This is starting to get obscene.
Per our latest projections, Indiana and UNC are among the current expected NIT teams. And while we lost Kentucky today, we still have Michigan State and Duke.
What a field.
The rest of the NITuation:
Possible Automatic Bids Who Are on NIT Turf but Are Too Likely to Win Their Conference Tournament
Still Marshall and Saint Louis, who’d still be a five-seed and a two-seed respectively were they either more likely to win their conference’s regular season title or less likely to win their conference tournament.
Close, on the High Side
The bubble in which those that miss the NIT go to the bad tournament, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Close: Boise State, Drake, Maryland, Loyola
Closer: Penn State, LSU, Stanford, Oregon, UConn
Closest: Colorado State
Close, on the Low Side
CBI land.
Close: Pitt, Kent State, Northwestern, Rhode Island
Closer: Notre Dame, Furman, UAB, Wofford
Closest: Dayton, Kentucky, St. John’s, Davidson (Dayton’s the closest)
***
And that’s the NITuation.
Other notes for today:
- Stanford moved closer, while also further damning Andy Enfield. Well done, Stanford. Enfield doesn’t even know he was hurt.
- UNC’s entrance came via scoring only 50 points over at Clemson. “Scoring only 50 points at Clemson” has long been an NIT move, so respect to UNC for honoring tradition like that.
- Maryland moved out of the field with their narrow win over Purdue (and some other things), but there’s a lot of time left for the Turtles. Don’t worry too much, Scott Van Pelt.
- If you were surprised to find Mississippi out of the NITuation after their upset of Tennessee, you weren’t alone. Turns out they’re pretty darn bad.
- Dayton moved out, losing at Duquesne. Georgia moved in, winning at Auburn. You did it, Tom Crean. You’re right there with Coach Cal.
- Syracuse hosts Louisville tonight. Not a lot that could hurt the Orange in that one. They are smack dab in the middle of the field and the odds have the game as a tossup. Jim Boeheim’s been doing this a long time, everyone.
- Kentucky plays Mizzou in Columbia with a good shot to climb back in. Because, as we will continue to maintain, Mizzou’s not that good.
- Big one between VCU and Rhode Island in the A-10. It’s in Kingston, which is where Rhode Island is.
- Could the king return? St. John’s hosts Villanova tonight.
- TCU tries to build something, hosting an Oklahoma State team you just never trust, you know?
- Memphis hosts UCF in a rematch.
- Saint Louis is on the court at La Salle. Probably best for them to win if they want to make the NIT. They’re in a bad spot given how good of a spot they’re in.
