Sports: 2010 NIT Bracketology

NIT Bracket at ESPN.

26 out of 32 - Six whiffs

1. Florida went up to the NCAA and VTech came down
2. Lipscomb was replaced by Jacksonville due to a change in the Atlantic Sun tie-breaking rules I was unaware of.
3. Apologies to William and Mary fans! I figured two would be in from the CAA and I was wrong about VCU but right about Northeastern. W&M was on my "just out" watch list.
4-5. Also on my "just out" watch list that went up was NC State and Illinois St.
6. Northwestern went up and they weren't on my "just out" watch list.
Thus, the 4 bump ups kicked out VCU, Marshall, Portland and South Carolina.

Thanks to all who have been dropping by. Best of success to your teams on Selection (NCAA and NIT) Sunday!

We are locked in and calling it a night.

No more updates until the NIT field is announced Sunday night!

Barely in NCAA - could be bumped out by Miss St win
G. Tech, UNLV, Notre Dame, Minnesota

Top NIT - very slim shot at NCAA
(1) Florida, Mississippi, Dayton, Rhode Island
Solid NIT
(2) Az St, Memphis, Seton Hall, UAB
(3) Wichita St., U Conn, Cincy, Miss St (if they lose to UK)/Minn (if Miss St beats UK and OSU beats them)
(4) Illinois, VCU, S. Florida
(5) St. John's, Marshall, Tulsa, Texas Tech
(6) North Carolina, Nevada, Portland, Northeastern
(7) South Carolina
In NIT via automatic bid
(4) Kent State
(7) Weber State, Troy, Quinnipiac
(8) Jackson State, Stony Brook, Coastal Carolina, Lipscomb

Just out
William and Mary, Miami, St. Louis, Illinois St.
Charlotte, NC St., Alabama, Arizona

Sunday's games
A10 - Temple vs. Richmond, both NCAA bound
ACC - Duke vs. G. Tech, Duke in; G. Tech needs win or risks bubble burst
Big10 - Ohio State vs. Minnesota, Ohio State is in. Minn probably in even without win but bubble burst if Miss St wins.
SEC - Kentucky vs. Miss St., UK is in, Miss St goes to NCAA with win, NIT with loss

Automatic Bid to NIT if they lose their tournament in one-bid conferences
America East - Stony Brook lost in semis, going to NIT; Vermont goes to NCAA
Atlantic Sun - Lipscomb lost in 1st round, going to NIT, ETSU goes to NCAA
Big Sky - Weber State lost in finals, goes to NIT, Montana goes to NCAA
Big South - Coastal Carolina lost in finals, going to NIT, Winthrop goes to NCAA
Big West - UCSB going to NCAA!
Colonial - Old Dominion University, going to NCAA!
CUSA - UTEP to NCAA as at-large; Houston goes to NCAA
Horizon - Butler, going to NCAA!
Ivy - Cornell, going to NCAA, no tournament
MAAC - Siena, going to NCAA!
MAC - Kent State, lost in quarters, going to NIT; Ohio goes to NCAA
MEAC - Morgan State goes to NCAA
MVC - Northern Iowa, going to NCAA!
NEC - Quinnipiac goes to NIT losing to Robert Morris which goes to NCAA.
Ohio Valley - Murray State is going to the NCAA!
Patriot - Lehigh is going to the NCAA!
Southern - Wofford is going to the NCAA!
Southland - Sam Houston going to NCAA!
Summit - Oakland is going to the NCAA!
Sun Belt - Troy lost in finals, going to NIT, UNT goes to NCAA!
SWAC - Jackson State, lost in quarters, going to NIT, Ark PB goes to NCAA
WAC - Utah State, at-large for NCAA, New Mexico St. to NCAA!

FAQ ... though no one has asked for one!
1. Why forecast the NIT field?
If you have to ask then you don't understand what it means to be a sports fan!
2. What are your qualifications for predicting the NIT bids?
None! I'm just a "blogger in pajamas" as they say. Last year, I did get 29 of 32 correct which isn't too bad for someone who doesn't make a living reporting on sports.
3. Can I do it too?
Sure! There are many rating systems of college basketball teams on the internet. First, figure out which teams are going into the NCAA. Then try to figure out who are the best 32 teams that are still left.
4. How many people actually check this stuff out?
Amazingly, in March of 2009, this web site had a nearly 10 fold increase in traffic due to the 2009 NIT Bracketology.
5. Who else is doing this?
As far as I know, NITology and NIT Bracketproject are at it again. Blogging the Bracket has arrived on the scene.