Previously it might need been simple to miss the NIT, however that’s silly at this level. The ludicrous quantity of expertise in faculty basketball is forcing some nice groups out of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Event and pushing them into the Nationwide Invitation Event, with 2023 boasting one of the crucial impactful fields we’ve seen in a while, with enormous fanbases dancing in March’s different event.
This yr’s NIT can’t be mentioned with out addressing the ten,000 pound elephant within the room: North Carolina. There’s no query the Tar Heels deserved to be one of many first 4 out of the NCAA Event. Hubert Davis’ second yr as head coach was very totally different to the primary, with UNC struggling to a middling document within the ACC, a far cry from their dramatic, unpredictable run to the Nationwide Championship recreation a yr in the past.
Now they’re taking their ball and going dwelling, actually — North Carolina bought forward of the NIT announcement to reject a bid and put together for subsequent season.
The runaway favourite within the NIT needs to be Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights had been unfairly snubbed for the NCAA event regardless of having probably the greatest circumstances within the nation for an at-large bid. This group ranked thirty fifth within the KenPom rankings, and had signature wins in opposition to a number of the finest groups within the nation, all of whom are within the NCAA Males’s Basketball event.
One other group to look at will probably be Clemson. The Tigers completed sixty fourth within the KenPom rankings. The group’s offense flowing nearly totally by heart P.J. Corridor might have held the group again at occasions, however they continue to be a group loaded with expertise, notably on the defensive finish. This actually shined by again in January, when the Tigers grinded out a win in opposition to eventual ACC Champions Duke, holding the Blue Devils to 64 factors.
Control Oklahoma State too, who had been a sufferer of circumstance this season as a lot as something. With 5 groups within the Large 12 ending within the Prime 25 it was close to not possible for a group on the skin to make headway. The Cowboys have an especially strong roster, with Kalib Boone being probably the greatest scorers in a loaded convention, however he struggled to make an influence down the stretch. There’s a really actual probability this group finds its means once more and makes a giant NIT run.
Prime Left Bracket
1 Oklahoma State
Youngstown State
4 Washington State
E. Washington
3 North Texas
Alcorn State
2 Sam Houston
Santa Clara
Backside Left Bracket
1 Oregon
UC Irvine
4 Florida
UCF
3 Wisconsin
Bradley
2 Liberty
Villanova
Prime Proper Bracket
1 Rutgers
Hofstra
4 Cincinnati
Virginia Tech
3 New Mexico
Utah Valley
2 Colorado
Seton Corridor
Backside Proper Bracket
1 Clemson
Morehead State
4 UAB
Southern Miss
3 Vanderbilt
Yale
2 Michigan
Toledo
