Preseason NIT - Gophers

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Andy Katz said on his 3-point shot today that the 4 regional sites for next years Preseason NIT are Georgia, Gonzaga, St.Johns, and the Gophers.
 

I didn't get to watch this tournament this year so remind me how it works...do we get a home cupcake game followed by an 8 team tournament or just the 4 above? Just want to know if we can expect any other teams or just Georgia, Gonzaga, St. Johns.
 

16-team bracketed tournament with 4 sub-regionals of 4 teams. 4 subregional winners advance to Madison Square Garden. Gophers will play first 2 at home (including a consolation game if they lose). If they don't win both, I'd assume they'll get 2 additional home consolation games the following week, but they'd be worthless opponents.

I'd expect the 1st game (Round of 16) to be a cupcake, the second game may be a decent opponent, but one Gophers will be expected to beat. If Gophers don't make it to MSG that would be a very bad sign. The NIT is set up to get the 4 best teams to NYC, but it doesn't always work out that way. (see Drexel beating sub-regional host Rutgers this year)

I like the NIT because season-ticket holders on back-to-back nights will get 2 games for the price of 1; the other games not involving the Gophers, similar to when the Gophers hosted the NABC "Classic" a few years ago. May not be the greatest teams, but I'll always take free Division I basketball.
 

Thanks for the explanation SS. I was curious myself.
 


Agree Thanks for the additional info SS...I thought there were 16 teams but was curious if there could be a chance to host another big conference school. .. doesn't appear that way but still exciting
 

As a reference, here are the two most recent Preseason NIT brackets:

2013:
2013nitseasontip-offbracket.jpg


2012:
2012NITSeasonTip-OffBracket.jpg
 


SelectionSunday said:
16-team bracketed tournament with 4 sub-regionals of 4 teams. 4 subregional winners advance to Madison Square Garden. Gophers will play first 2 at home (including a consolation game if they lose). If they don't win both, I'd assume they'll get 2 additional home consolation games the following week, but they'd be worthless opponents.

I'd expect the 1st game (Round of 16) to be a cupcake, the second game may be a decent opponent, but one Gophers will be expected to beat. If Gophers don't make it to MSG that would be a very bad sign. The NIT is set up to get the 4 best teams to NYC, but it doesn't always work out that way. (see Drexel beating sub-regional host Rutgers this year)

I like the NIT because season-ticket holders on back-to-back nights will get 2 games for the price of 1; the other games not involving the Gophers, similar to when the Gophers hosted the NABC "Classic" a few years ago. May not be the greatest teams, but I'll always take free Division I basketball.
Click to expand...

I believe it's one of the few(if not the only one) preseason tourneys left that don't guarantee spots in the quarters or semis for the big name schools even if they lose a game on their home floor (ex: if Gophs lost to Coastal Carolina, they would have still gone to Maui). That makes travel plans to NYC a bit of a risk for fans. Virginia lost last year at home, as did Rutgers(inconsequential for them being in Jersey) this year in the Preseason NIT. Pitino said in his blog that playing in PR and the Preseason NIT tourney affords good opportunities for Gopher fans to travel next year. I'd be more than a little cautious booking a trip to NYC before the home games are played...
 



If we ended up facing Gonzaga we'd be going up against Josh Perkins.
 


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