The 2011 NIT Basketball Tournament has reached the quarterfinals (let’s call it Elite Eight!) stage, with three teams of Southeastern interest still in the running, provided you can wrap your mind around considering Miami, Florida part of the Southeast. There’s a difference between Southeast and Southeastern United States, you understand.
The SEC’s and ACC’s lone remaining reps aim to eliminate each other Wednesday night, as the Canes travel to play Alabama. The winner will advance to take on Colorado or Kent State next week in Madison Square Garden. A Tide-Buffaloes matchup would be interesting, as they’re the only two teams left that had any sort of argument to being included at-large in the NCAA Tournament.
College of Charleston is out for a third-straight upset against Wichita State Wednesday night, three days after the Shockers downed tourney fave Virginia Tech. The Cougars have already topped the defending NIT champs and a No. 2 seed. The winner of that game will get either Northwestern or Washington State. I don’t have much to say about Northwestern or Washington State.
NIT Tournament bracket and TV schedule:
Left Bracket
Miami Hurricanes at Alabama Crimson Tide, March 23, 9 pm ET, ESPN2
Kent St. Golden Flashes at Colorado Buffaloes, March 22, 9 pm ET, ESPN
Right Bracket
Northwestern Wildcats at Washington St. Cougars, March 23, 11 pm ET, ESPN2
Charleston Cougars at Wichita St. Shockers, March 23, 7 pm ET, ESPN2