In the previous it may need been straightforward to miss the NIT, however that’s silly at this level. The ludicrous quantity of expertise in school basketball is forcing some nice groups out of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and pushing them into the National Invitation Tournament, with 2023 boasting probably the most impactful fields we’ve seen in a while, with large fanbases dancing in March’s different event.
This 12 months’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 Tournament. Hubert Davis’ second 12 months as head coach was very completely different to the primary, with UNC struggling to a middling file within the ACC, a far cry from their dramatic, unpredictable run to the National Championship recreation a 12 months in the past.
Now they’re taking their ball and going dwelling, actually — North Carolina received forward of the NIT announcement to reject a bid and put together for subsequent season.
The runaway favourite within the NIT must be Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have been unfairly snubbed for the NCAA event regardless of having among the best instances within the nation for an at-large bid. This crew ranked thirty fifth within the KenPom rankings, and had signature wins in opposition to among the finest groups within the nation, all of whom are within the NCAA Men’s Basketball event.
Another crew to observe shall be Clemson. The Tigers completed sixty fourth within the KenPom rankings. The crew’s offense flowing virtually solely by means of middle P.J. Hall could have held the crew again at instances, however they continue to be a crew loaded with expertise, notably on the defensive finish. This actually shined by means of again in January, when the Tigers grinded out a win in opposition to eventual ACC Champions Duke, holding the Blue Devils to 64 factors.
Keep an eye fixed on Oklahoma State too, who have been a sufferer of circumstance this season as a lot as something. With 5 groups within the Big 12 ending within the Top 25 it was close to unattainable for a crew on the surface to make headway. The Cowboys have a particularly stable roster, with Kalib Boone being among the best scorers in a loaded convention, however he struggled to make an affect down the stretch. There’s a really actual likelihood this crew finds its manner once more and makes an enormous NIT run.
Top Left Bracket
1 Oklahoma State
Youngstown State
4 Washington State
E. Washington
3 North Texas
Alcorn State
2 Sam Houston
Santa Clara
Bottom Left Bracket
1 Oregon
UC Irvine
4 Florida
UCF
3 Wisconsin
Bradley
2 Liberty
Villanova
Top Right Bracket
1 Rutgers
Hofstra
4 Cincinnati
Virginia Tech
3 New Mexico
Utah Valley
2 Colorado
Seton Hall
Bottom Right Bracket
1 Clemson
Morehead State
4 UAB
Southern Miss
3 Vanderbilt
Yale
2 Michigan
Toledo