.
Close, on the Low Side
Currently destined for the CBI, (If it happens, and it happening is…less likely than the NIT happening? Not sure.) these guys could bounce up into our world with a good win or two, or a reduction in projected NIT automatic bids. Of these, UC-Santa Barbara and Wright State each have high concerns they’ll win their conference tournament.
Close: Wright State, South Carolina, UC-Santa Barbara, Kentucky
Closer: UAB, Rhode Island, Mississippi, North Carolina State
Closest: Northwestern, Tulsa, TCU, St. John’s
***
And that’s the NITuation. Now, today’s notes:
- Michigan State’s blowout loss to Rutgers was good and bad. The good was they’re back on the court, and they’re further solidified into the NIT picture. The bad was they lost so badly that if they keep doing things like that, they will fall out of the NIT picture.
- SMU beat Memphis by the perfect amount (two points) and perhaps the only amount that could’ve kept both them and their friends the Tigers in our projected field. (Yeah, you’re right—one point could’ve also probably done this. I just don’t know about three.)
- Stanford’s win in Tucson almost has them entirely out of the NITuation. C’mon, guys. This isn’t rocket science. And if it was, you would be uniquely situated (NITuated) to handle that.
- Boise State/Colorado State rematch tonight in Fort Collins. Make sure you wear enough underwear for all the peeing your pants you’re going to do today thinking about it.
- And as though the fates weren’t kind enough: Saint Louis travels to Richmond.
- New Mexico State plays on the road against Grand Canyon in some important WACtion for the auto-bid picture.
- UC-Irvine’s in Hawaii (Oahu, specifically) this weekend trying to hold onto their Big West lead (and accompanying projected NIT automatic bid).
- In the HoLo’s quest to keep its automatic bid streak alive, Cleveland State is hosting Green Bay this weekend, and they’ll probably need to win both with Wright State a) just one game back and b) hosting Robert Morris this weekend.
