Road to Selection Sunday (and beyond to the NIT): A Thumbnail Look at the NIT Final 8

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Road to Selection Sunday (and beyond to the NIT): A Thumbnail Look at the NIT Final 8
By SelectionSunday

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/139772?referrer_id=331171

WE WANT TO BE #69, U.S.A. -- Here's a thumbnail look at the 8 teams remaining in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Quarterfinals begin tonight when Drexel of the Colonial Athletic Association hosts UMass of the Atlantic 10 at 6 p.m. on ESPN. The NIT has a Pac 12 flavor, with three of the final eight teams hailing from the much maligned conference.

UMass (24-11) @ Drexel (29-6), 6 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN)
UMass
RPI: 77
Overall SOS: 117
Nonconference SOS: 225
Road/Neutral Record: 9-10
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 5-3
Best 2 RPI Wins: vs. Temple (20), Saint Louis (31)

Drexel
RPI: 66
Overall SOS: 212
Nonconference SOS: 222
Road/Neutral Record: 14-6
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 1-3
Best 2 RPI Wins: VCU (39), *UCF (54)

The Pick: UMass by 4

Oregon (24-9) @ Washington (23-10), 8 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN)
Oregon
RPI: 63
Overall SOS: 93
Nonconference SOS: 128
Road/Neutral Record: 7-6
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 1-7
Best 2 RPI Wins: Colorado (62), Washington (71)

Washington
RPI: 71
Overall SOS: 92
Nonconference SOS: 60
Road/Neutral Record: 6-8
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 0-6
Best 2 RPI Wins: Oregon (63), *Northwestern (65)

The Pick: Washington by 4

Gophers (21-14) @ Middle Tennessee State (26-6), 6 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN)
Gophers
RPI: 90
Overall SOS: 44
Nonconference SOS: 219
Road/Neutral Record: 8-8
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 2-9
Best 2 RPI Wins: @ Indiana (17), South Dakota State (43)

Middle Tennessee State
RPI: 56
Overall SOS: 183
Nonconference SOS: 59
Road/Neutral Record: 12-5
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 2-3
Best 2 RPI Wins: Akron (55), Belmont (58)

The Pick: Middle Tennessee State by 3

Nevada (26-6) @ Stanford (23-11), 8 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN)
Nevada
RPI: 67
Overall SOS: 162
Nonconference SOS: 193
Road/Neutral Record: 12-4
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 3-3
Best 2 RPI Wins: @ New Mexico State (59), New Mexico State (59)

Stanford
RPI: 97
Overall SOS: 134
Nonconference SOS: 215
Road/Neutral Record: 7-8
Record vs. NCAA Qualifiers: 5-3
Best 2 RPI Wins: Colorado State (29), Cal (37)

The Pick: Stanford by 2

*Denotes win occurred in NIT.

NIT Semifinal Picks (Tuesday, March 27): Washington over Middle Tennessee State by 6, UMass over Stanford by 8

NIT Championship Game Pick (Thursday, March 29): Washington over UMass by 5
 

You lost me at "We want to be #69". I'm really sick of that false cliche...
 

I hope you're wrong, but I was impressed with MTSU yesterday from the pieces I saw. It'll be a contrast from MIami, a team who acted like they didn't wanna play to a team that should definitely show up for the occasion.
 


Of course, then I retort with another worn out cliche...

Eeek. SDSU is our 2nd-best win?
 


Monty519 said:
I hope you're wrong, but I was impressed with MTSU yesterday from the pieces I saw. It'll be a contrast from MIami, a team who acted like they didn't wanna play to a team that should definitely show up for the occasion.
Click to expand...

Can't be 100% sure, but I'd guess MTSU will have a good & boisterous crowd tomorrow night. It's not very often schools from the Sun Belt get a school from the Big Ten on their home floor.
 

brucekaupa said:
Of course, then I retort with another worn out cliche...

Eeek. SDSU is our 2nd-best win?
Click to expand...

Thats why this season was so frustrating, lost two close games with Michigan, lost to Wisconsin in overtime, lost a close game to Michigan State at home.

They need to win some of those games, they should win tommorow, use their athleticism, and play hard on defense they win. Develop that winning attitude, get to the point where it is expected.
 

MTSU 15-1 at home, just breezed through the Sun Belt regular season. Haven't been in the post season since 1989. Have to be hungry as can be. I'm guessing their arena holds around 7,000. Sun Belt Player of the year in 6'9", 235 LaRon Dendy. Sulton looks to be nearly the same size. Bruce Massey hails from Germantown. Wonder if Austin and him played together? I'm hoping Hollinsx2 aren't too amped up. This has the look of a tough game.
 




fan of Ray Williams said:
MTSU 15-1 at home, just breezed through the Sun Belt regular season. Haven't been in the post season since 1989. Have to be hungry as can be. I'm guessing their arena holds around 7,000. Sun Belt Player of the year in 6'9", 235 LaRon Dendy. Sulton looks to be nearly the same size. Bruce Massey hails from Germantown. Wonder if Austin and him played together? I'm hoping Hollinsx2 aren't too amped up. This has the look of a tough game.
Click to expand...

It actually holds about 11,500 according to their website.

MTSU shoots the ball pretty well on offense (nearly 50% overall on the year). They do turn it over a bunch (13.8 a game) but create a lot of turnovers (15 a game). They do make less 3 pointers a game than us (4.8) and are near the bottom in the country at FT shooting (63.1%).

Should be a good game. Who guards Dendy? Or could we see a lot of 2-3 zone since they don't shoot much from the outside?
 

GophersInIowa said:
It actually holds about 11,500 according to their website.

MTSU shoots the ball pretty well on offense (nearly 50% overall on the year). They do turn it over a bunch (13.8 a game) but create a lot of turnovers (15 a game). They do make less 3 pointers a game than us (4.8) and are near the bottom in the country at FT shooting (63.1%).

Should be a good game. Who guards Dendy? Or could we see a lot of 2-3 zone since they don't shoot much from the outside?
Click to expand...

My guess is we do see the 2-3 and force them to shoot threes. Dribble penetration seems to be their strong suit. Maybe man with the starters and go 2-3 when Welch, Mav, etc are at the guard spots.
 

GophersInIowa said:
It actually holds about 11,500 according to their website.

MTSU shoots the ball pretty well on offense (nearly 50% overall on the year). They do turn it over a bunch (13.8 a game) but create a lot of turnovers (15 a game). They do make less 3 pointers a game than us (4.8) and are near the bottom in the country at FT shooting (63.1%).

Should be a good game. Who guards Dendy? Or could we see a lot of 2-3 zone since they don't shoot much from the outside?
Click to expand...
Oh ok, I checked the attendance figure for a Western Kentucky game and it was slightly over 7,000. I wrongly assumed it was close to a full house. I think Dendy will be a tough match up. Maybe Eliason on him at the start? Got me.
 

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