Saturday, March 16, 2024

NIT Bracketology, March 16

The NIT bracket is coming into focus, but there are still many games to play today that could make an impact on the bracket. Also making an impact on the bracket are teams stating that they don't intend on playing in the NIT.

Three teams have notably said they won't participate: Mississippi, Memphis, and Indiana. Indiana might not have been invited anyways, but Memphis had a clear at-large bid candidacy.

Mississippi was set to be an automatic bid to the NIT through its NET rating given the fact that I think Texas A&M and Mississippi St. were going to qualify for the NCAA Tournament at this point. (Only one needed to for Mississippi to make the bracket.)

I asked the NCAA and it turns out that the SEC will still get two automatic bids to the NIT even if Mississippi declines an invite. The official statement was: "Based on principles and procedures, the bid would go to the next eligible SEC team by NET." The next team by NET here is Georgia, so you'll see both LSU and Georgia in this bracket as automatic bids.

Note: I released a new NIT bracket at 5:45 pm on March 16. The Current NIT Bracket page always has the most up-to-date bracket.

Last NCAA Tournament: TCU, Oklahoma, St. John's, Texas A&M, Mississippi St., Colorado St., New Mexico, Virginia,

NIT Bracket (automatic bids in bold, bubble teams in italics):

1. Indiana St.
U. Butler
4. NC State
U. Minnesota
3. Iowa (Big Ten 2)
U. Bradley
2. Kansas St.
U. UNLV

1. Pittsburgh (ACC 1)
U. Duquesne
4. LSU (SEC 1)
U. Washington
3. UCF (Big 12 2)
U. Florida St.
2. Villanova (Big East 1)
U. SMU

1. Seton Hall
U. Loyola Chicago
4. Georgia (SEC 2)
U. Virginia Tech
3. Wake Forest (ACC 2)
U. Appalachian St.
2. Cincinnati (Big 12 1)
U. Richmond

1. Providence (Big East 2)
U. Boston College
4. Oregon (Pac-12 2)
U. San Francisco
3. Utah (Pac-12 1)
U. UC Irvine
2. Ohio St. (Big Ten 1)
U. Syracuse

Others Considered: Xavier (for NET reasons), Saint Joseph's, VCU (in NCAA Tournament), St. Bonaventure, Cornell

Said They'll Decline: Memphis, Indiana, Ole Miss

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