Our Friday NIT Bracketology update is here. Some highlights, heading into the weekend:
- There’s a Big East surge going on. After looking for a minute like the NIT might have to dip all the way to Georgetown to fill the Big East’s automatic bids, five teams are currently aimed at our side of the bubble, tenuous though that aim may be.
- The ACC continues to pack these courts, still poised to be a seven-bid league. With Wake Forest and Boston College each close and Clemson receiving some hate, the nine-bid scenario is firmly on the table. Join us, Clemson. We’ll appreciate you, even if you don’t appreciate us.
- Joining us from above are Xavier (in a bid thief seat), Villanova, Texas A&M, and Princeton, who’s still the Ivy League tournament favorite but has a solid enough likelihood of losing that we include them here. In the same boat there is Louisiana Tech, who rises into our field despite being the Conference USA tournament favorite. (McNeese and Grand Canyon are the other two teams in this situation. They’re less likely to find their way our way.)
- Rising past our reach are Northwestern, Mississippi, and Washington State. Dropping below us are UC Irvine and the defending champs, North Texas.
- In-state matchups in the first round: Xavier vs. Ohio State, Virginia vs. James Madison, Villanova vs. Princeton (not technically in-state but Jersey and Philly are impossible to separate), UCF vs. Florida State, and Virginia Tech vs. Richmond. In addition, Kevin Willard’s Maryland Terrapins are poised to host his old team, Seton Hall.
Last Four In, First Four Out (on the high side):
- In, from least safe to safest: Xavier, Texas A&M, Oregon, Providence
- Out, from closest to furthest: Wake Forest, Washington State, Nebraska, Mississippi
Last Four In, First Four Out (on the low side):
- In, from least safe to safest: NC State, UCF, Louisiana Tech, Syracuse
- Out, from closest to furthest: Appalachian State, UC Irvine, North Texas, St. Bonaventure
In the mix (more teams on the low end):
- Indiana, Boston College, Minnesota, LSU, Yale, Samford, Stanford, George Mason
