You were going to see my bracket eventually anyway, because we’re all in this pool [(I’m assuming if you’ve gone to the trouble to read this, you’ve also gone to the trouble of joining my NIT Pool), but as the biggest NIT fan around, I thought I’d give you a peak behind the scenes.
Without further ado:
First Round:
Campbell over UNC-Greensboro
Coming in hot. Basically, I just want more Chris Clemons in the tournament. That would be good for the NIT (now would be a good time to tell you that a lot of my picks revolve around what would be good for the NIT).
Lipscomb over Davidson
I could go either way on this one, but I’m nervous about the Campbell pick (obviously) and think Lipscomb’s got a better chance to beat UNC-Greensboro. Let no one tell you I don’t plan ahead.
Harvard over Georgetown
Honestly, a Georgetown Final Four run would probably be good for the NIT, because I’d guess they have a strong following in New York, but Harvard’s got that NIT experience, and they made me very nervous when Joe told me to bet on Yale on Sunday so I don’t want to mess with them again. Who knows what smart kid stuff they’ve got up their sleeve.
North Carolina State over Hofstra
As I noted in my NIT Preview, Hofstra used to be the Flying Dutchmen and they aren’t anymore, and I don’t like that one bit.
Indiana over St. Francis (PA)
Indiana home games seem good for the NIT. Also, people seem more likely to tune in to an Indiana game than another game.
Arkansas over Providence
This one doesn’t seem likely to swing the NIT too far one way or the other, but on the aggregate, I like the people I’ve met who went to Arkansas slightly more than the people I’ve met who went to Providence. Nothing against the Friars, of course. The Arkansas folks are just good folks!
Furman over Wichita State
Picking this so Furman can play Clemson in the second round, since they’re real close to each other, and that’d at least drum up some more interest within the state of South Carolina. Though I do trust that Wichita State fans will watch their basketball team no matter the circumstance.
Clemson over Wright State
Again, I want a Clemson/Furman game. They’re effectively both in Greenville.
Alabama over Norfolk State
Keep Avery Johnson employed for at least one more game. Keep people talking about Avery Johnson’s employment for at least one more game.
Dayton over Colorado
Dayton seems like a school where people care a ton about basketball. I have no idea if that’s true or not, but it has that air about it.
Toledo over Xavier
Few people are going to be excited to watch either of these teams in the second round. At least for Toledo it’d be a novelty.
Texas over South Dakota State
I want more Texas home games so I can attend them.
TCU over Sam Houston State
I fear Jamie Dixon in the NIT.
Nebraska over Butler
Tim Miles must stay!! He must!!!!!
This is one of those things where I have an emotional attachment to something with little basis for that emotional attachment beyond a few isolated data points. Kind of like how I started liking the NIT.
Memphis over San Diego
Memphis fans seem excited about where their program’s heading under Penny Hardaway. Let’s keep them around.
Loyola over Creighton
I believe people will watch a lot of things that involve Sister Jean, however peripherally. We’ll see if I’m right.
Second Round:
Lipscomb over Campbell
As I said previously, Chris Clemons is great for the NIT. I also want to be a contender in this pool for as long as possible, though.
North Carolina State over Harvard
NC State probably has a solid following, right? Whatever the case, their fans have to be a more significant NIT-watching crew than Harvard fans. Making this pick based on the guess that NIT awareness is higher among the Wolfpack faithful.
Indiana over Arkansas
An Indiana run is good for the NIT. Remember this, NIT fans. Regardless of how you feel about Indiana, they help our sport.
Clemson over Furman
Going with which team has the more significant following again. Plus, Clemson’s never been good enough at basketball (in my memory) to where they’d think they were too good for the NIT.
Dayton over Alabama
Again, there’s just something about Dayton basketball that makes me like their chances to draw in TV viewership. Not sure if that’s right or not, but have to go with my gut on it.
Texas over Toledo
A third Texas home game would be a personal jackpot.
Nebraska over TCU
Tim Miles’ defiant run continues. Long live Tim Miles.
Memphis over Loyola
Sticking with the assumption that Memphis fans want to watch Memphis make an NIT run. Though again, Loyola shouldn’t be underestimated as a basketball brand.
Quarterfinals:
Lipscomb over North Carolina State
Lipscomb’s something of a darling among the people out there who blindly love mid-major basketball. This might get some of them on the 32>68 train.
Indiana over Clemson
Again, more Indiana is better for the NIT.
Dayton over Texas
I think there’s a non-zero possibility a lot of Dayton fans would make the trip to New York for the Final Four.
Nebraska over Memphis
This is half-driven by my craving for a situation in which Tim Miles keeps winning and Nebraska keeps having to decide whether or not to fire him, and half-driven by my hunch that Nebraska fans are everywhere and might fill up Madison Square Garden, at least partially.
Final Four:
Indiana over Lipscomb
As with Nebraska, I think Indiana has a good shot of providing attendance at the Final Four, which is always a plus.
Nebraska over Dayton
Tim Miles lives. At this point, they’re not firing him, right?
Also, there are enough blind Big Ten fans that they might get on the 32>68 train if it’s an all-B1G championship. Especially if none of their teams in the other tournament make its rip-off of the one true Final Four.
NIT Championship:
Nebraska over Indiana
Fire him now, Nebraska Athletic Director Whose Name I Don’t Know. I dare you.
