NIT Bracketology: Mid-Week Update

NIT 1 Minute

It’s that time of year again. Conference tournaments are upon us and Championship Week just messes with the NIT. For instance, on Thursday afternoon there will be eight games decided by 5:30 p.m. that involve teams either just above, in, or just below this bracket projection. What does that mean? There will be a new one in the evening, probably right around 11:30 p.m. or so assuming the Baylor vs. Oklahoma State game ends on time, as that’s the last one with a real impact. (But as many as four 9 p.m. games could impact the bracket.) To that end, watch out for more auto-bid stealers. Louisiana Tech and Long Beach St. both play late tomorrow night in their respective quarterfinals. Norfolk State’s quick boot from the MEAC tournament shows anything can happen.

What you need to know (note: NCAA bracket hasn’t changed).

Last 6 Into NCAAs: Boise St., California, Kentucky, St. Mary’s, Tennessee, Iowa St.

Current NIT Bubble: Wyoming, LSU, Detroit, Ohio, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Washington

NIT Bracket (bold is auto-bid):

1. Virginia
8. Norfolk St.
4. BYU
5. Air Force
3. Stanford
6. New Mexico St.
2. Middle Tennessee
7. Niagara

1. Arkansas
8. Mercer
4. Maryland
5. Denver
3. Baylor
6. Indiana St.
2. Arizona St.
7. Northeastern

1. Ole Miss
8. Charleston Southern
4. Southern Miss
5. Florida State
3. Charlotte
6. Northern Iowa
2. Alabama
7. Richmond

1. Iowa
8. Robert Morris
4. Providence
5. Xavier
3. Saint Joseph’s
6. St. John’s
2. Massachusetts
7. Stony Brook

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Published by jtemplon

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8 thoughts on “NIT Bracketology: Mid-Week Update”

  1. I’ve had a philosophy all along, and I want support or if you think I’m crazy. If Arkansas wins two games in the SEC Tournament, I say they are in. Do you agree? That would be another quality win (Kentucky) and redeeming a bad road loss on a neutral court (Vandy). That would have us at 6-6 against RPI Top 50 and 21 wins overall. Only two +100 losses. Is this me dreaming, or do you see this as possible?
    Thanks!

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    1. I think you’re a little crazy, but not too crazy. My guess is Arkansas probably needs to beat fellow bubbler Kentucky and maybe that will be enough, but I wouldn’t want to follow it up in a loss in the semifinals to Ole Miss if that’s the matchup. It’ll really depend on how the rest of that portion of the bracket. It’s nice to avoid Florida and Tennessee though!

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  2. This is true. So would you agree that us getting to the final would put us in? Even that is a big if because of the way we’ve played away from home, but I just am not sold that we’ve lost all hope except for winning the tournament.

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    1. I think making the final would definitely put Arkansas in the conversation for one of those final bids. I’d really have to look at it long and hard to figure out what to do.

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    2. Just a hunch here, but I think Arkansas fans should feel pretty good about their position if they lose in the SEC semi or final. Especially if they meet Kentucky along the way.

      People want to leave out big schools because of silly things like W-L records, when reputation and history really go a long way with committees. That’s bad for the minor conference teams, but that’s how it goes.

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  4. It’s so frustrating to be an Arkansas fan sometimes. The game tonight was example A. Maybe the NIT will give us a bid.

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