Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | NIT BOUND AGAIN: Syracuse misses NCAAs for 2nd season in a row; plays Tuesday in NIT
By Matt Gelb
Posted: 3/16/08, 9:50 PM EST Section: Sports
For only the second time under Jim Boeheim, the Syracuse men's basketball team will play in the NIT in consecutive years.
Syracuse (19-13) will face Robert Morris (26-7) in the first round of the NIT Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Carrier Dome (ESPNU). The Orange is a No. 1 seed in the tournament after it was a No. 2 seed last season, when it lost at Clemson in the quarterfinals.
A record-tying eight Big East teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament, but Syracuse was not among them. This year will mark the first back-to-back NIT appearances since 1980-81 and 1981-82 and only the second time under 32-year head coach Boeheim.
"Everything is about the NCAA. In my mind, in their mind, if they're not in the NCAA Tournament it's not a good season," Boeheim said last Wednesday following Syracuse's 82-63 defeat to Villanova in the first round of the Big East tournament. "That's just the way it is."
Villanova made the NCAA Tournament as a 12 seed, one of the final at-large bids to be handed out.
The winner of the Syracuse-Robert Morris game will take on the winner of Minnesota-Maryland at a date to be determined. As a No. 1 seed, Syracuse could host three games if it keeps winning. View the complete NIT bracket here.
Robert Morris, located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, Pa., was the regular-season champion of the Northeast Conference and earned an automatic bid to the NIT.
Tickets will go on sale midnight tonight for SU season ticket holders. At noon Monday, tickets will be on sale to the general public. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for SU faculty, staff and students.
Return to dailyorange.com for updates. The Daily Orange resumes its print edition on Tuesday, with full coverage of the NIT as well as the women's basketball NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse (19-13) will face Robert Morris (26-7) in the first round of the NIT Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Carrier Dome (ESPNU). The Orange is a No. 1 seed in the tournament after it was a No. 2 seed last season, when it lost at Clemson in the quarterfinals.
A record-tying eight Big East teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament, but Syracuse was not among them. This year will mark the first back-to-back NIT appearances since 1980-81 and 1981-82 and only the second time under 32-year head coach Boeheim.
"Everything is about the NCAA. In my mind, in their mind, if they're not in the NCAA Tournament it's not a good season," Boeheim said last Wednesday following Syracuse's 82-63 defeat to Villanova in the first round of the Big East tournament. "That's just the way it is."
Villanova made the NCAA Tournament as a 12 seed, one of the final at-large bids to be handed out.
The winner of the Syracuse-Robert Morris game will take on the winner of Minnesota-Maryland at a date to be determined. As a No. 1 seed, Syracuse could host three games if it keeps winning. View the complete NIT bracket here.
Robert Morris, located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, Pa., was the regular-season champion of the Northeast Conference and earned an automatic bid to the NIT.
Tickets will go on sale midnight tonight for SU season ticket holders. At noon Monday, tickets will be on sale to the general public. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for SU faculty, staff and students.
Return to dailyorange.com for updates. The Daily Orange resumes its print edition on Tuesday, with full coverage of the NIT as well as the women's basketball NCAA Tournament.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Marc LeVine
posted 3/17/08 @ 9:27 AM EST
OK. Last year the NCAA snubbed SU with a 22-11 season. This year, they did not. So, as for Coach B's "Everything is about the NCAA. In my mind, in their mind, if they're not in the NCAA Tournament it's not a good season," he just made a little mistake that can cost us a few more wins and a possible post season championship this year. (Continued…)
Ed Brooks
posted 3/17/08 @ 2:45 PM EST
The team did do well to get to the point of having a shot at the NCAAs. The frustrating part is the way they lost the Villanova game. My sense is that if it was a close game, SU may have made the NCAAs. (Continued…)
Marc LeVine
posted 3/19/08 @ 10:07 AM EST
...and then there is the CBT...too! Imagine...there are good teams out there that didn't even make the NIT. I hear Cincy is playing in the CBT.
The NCAA Tourney is ready to expand. (Continued…)
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