We have fresh NIT Bracketology again, ahead of a weekend loaded with NIT intrigue. Some highlights in today’s bracket:
- We’re back up to seven ACC teams (plus SMU), and none of them would have a home game in the first round if not for the automatic bids. Talk about a pack.
- Two Pac-12 teams move into 1-seed territory, with both Oregon and Washington State grabbing tenuous holds on that top line.
- Mississippi, Memphis, Seton Hall, and Iowa all dropped in. Richmond and Pitt each rose in. UC Irvine slides in on a technicality, but the Anteaters are back nonetheless. Zot.
- Nebraska, South Carolina, Saint Mary’s, and Texas all rose past us, eluding our grasp but only for now. Samford, App State, and UNLV couldn’t keep up.
- In-state first round matchups include Iowa vs. Drake, UCF vs. Florida State, and Northwestern vs. Bradley. Potential second round storylines include Tony Bennett’s return to Pullman and a Richmond/JMU in-state clash.
Last Four In, First Four Out (on the high side):
- In, from least safe to safest: Oregon, Mississippi, Washington State, Providence.
- Out, from closest to furthest: Princeton, Indiana State, Wake Forest, Xavier, Texas A&M, and Villanova (we’re including a bonus pair because of Princeton and Indiana State’s weird situation with the potential NCA** automatic bid).
Last Four In, First Four Out (on the low side):
- In, from least safe to safest: Richmond, Washington, North Texas, Maryland. (McNeese and UC Irvine are around here on the list too.)
- Out, from closest to furthest: Appalachian State, LSU, Samford, USC, Louisiana Tech, Akron, Saint Joe’s. (USC’s projecting to finish below .500, which could matter. Samford, Louisiana Tech, and Akron are all favored in their respective conference tournaments.)
In the mix (further teams on the low side):
- Should finish .500 or better: Indiana, Boston College, St. Bonaventure, George Mason, Minnesota, Stanford.
- Should finish below .500: Michigan, Rutgers.
Here’s the bracket in our most visually pleasing form (visually pleasing because it has Hinkle in the background). Enjoy.
