MSU, Nebraska only B1G teams not committed to 2012 exempt tourney

[SelectionSunday]

Sparty only B1G school not committed to 2012 exempt tourney (updated June 15)

At this point all Big Ten teams except Michigan State have committed to an exempt tournament for the 2012-13 season. Lansing State Journal MSU beat reporter Joe Rexrode indicates he doesn't expect MSU to play in an exempt tournament. The only significant exempt tournament yet to announce at least part of its field is the Chicago Invitational Challenge (Sears Centre/Hoffman Estates, Ill.), which all but one year in its 5-year history has included a B1G team. Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin previously have competed at the CIC.

Where we'll see B1G teams this coming November:

Illinois (Maui Invitational)
Dates: Nov 19-21
Other Quarterfinal Participants: Butler, Chaminade, Marquette, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Texas, USC
Others: Coppin State, 3 TBD
The Early Favorite: North Carolina

Indiana (Legends Classic)
Dates: Nov. 19-20
Other Semifinal Participants: Georgetown, Georgia, UCLA
Others: Duquesne, James Madison, Liberty, North Dakota State, Sam Houston State, UC-Irvine, 2 TBD
The Early Favorite: Indiana

Iowa (Cancun Challenge)
Dates: Nov. 20-21
Other Semifinal Participants: DePaul, Western Kentucky, Wichita State
Others: Austin Peay, Gardner-Webb, Howard, Western Carolina
The Early Favorite: Iowa

Michigan (NIT Season Tip-Off)
Dates: preliminary rounds TBD, semis/finals Nov. 21, 23
Regional Hosts (in addition to Michigan): Kansas State, Pitt, Virginia
Other Participants: Bowling Green, Cleveland State, Delaware, Fairfield, Fordham, Lamar, Lehigh, North Texas, Robert Morris, 3 teams TBD
The Early Favorite: Michigan

Minnesota (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Dates: Nov. 22-24
Other Quarterfinal Participants: Duke, Louisville, Memphis, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Stanford, VCU
The Early Favorite: Louisville

Nebraska (hosting round robin)
Dates: TBD
Other Participants: Kent State, Nebraska-Omaha, Tulane
The Early Favorite: Kent State

Northwestern (South Padre Invitational)
Dates: Nov. 23-24
Other Semifinal Participants: Illinois State, TCU, UAB
Others: Delaware State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Navy, Prairie View A&M
The Early Favorite: Illinois State

Ohio State (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Dates: Nov. 17-18
Other Semifinal Participants: Rhode Island, Seton Hall, Washington
Others: Albany, Loyola-Maryland, Norfolk State, UMKC
The Early Favorite: Ohio State

Penn State (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
Dates: Nov. 15-16, 18
Other Quarterfinal Participants: Akron, NC-Asheville, NC State, Oklahoma State, Providence, Tennessee, UMass
The Early Favorite: NC State

Purdue (2K Sports Classic)
Dates: Nov. 15-16
Other Semifinal Participants: Alabama, Oregon State, Villanova
Others: Bucknell, Hofstra, Niagara, South Dakota State, 4 TBD
The Early Favorite: Alabama

Wisconsin (Las Vegas Invitational)
Dates: Nov. 23-24
Other Semifinal Participants: Arizona State, Arkansas, Creighton
Others: Cornell, Florida A&M, Longwood, Presbyterian
The Early Favorite: Wisconsin

Potential Landing Spots for Michigan State: Chicago Invitational Challenge, Hoops for Hope Classic

 

[JSjobes24]

Pretty sure Creighton will be the favorite in that Las Vegas Invitational

 

[SelectionSunday]

That very well may be true, but I'd put my money on Wisconsin. I'd guess the semifinal matchups will be Wisconsin-ASU, Creighton-Arkansas.

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

I know times are a changing, but it's still weird to see the Great Alaskan Shootout needing two fill two spots.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Agree.

The Great Alaska used to be THE in-season tournament. Last year's field actually produced 3 NCAA teams (Murray State, New Mexico State, Southern Miss), but recently that's kind of an exception to the the norm. There's been some really stinky fields, not like the old days when the Gophers won it in '94 vs. a stacked field.

The 2012 field (to date) certainly isn't setting the world on fire. ... the host (UAA), Charlotte, Northeastern, Oral Roberts, Texas State and Tulane. I suspect MSU and Nebraska have no interest in the tournament, nor could they be paid enough to make it worth their while.

 

[MinneStoa]

Agree.

The Great Alaska used to be THE in-season tournament. Last year's field actually produced 3 NCAA teams (Murray State, New Mexico State, Southern Miss), but recently that's kind of an exception to the the norm. There's been some really stinky fields, not like the old days when the Gophers won it in '94 vs. a stacked field.

The 2012 field (to date) certainly isn't setting the world on fire. ... the host (UAA), Charlotte, Northeastern, Oral Roberts, Texas State and Tulane. I suspect MSU and Nebraska have no interest in the tournament, nor could they be paid enough to make it worth their while.

I'm just glad that we didn't have to play in the Great Alaska Shootout last year. I wouldn't have wanted to face the Seawolves after their heartbreaking loss to BYU - Hawaii in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Update: Great Alaska field finalized

Once again, no teams from a Power 6 conference.

Alaska-Anchorage (host)
Belmont (Ohio Valley)
Charlotte (A-10)
Loyola Marymount (West Coast)
Northeastern (Colonial)
Oral Roberts (Southland)
Texas State (WAC)
UC-Riverside (Big West)

 

[SelectionSunday]

Update: Nebraska hosting exempt round robin

Dates TBD, but Huskers will host Kent State, Nebraska-Omaha and Tulane in a 3-game round robin. In the B1G that leaves only Michigan State without an exempt tournament.

Without a B1G commitment, perhaps the Chicago Invitational Challenge has become a thing of the past? I hope not, as it's a tourney I wouldn't mind seeing the Gophers play in in the near future. ... 2 preliminary-round home games/cupcakes followed by at least one and perhaps two decent opponents in Hoffman Estates, a very manageable road trip down I-94/90 on Thanksgiving weekend.

We shall see.