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Wednesday NIT
The first round of NIT is the ultimate crapshoot; none of these teams want to be here, but they are, and who keeps playing is really tough to handicap. Small crowds minimize any home edge, less-than-first class travel is tough on the visiting sides.
St Joe's won 12 of last 14 games, but losses to CAA teams Drexel, Old Dominion in December helped keep Hawks out of NCAA's. Hofstra won ten of its last 12 games; their only non-league loss in eight games was by 80-75 score at Syracuse.
Buffalo won eight of last ten games, but mental state is in question after they missed out on at-large bid; they're 8-1 outside of MAC. Drexel won 74-70 at Ball State of MAC four weeks ago; they're 5-3 outside of CAA.
TCU is 6-4 last ten games, 6-2 outside of MAC, with losses 93-74 at Kansas, 78-55 at Vandy. Miami won MAC regular season, but 13-pt loss at Butler didn't do them much good, Red Hawks are 3-5 in last 8 games, 6-3 outside of MAC play.
Davidson went unbeaten in Southern Conference, but they were 3-7 out of league and lost in tourney so they are in NIT; coach is form Long Island, so he'll take this seriously. VCU lost CAA title game in OT, ending six-game win streak; they lost by ten at Charleston of the Southern Conference on February 19.
Boston U was upset by Maine in quarterfinals of league tourney, very disappointing. Georgetown lost six of last seven games, with only win 56-51 over Seton Hall; they're 7-3 outside of Big East. Terriers are 20-8; they lost 80-74 at Boston College, a #4 seed in NCAAs.
Vanderbilt allowed 79 ppg in losing last two games; in non-SEC games, they're 9-4, and beat Indiana 73-60 in Nashville 15 months ago. Hoosiers are 6-6 in last dozen games- they were 8-0 at home in Big 11, 5-1 as a home favorite in league play.
Northeastern lost in America East final Saturday, and lost star player with what appeared to be severe injury to ankle. Erratic Memphis had crushing loss at home to Louisville, losing by a point. hard to lay 14 in NIT tilt where it is impossible to tell who cares.
Kent State split last ten games, Western Kentucky lost three of last five. Hilltoppers won a road game this year that they trailed 38-13, so they're hot and cold. Kent beat Florida State, lost by hoop at Boston College, got 2-pt win at Creighton, so they've played good teams.
Wichita State lost six of eight down stretch as bid to NCAAs eluded them; they're 7-2 outside of Missouri Valley. Houston scored just 61.7 ppg in losing its last three games; they're 7-5 outside of C-USA, 9-8 in it, so good first season in Houston for Penders.
Rice went to Wisconsin-Milwaukee and tanked game by 39 in first round of NIT last year, so you can't trust them here, vs SW Missouri team that lost in Missouri Valley tournament, ending four-game win streak- they beat Southern Illinois, very impressive win, since they were down 23 in first half.
Clemson played great last week, beating Maryland and scaring North Carolina to death; they're 9-2 outside of ACC. Texas A&M had great season, but played lame non-league schedule, going 10-0 outside of Big 12; this should be an excellent game.
Oral Roberts lost at home to Oakland in finals of their league, but Oakland's win last night gives that league a thumbs-up. Maryland is so erratic, losing last four tilts, sweeping Duke, but losing three times to Clemson and twice to NC State. Terps are 8-2 outside of ACC.
San Francisco lost seven of last ten games; they're 5-5 outside of very tough WCC. Denver is also 5-5 out of Sun Belt, but Pioneers won five of their last six games, getting beat in Sun Belt semis by UL-Lafayette. USF has edge here, based on home court, conference class. Denver's edge is that they were a first place team in the league, while Dons were middle of pack team.
Oregon State was 8-1 at home in Pac-10 home games this year, losing only to Arizona; Beavers were 5-1 as home favorite. Fullerton won 13 of last 16 games, are 4-3 outside of Big West, but didn't play a Pac-10 club First postseason game in while for both sides.
