Calvin & Hobbes are gonna be pumped.
In our updated NIT Bracketology, UConn’s back in the field, the latest development in a stirring turnaround for the Huskies. Weeks ago, Joe mentioned them in some blurb about how well they were playing. They got their own headline. Now, they’ve lost four of five. Their only win in that stretch was over Butler. They’re 1-2 at home. Times are good in the state of Connecticut.
The rest of NITuation:
Moving Out: Colorado State, Oregon, Mississippi State, UC-Santa Barbara (auto-bid), Prairie View A&M (auto-bid)
Colorado State did nothing wrong. Because they didn’t play. But the fates shifted the sands of NIT Island, and the Rams are now adrift, frantically trying to paddle their way to shore.
Oregon did something wrong. They won at Arizona State after we told them they shouldn’t do that. Actions have consequences.
Mississippi State got wrecked by LSU. Who among us.
UC-Santa Barbara didn’t play, but they’re in a tight enough race with UC-Irvine and Joe Kelly’s alma mater UC-Riverside that they were susceptible to at least temporary eviction.
Ditto Prairie View A&M. Except replace “UC-Irvine and Joe Kelly’s alma mater UC-Riverside” with Snacks’s alma mater Jackson State.
Moving In: Stanford, UConn, Utah, UNC-Greensboro (auto-bid), Eastern Washington (auto-bid)
This might be UNCG’s first time in the field this year. Welcome, Warren Weston.
Stanford’s in the bid thief seat after a walloping from Colorado last night in Palo Alto (probably Santa Cruz actually, right?), and all I’m saying is that Stanford has a great business school and is aiming for the NIT. That’s all I’m saying.
Utah climbs in after…narrowly beating Cal in Berkeley? Weird, but we’ll take it. Larry Krystkowiak’s riding three straight wins. The NIT may well run through the mountains. Might be a good idea, honestly. More places to hide.
Finally, Eastern Washington had a nice night, beating Montana State while Weber State lost (take that, still-not-Beekeepers) to take sole possession-ish (they’re tied with Southern Utah in the loss column) of the Big Sky lead. Which is a good lead to have. If you lead the sky, you only trail the heavens.
Possible Automatic Bids Who Are on NIT Turf But Are Too Likely to Win Their Conference Tournament
Marshall. Would be a five-seed.
Close, on the High Side
The bubble upon which those that miss the NIT go to the other tournament, and aren’t complicit in toilet paper shortages but like they’re complicit in a lot of other things so they might indirectly be complicit in those too.
(the teams on the left are closer to the NIT, for each line, than the teams on the right)
Close: Seton Hall, UCLA, Indiana, St. Bonaventure
Closer: Oregon, VCU, Penn State, North Carolina
Closest: Colorado State, Maryland, SMU
Close, on the Low Side
With the CIT canceled, the stakes have risen for these specific friends and Georgia:
Close: Mississippi State, Wright State, Abilene Christian, Kentucky
Closer: UC-Santa Barbara, Dayton, Davidson, UAB
Closest: Pitt, Providence, Georgia, TCU
***
And that’s the NITuation.
Today’s notes:
- I forget if Minnesota was in the NITuation Wednesday, but if they were, they aren’t anymore. See you later, nerds.
- Winthrop beat Radford in the opener of that two-game set to build a cushion in the Big South.
- Texas State got a nice win in Arlington to keep up with the Sun Belt race.
- Tonight, the A-10’s got a big one at the top. St. Bonaventure visits VCU. Loser to the NIT projection? There is literally no way to know.
- Clemson hosts Georgia Tech in a game neither would really like to win.
- UC-Riverside has a big set with UC-Irvine opening tonight in Riverside. Summon the vibes, friends.
- In the HoLo race, Cleveland State hosts Detroit while Wright State pillages…well, they’re staying home. But they play Milwaukee.
