Ladies and gentleman…
Rick Pitino is NIT-Bound
We’ve had our eyes on this for a while, but by the end of the month, arguably the greatest in-game coach in college basketball history could finally grab that elusive national title. We mean, of course, the real one. The NIT. Iona’s going to the NIT.
With last night’s loss to Rider, the Gaels are coming with us, and we couldn’t be happier. We are, of course, a little scared, but parody law is real, right? And nothing came of that Padgett’s-corpse post back in the day?
Wake Up the Forest
With Wake Forest’s loss to Boston College yesterday, the Deacs are almost certainly ours, checking in as a 3-seed in today’s updated bracketology. In addition to shooting themselves hard in the foot (as though a commonplace shot to the foot wasn’t enough), Wake got some help from their nonconference opponents playing badly enough to pull them into having one of the twenty worst nonconference schedules in the country. Great move for NIT hopefuls.
Xavier?
Xavier’s tricky, because they’ve got a pretty good résumé but they’re colder than being cold (“Ice cold!”) and, well, they just kind of feel like an NIT team right now. Feelings matter. Feel feelings, guys. It’s important.
Virginia Tech Might Be Safer Than We Thought
Joe made a couple last-minute model tweaks, and they weren’t kind to the Hokies, who might be able to afford beating Notre Dame today. We hope for their sake that they can afford it, because, well, they’re favored.
Staying Alive: St. John’s, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Washington State, Virginia
It’s not bedtime yet for the Red Storm, Aggies, Commodores, Cougars, and Cavaliers. Virginia’s probably locked up now. The others still have some work to do.
Staying Dead: Florida State
I’d imagine Leonard Hamilton’s probably ok with missing this NIT after yesterday. Don’t really want to go to Birmingham playing like that.
ToNITe (and Today)
***The Big Ones***
We’ve got a lot of games today featuring multiple NIT hopefuls, so we’ll start with those.
Texas A&M vs. Florida (12:00 PM EST, SEC Network)
This one’s already underway, with Texas A&M out in front late in the first half as I type this (and early in the second half on the proofread). This is mostly for seeding and security, with Texas A&M projected to finish on the 4-line and Florida projected to finish on the 3-line. Neither is safe enough that they could afford a win today and a win tomorrow over Auburn with any certainty, so the tradeoff is home games and an easier slate vs. making sure you make it. Tricky stuff.
Colorado vs. Oregon (5:30 PM EST, Pac-12 Networks)
It’s our Game of the NITe, even if it’s happening in the afternoon in Vegas. Oregon and Colorado are each probably in, but neither is definitely in, and with Oregon only a projected 5-seed and Colorado only a projected 6-seed, each could stand to gain some ground. No risk here, either. Hard to see either missing the NIT even if they do beat Arizona tomorrow. Just a thoroughly meaningful NIT bubble game with trepidation awaiting the loser and relief there to hold the winner in its arms. God is kind.
Wyoming vs. UNLV (5:30 PM EST, CBSSN)
Staying out west, Wyoming needs a loss and UNLV needs a win. As we’ll see in a minute with Notre Dame, a loss might not be enough for the Cowboys, but they’ve gotta try. Similarly, a win might not be enough for UNLV, but it would at least keep them alive.
South Carolina vs. Mississippi State (6:00 PM EST, SEC Network)
Going back to the SEC, South Carolina and Mississippi State are also on the bubble. South Carolina’s projecting to land as a 5-seed. Mississippi State’s looking at a 6. South Carolina, for those who don’t follow this shit religiously, has been right on the NIT bubble a lot lately, and it hasn’t broken their way. They might not actually need a win today, but it sure feels like they do.
Notre Dame vs. Virginia Tech (7:00 PM EST, ESPN2)
Finally, the Irish. The Irish might not even be in with a loss. A blowout would help, but a loss might not be enough. Virginia Tech, of course, might not be out with a win, but they still might not want to try their luck, especially with how soft their side of the ACC Bracket is. Once you start winning, it can be hard to stop.
We would of course love to have Mike Brey in the NIT, but again, Notre Dame has work to do. We’ll see how they play it.
***Who Wants to Win***
UAB vs. Florida Atlantic (9:30 PM EST, Stadium)
Saint Louis vs. La Salle (3:30 PM EST, USA Network)
UAB and Saint Louis are each pretty safely in the field, but the thing about safety is that it can be taken away, and I can think of few figures more dangerous in this realm than FAU and La Salle. I mean, what a pair of villains. Bubble teams: Hope on FAU and La Salle to win.