The first round of NIT is the ultimate crapshoot; none of these teams want to be here, but they are, and who keeps playing is really tough to handicap. Small crowds minimize any home edge, less-than-first class travel is tough on the visiting sides.
St Joe's won 12 of last 14 games, but losses to CAA teams Drexel, Old Dominion in December helped keep Hawks out of NCAA's. Hofstra won ten of its last 12 games; their only non-league loss in eight games was by 80-75 score at Syracuse.
Buffalo won eight of last ten games, but mental state is in question after they missed out on at-large bid; they're 8-1 outside of MAC. Drexel won 74-70 at Ball State of MAC four weeks ago; they're 5-3 outside of CAA.
TCU is 6-4 last ten games, 6-2 outside of MAC, with losses 93-74 at Kansas, 78-55 at Vandy. Miami won MAC regular season, but 13-pt loss at Butler didn't do them much good, Red Hawks are 3-5 in last 8 games, 6-3 outside of MAC play.
Davidson went unbeaten in Southern Conference, but they were 3-7 out of league and lost in tourney so they are in NIT; coach is form Long Island, so he'll take this seriously. VCU lost CAA title game in OT, ending six-game win streak; they lost by ten at Charleston of the Southern Conference on February 19.
Boston U was upset by Maine in quarterfinals of league tourney, very disappointing. Georgetown lost six of last seven games, with only win 56-51 over Seton Hall; they're 7-3 outside of Big East. Terriers are 20-8; they lost 80-74 at Boston College, a #4 seed in NCAAs.
Vanderbilt allowed 79 ppg in losing last two games; in non-SEC games, they're 9-4, and beat Indiana 73-60 in Nashville 15 months ago. Hoosiers are 6-6 in last dozen games- they were 8-0 at home in Big 11, 5-1 as a home favorite in league play.
Northeastern lost in America East final Saturday, and lost star player with what appeared to be severe injury to ankle. Erratic Memphis had crushing loss at home to Louisville, losing by a point. hard to lay 14 in NIT tilt where it is impossible to tell who cares.
Kent State split last ten games, Western Kentucky lost three of last five. Hilltoppers won a road game this year that they trailed 38-13, so they're hot and cold. Kent beat Florida State, lost by hoop at Boston College, got 2-pt win at Creighton, so they've played good teams.
Wichita State lost six of eight down stretch as bid to NCAAs eluded them; they're 7-2 outside of Missouri Valley. Houston scored just 61.7 ppg in losing its last three games; they're 7-5 outside of C-USA, 9-8 in it, so good first season in Houston for Penders.
Rice went to Wisconsin-Milwaukee and tanked game by 39 in first round of NIT last year, so you can't trust them here, vs SW Missouri team that lost in Missouri Valley tournament, ending four-game win streak- they beat Southern Illinois, very impressive win, since they were down 23 in first half.
Clemson played great last week, beating Maryland and scaring North Carolina to death; they're 9-2 outside of ACC. Texas A&M had great season, but played lame non-league schedule, going 10-0 outside of Big 12; this should be an excellent game.
Oral Roberts lost at home to Oakland in finals of their league, but Oakland's win last night gives that league a thumbs-up. Maryland is so erratic, losing last four tilts, sweeping Duke, but losing three times to Clemson and twice to NC State. Terps are 8-2 outside of ACC.
San Francisco lost seven of last ten games; they're 5-5 outside of very tough WCC. Denver is also 5-5 out of Sun Belt, but Pioneers won five of their last six games, getting beat in Sun Belt semis by UL-Lafayette. USF has edge here, based on home court, conference class. Denver's edge is that they were a first place team in the league, while Dons were middle of pack team.
Oregon State was 8-1 at home in Pac-10 home games this year, losing only to Arizona; Beavers were 5-1 as home favorite. Fullerton won 13 of last 16 games, are 4-3 outside of Big West, but didn't play a Pac-10 club First postseason game in while for both sides.
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