Sure, some may cynically refer to the NIT as "The Battle For 66th" but we all know--by virtue of automatic bids into the NCAAs--it's really a battle for 35ish.
Don't laugh.
It's not exactly something a team strives for at the outset of a season, but not nearly the joke of an event some would make it out to be.
And given that most predicted the Pack to finish dead last in the league, the NIT's not a bad consolation prize for falling short of making the NCAA Tournament. And with State concluding the regular season winning five of their last seven and two games in the ACC Tournament, making the NIT field adds to the relatively positive conclusion to the year.
Here's a complete breakdown of the 32-team field, plus some of my thoughts at the end:
The Illinois Region:
1 Illinois | RPI: 75 | Pomeroy: 52
8 Stony Brook | RPI: 156 | Pomeroy: 191
4 Kent State | RPI: 45 | Pomeroy: 83
5 Tulsa | RPI: 70 | Pomeroy: 79
3 Dayton | RPI: 51 | Pomeroy: 45
6 Illinois State | RPI: 77 | Pomeroy: 90
2 Cincinnati | RPI: 60 | Pomeroy: 69
7 Weber State | RPI: 82 | Pomeroy: 109
Averages: | 77.0 | 89.8
Don't laugh.
It's not exactly something a team strives for at the outset of a season, but not nearly the joke of an event some would make it out to be.
And given that most predicted the Pack to finish dead last in the league, the NIT's not a bad consolation prize for falling short of making the NCAA Tournament. And with State concluding the regular season winning five of their last seven and two games in the ACC Tournament, making the NIT field adds to the relatively positive conclusion to the year.
Here's a complete breakdown of the 32-team field, plus some of my thoughts at the end:
The Illinois Region:
1 Illinois | RPI: 75 | Pomeroy: 52
8 Stony Brook | RPI: 156 | Pomeroy: 191
4 Kent State | RPI: 45 | Pomeroy: 83
5 Tulsa | RPI: 70 | Pomeroy: 79
3 Dayton | RPI: 51 | Pomeroy: 45
6 Illinois State | RPI: 77 | Pomeroy: 90
2 Cincinnati | RPI: 60 | Pomeroy: 69
7 Weber State | RPI: 82 | Pomeroy: 109
Averages: | 77.0 | 89.8
The Arizona State Region:
1 Arizona State | RPI: 65 | Pomeroy: 42
8 Jacksonville | RPI: 153 | Pomeroy: 153
4 Seton Hall | RPI: 56 | Pomeroy: 62
5 Texas Tech | RPI:
