With half of the first round of the NIT over, here are the current standings for the Friarblog.com NIT Bracket Challenge (34 contestants).
5 people were a perfect 8-8 in the picks, including yours truly (go Davidson!). Three of those 5 have Providence to win it all, so a loss tonight would wipe out the perfectioness.
Here is the top 10 (1 pt for a 1st round correct pick)
Two #6 seeds picked up upsets over #3 seeds on Wednesday night in the first round of the NIT (2-0 in the NIT Bracket Challenge baby!). Is the #3/#6 game akin to the #5/#12 games of the NCAA Tournament? It appears so!
URI beat #3 Niagra 68-62 thanks to Kahiem Seawright’s 20 2nd half points (23 overall), and Jimmy Baron, who scored 20 points overall — including 6 big foul shots in the final 40 seconds.
(AP Photo/Don Heupel)
#6 Davidson also won, defeating #3 South Carolina 70-63. Some guy named Stephen Curry led all scorers with 32 points (9-19 shooting, 5-9 from downtown). Apparently this guy is a postseason MACHINE, no matter what the tournament is.
If St. Mary’s can beat Washington State (11PM ESPN2), we will get a Patty Mills vs. Steph Curry game! Who said the NIT was lame!?!
I’m sure everyone has about 5-10 of their own NCAA Tournament Brackets to fill out, so I figured why start another one with readers of Friarblog.com? To change things up, I decided to put together an NIT Bracket Challenge Contest!
It wasn’t easy to find, but I found a site where you can create your own bracket and enter in the custom teams. The NIT gets no love!
NOTE: This will take you to a login screen where you have to register. It’ll send you a confirmation email, so the link might get lost…after you login, just go back to this link. When you register, try to use your same handle from the comments / messageboards so we know whos who in the standings.
When you enter in your picks, you can only enter in one round at a time before you have to click “submit” in order to keep going to the next round.
I was perusing through the “Team Manual” PDF on the official NIT site. Yes, it’s been a depressing Monday.
First of all, due to a scheduling conflict at Miami’s home court on Wednesday, the first round NIT matchup between #4 seed Miami and #5 Providence will be in Providence at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Why didn’t they just make us the higher seed?!? Stay classy, NIT. Anyway, how does that affect the game?
Team Uniforms Color of uniform – the higher-seeded (home) team shall wear the light jersey. The lower-seeded (away) team must wear a contrasting color.
OK, so we know PC has to wear the road black uniforms. Fine.
National Anthem The higher-seeded (home) team’s band shall be given the first option to play the national anthem prior to the game. If they defer, the lower-seeded team’s band will be given the option. If neither band is present or defers, the facility should provide a recording of the anthem.
Sweet, so Miami’s band (if they even bring them) might play the national anthem.
So will Miami get to have the more fancy player intros with lights off and spot lights before the game since they are the home team? Apparently no team will.
Lights There should be no “lights out”, laser shows, light shows, smoke shows, etc. during introductions or during any part of a tournament game.
Well at least we will have our fans there ready to make a lot of noise.
Artificial Noisemakers Artificial noisemakers, air horns and electronic amplifiers shall not be permitted, and such instruments shall be removed from the playing and spectator areas. The director of athletics shall be responsible for enforcing these provisions.
Disseminating Items Cheerleading squads MAY NOT throw items (e.g., t-shirts, souvenir basketballs) into the general public seating areas at any time (including pre-game). In addition, spirit groups, alumni groups or others affiliated with a competing institution may not place items in their institution’s ticketed area prior to the game (i.e., pom poms, t-shirts, etc.).
Signs and Flags Large signs, flags, or banners are not permitted. It is the director of athletics’ responsibility to confiscate all prohibited articles. No sign, flags or banners of any size may be affixed to the facility. Items that can be held by one individual, reflect good sportsmanship and do not block the view of other ticketed patrons may be permitted.
Flags Flags of any size may be displayed or waved on the court only during pre-game activities and at half-time. The flags will not be permitted on the court during timeouts.
I’m sure the NCAA has these strict rules in place around all of college basketball (about airhorns, offensive signs, and stuff). It just seems a little harsh, ya know? We can’t hand out towels? I mean, geesh, can Friar Dom at least walk around and get people to cheer?
Game in Progress Spirit squads and mascots are required to be seated or kneeling at all times when the game is in progress.
Man, sounds like it’s going to be an awesome time for the fans there. Surprised they don’t have
You must be remained seated at ALL TIMES, and must NEVER cross your legs!
Arms must be kept at your sides.
You may only cheer once every five minutes!
Every fan in attendance must wear grey, drab clothing!
NO HATS!
At least they will be able to drown themselves in all the alcohol usually sold at the DUNK.
e. On dates of competition, no alcoholic beverages or “nonalcoholic beer” shall be sold or dispensed for public or private consumption anywhere in the facility property, other than in privately-owned suites specifically exempt by facility contract. (Such beverages may not be delivered / brought to the site during the time that the public has access to the facility for an NIT game).
What? No alcohol? That’s going to go over well. Can the whole arena be exempt? Glad I’ll be home on my couch watching on ESPN2 while drinking beer, holding my over-sized signs/flags and blowing my airhorns without fear of getting in trouble by the NIT.
I realize this is “just the NIT”, but I was starting to come to grips with getting into following the tournament just as the Friars seed in the NIT was about to be announced. Afterall, it’s more PC basketball to watch.
Then I hear this.
#5: Providence Friars
#4: Miami Hurricanes
A 5th seed in the NIT? How did we go from discussing Providence as one of the last teams out in the NCAA tournament to a #5 seed!? In case you missed it, the BIG EAST had THREE #1 seeds in the NCAA Brackets (one of which the Friars beat). The same BIG EAST that saw PC put up a 10-8 conference record.
Yet Notre Dame gets a #2 seed, even though they were 8-10?
I know the seed doesn’t really mean much, but seriously? Did they put any thought into this? Makes it hard to take the tournament seriously, if you ask me.
Anyway, that gives the Friars a first round matchup versus #4 seed Miami (18-12, 7-9) Wednesday night at the DUNK (7PM on ESPN2). Weird, why would the higher seed be the host team? Because apparently Miami did not want to host it. Super! So we should have been a freakin’ AWAY team for a first round NIT game. I give up. Oh well, I’ll still be watching come Wednesday night.
If PC wins the first round, they would likely play Florida, who plays Jacksonville in their first game.
It’s pretty clear that the Friars will land in the NIT (barring some Selection Committee Miracle). While it’s a little disappointing, at least we can all have a stress-free Sunday. In the meantime, Friar fans now have to check out NITology.com to see where they stand in the NIT seedings. Hey, at least we are “solidly in” this one!
As of Saturday morning, PC is a #3 seed, along with New Mexico, Miami, and Baylor (who are stil alive in their conference tournament.).
First round would have the Friars playing #6 seed Niagra (26-8, 14-4 MAAC). I think the game would be at the Dunk on Wednesday. It’s a shame the last game PC’s senior class will ever play at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center will no longer be the upset of #1 Pitt, but oh well.
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