Villanova vs. St. John’s (8:00 PM EST, FS1)
UCLA vs. Washington State (9:00 PM EST, Pac-12 Networks)
Speaking of bubble teams, St. John’s could wrap up their bid with a win tonight in the Garden. With a loss, they’re not dead, but a win would put them comfortably in the field. Might the king return for his crown?
In a similar boat is Washington State, though the Cougars are a bit further out of it than the greatest program in the history of college basketball. Wazzu’s got a great shot. We’ll see what they do with it.
Wichita State vs. Tulsa (4:00 PM EST, ESPNU)
UCF vs. South Florida (7:00 PM EST, ESPNU)
Richmond vs. Rhode Island (8:30 PM EST, USA Network)
Grand Canyon vs. Sam Houston State (9:00 PM EST, ESPN+)
As the old saying goes, “You can’t make the NIT in a day, but you sure can miss it.” Wichita State, UCF, Richmond, and Grand Canyon are all just trying to live to tomorrow. May we all be as in-the-present as these four middling mid-majors.
Kansas vs. West Virginia (3:00 PM EST, ESPN)
Alabama vs. Vanderbilt (8:30 PM EST, SEC Network)
Colorado State vs. Utah State (9:00 PM, CBSSN)
Hail Mary time for WVU, Vandy, and Utah State. For West Virginia, a win’s almost definitely enough. For the other two, it’s hard to say, but if it’s decisive and, in the case of Utah State, if the committee has a streaming service that offers CBSSN? I wouldn’t bet against either.
***Who Wants to Lose***
Creighton vs. Marquette (2:30 PM EST, FS1)
It’s last-gasp time for Creighton, but a bad loss and some help from bid thieves? The Jays aren’t dead just yet. And that’s good. Because jays are close relatives to crows.
Miami vs. Boston College (2:30 PM EST, ESPN2)
Similarly, it’s last-gasp time for Miami. Dissimilarly, they can wrap it up with a loss here. Wake Forest showed how it’s done. Will the Hurricanes follow suit?
North Texas vs. Rice (6:30 PM EST, Stadium)
North Texas will get more chances, or at least one more chance, but they’re in dangerous enough territory that they should try to wrap this up as early as possible. Just lose, friends. You remember 2018 Middle Tennessee State. They had a great time with us. Come on over. Have that great time.
Indiana vs. Michigan (11:30 AM EST, Big Ten Network)
This looks like it’s going the Hoosiers’ way. A hearty welcome will soon be in order.
Baylor vs. Oklahoma (7:00 PM EST, ESPN)
North Carolina vs. Virginia (9:30 PM EST, ESPN)
A word to the Sooners and the Cavaliers: Don’t chance it. Yeah, you might get away with it, but don’t chance it.
***Automatic Bid Watch***
Toledo already missed their chance (made it nice and close, though), and Long Beach State and Montana State will each give it a go later today. Lot of time left for all three of those guys.
Other Basketball We Care About
Shaka Smart’s on the other side of that Creighton/Marquette game. Now that TCU’s dead, we wouldn’t mind seeing the Horned Frogs cause a little panic in the Longhorn faithful.
Other Soccer We Care About
We’re scoreboard-watching today with Burnley. Watford’s at Wolverhampton, Leeds hosts Aston Villa, Newcastle’s at Southampton, Norwich hosts Chelsea. Go ahead and lose, all of you I just listed first.
Other Hockey We Care About
The Senators host the Kraken tonight at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN+. Our guys are favored, which is never a good sign.
***
Viewing schedule (channel-surfing during all gaps):
- 11:30 AM EST: Indiana vs. Michigan, BTN
- 2:30 PM EST: Miami vs. Boston College, ESPN2
- 5:30 PM EST: Game of the NITe, Pac-12 Networks
- 8:30 PM EST: Alabama vs. Vanderbilt, SEC Network
- 11:30 PM EST: San Diego State vs. Fresno State, CBSSN (We still believe in you, Bulldogs)
Any chance Washington makes the NIT with a win tonight vs USC? Or would they then have to beat UCLA in the semis for any reasonable chance? Finishing 5th in the PAC and making the semi-finals has to be good enough, right?!?!
Would love to have the Dawgs! But…November and December were rough. Think they probably have to make the Pac-12 Championship to be in the picture, though they’re big enough underdogs tonight that they could pick up a lot of ground with a convincing win.