I’m en route to Deer Lodge, Montana right now to terrorize an old friend celebrate my buddy’s thirtieth birthday, so not a lot of thoughts from me. The road to Deer Lodge is a thoughtless place, I guess. Instead, let’s get right on the basketball happenings (and the others).
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Our weekend itinerary:
Sunday, 12:00 PM EST: Northwestern @ Michigan (BTN)
It’s the Game of the NITe of the Weekend, and if you can’t handle it being this early on a Sunday, maybe you should stop being an NIT fan or find a church that offers a more conveniently timed service (please do the latter—we can’t afford to lose any more NIT fans).
Each program here has plenty of reason to be embarrassed. Northwestern made a big deal this week about how they had to open up a few sections in their arena’s upper deck, which…is not a brag. Michigan executed arguably the biggest chokejob of the season, or at least the college basketball season. The Fiesta Bowl was bigger.
Still, each program has reason for pride. After all, they’re right in the middle of the NIT hunt.
Friday, 9:00 PM EST: VCU @ Dayton (ESPN2)
Friday, 9:00 PM EST: Michigan State @ Illinois (FS1)
Dueling action this evening from two of our Ten Teams Who Could Win the NIT™. We’ll send one parent to each and hope we pick the one each kid likes more.
Saturday, 12:00 PM EST: West Virginia @ Oklahoma (ESPN2)
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: UCF @ Tulane (ESPN+)
Saturday, 4:00 PM EST: UAB @ Louisiana Tech (Stadium)
Saturday, 6:00 PM EST: Oklahoma State @ Baylor (ESPN2)
Saturday, 7:00 PM EST: Notre Dame @ Syracuse (ACCN)
Saturday, 11:00 PM EST: Boise State @ Wyoming (FS1)
Sunday, 12:00 PM EST: St. John’s @ UConn (FS1)
Sunday, 3:00 PM EST: Memphis @ Temple (ESPN2)
Lot of tough ones for the other eight in our pack. Who wants to win? Good question. We know Notre Dame and Wyoming do, because we’ve been guaranteeing comebacks from them that have yet to materialize. St. John’s probably does too. They’ve been slipping of late, and we can’t have that. The others? I don’t know. It’s a mystery. Much like theologians, NIT fans come in direct contact with the complications of everyday life. That’s one part of what makes this all so special.
Friday, 7:00 PM EST: Villanova @ Butler (FS1)
Friday, 11:00 PM EST: Utah State @ Nevada (FS1)
Saturday, 12:00 PM EST: Miami @ N.C. State (ESPN+)
Saturday, 12:00 PM EST: Kentucky @ Tennessee (ESPN)
Saturday, 1:00 PM EST: Georgia @ Mississippi (SECN)
Saturday, 1:00 PM EST: Wisconsin @ Indiana (CBS)
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: Arkansas @ Vanderbilt (ESPNU)
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: North Texas @ Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)
Saturday, 3:00 PM EST: Pitt @ Georgia Tech (ACCN)
Saturday, 3:30 PM EST: Missouri @ Florida (SECN)
Saturday, 4:00 PM EST: Arizona State @ Oregon State (P12N)
Saturday, 5:00 PM EST: Duke @ Clemson (ACCN)
Saturday, 6:00 PM EST: Texas A&M @ South Carolina (SECN)
Saturday, 6:00 PM EST: Arizona @ Oregon (ESPN)
Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Bradley @ Drake (ESPNU)
Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Colorado @ UCLA (FOX)
Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Stanford @ Washington State (P12N)
Saturday, 9:00 PM EST: New Mexico @ San Diego State (CBSSN)
Saturday, 10:30 PM EST: Utah @ USC (P12N)
Sunday, 4:30 PM EST: Maryland @ Iowa (BTN)
Other sources of joy for the NIT fans in your life.
Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Texas Tech @ Texas (ESPN)
Sunday, 12:00 PM EST: Marquette @ Xavier (FOX)
I don’t know what to expect out of Texas vs. Tech this weekend. Is it carnage? Or is Texas going to steamroll them?
Similarly, Shaka Smart vs. the reigning NIT champions? That’s a tough one. It’s too bad only one of these four teams has an NIT chance right now. We could have quite the Game of the NITe of the Weekend narrative.
Saturday, 4:30 PM EST: Seahawks @ 49ers (FOX)
Saturday, 8:15 PM EST: Chargers @ Jaguars (NBC)
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST: Dolphins @ Bills (CBS)
Sunday, 4:30 PM EST: Giants @ Vikings (FOX)
Sunday, 8:15 PM EST: Ravens @ Bengals (NBC)
Ten teams. Seven quarterbacks. We’ll leave the rest of that up to interpretation.
Friday, 8:00 PM EST: Thunder @ Bulls (League Pass)
Sunday, 3:30 PM EST: Warriors @ Bulls (League Pass)
I recently learned the Bulls don’t have any draft picks this summer, and I’m confused. I thought that was the point.
Saturday, 7:00 PM EST: Sens @ Avalanche (ESPN+)
With a regulation win, the Sens are tied with the defending champions. I didn’t even have to make anything up to make that true! Of course, it’s because the Avs stink, but beggars can’t be Senators.
Saturday, 10:00 AM EST: Coventry City @ Burnley
Burnley successfully got rid of Wout Weghorst again! Twice in six months. Legendary stuff.
I did see somewhere that said Man U thinks Weghorst is a good replacement for Ronaldo, and I don’t know to which that’s meaner.
