NIT: A Look at the National Invitational Tournament Bracket and Predictions

Inside the Loud House takes a look at the NIT bracket region by region and makes predictions on its outcomes and future winner.

The NIT (National Invitational Tournament bracket is out). Below is a region by region analysis followed by the projected incomes of each game. The bracket info and teams are from the NIT Bracket according to CBSSports.com.

Syracuse Region

Region Analysis:

For being the No.1 Overall seed in the NIT, Syracuse Basketball was not given any favors by the Selection Committee. Most of the other parts of the bracket don’t have as many quality teams as this group. Indiana, the two seed is just as good as any one seed in this tournament.

Monmouth, Georgia, and Belmont have scary good offenses. Georgia Tech is a quality team and no slouch either as shown by the fact they beat us once this year according to ESPN.com.

Predictions:

First Round:

(1)Syracuse beats (8)UNCG, (5)Ole Miss beats (4)Monmouth, (3)Indiana beats (6)Georgia Tech, (2)Georgia beats (7)Belmont

Second Round:

(1)Syracuse beats (5)Ole Miss, (3)Indiana beats (2)Georgia

Quarterfinals:

(1)Syracuse beats (3)Indiana

California Region

Region Analysis:

California, sorry to say it, but I didn’t think you were good enough to be one of the first four just outside the Tournament. They don’t really scare me as a one seed on this bracket. However, they do look like the best team on this weak part of the bracket. In my opinion, anyone can advance in this quadrant because they’re all just mediocre teams. No other team, besides California, jumps out as a favorite, so this quadrant is really anyone’s to take.

Predictions:

First Round:

(1)California beats (8)CSU Bakersfield, (4)Colorado State beats (5)Charleston, (6)UT-Arlington beats (3)BYU, (2)Houston beats (7)Akron

Second Round:

(1)California beats (4)Colorado State, (2)Houston beats (6)UT-Arlington

Quarterfinals:

(1)California beats (2)Houston

Illinois State Region

https://twitter.com/IllinoisLoyalty/status/841088420206149633

Region Analysis:

This quadrant has lots of interesting matchups and the teams are from all over the country. Illinois St and Illinois immediately jump out as the favorites, but don’t count out a dangerous UCF team.

This bracket has the potential for some close games as well as matchups you’d never see anywhere else. It has a good mix of east-west matchups potential which is something I’d like to see more of in postseason games in the future.

Predictions:

First Round:

(1)Illinois State beats (8)UC Irvine, (5)Colorado beats (4)UCF, (3)Utah beats (6)Boise State, (2)Illinois beats (7)Valparaiso

Second Round:

(5)Colorado beats (1)Illinois State, (2)Illinois beats (3)Utah

Quarterfinals:

(2)Illinois beats (5)Colorado

Iowa Region

Region Analysis:

This is my favorite quadrant of the NIT because it has some of the best teams in the field. The Syracuse region was a close second but this quadrant takes the cake. Iowa is the favorite but not by much.

Clemson can beat anyone, just not at the end of games. Alabama is no shrug from the SEC, as they bring physical play to the NIT. TCU led by former Pittsburgh head Coach Jamie Dixon can be a thorn in the side of any team they play. Just ask Kansas who they just beat in the Big 12 Tournament.

Richmond, might even be the surprise team though from the Atlantic 10 as they nearly pulled the upset on a very good VCU team in their conference’s tournament.

Predictions:

First Round:

(1)Iowa beats (8)South Dakota, (4)TCU beats (5)Fresno State, (3)Alabama beats (6)Richmond, (2)Clemson beats (7)Oakland

Second Round:

(1)Iowa beats (4)TCU, (2)Clemson beats (3)Alabama

Quarterfinals:

(1)Iowa beats (2)Clemson

NIT Final Four Semifinal Predictions (Madison Square Garden):

(1)Syracuse beats (1)California, (2) Illinois beats (1)Iowa

NIT Championship Prediction(Madison Square Garden):

(1) Syracuse beats (2)Illinois

Analysis:

Illinois is in a weak bracket, one I feel they should easily come out the winners of. From there they would face a Iowa team in the Semifinals, whom they’ve already beaten twice this season. That would put them into the NIT Championship game.

Syracuse Basketball on the other hand is one of the most talented teams in the NIT bracket. As a #1 seed, they never have to leave New York State, thus they should have decent crowds and fan bases wherever they play the entire tournament. I see them making it to the NIT Championship as well.

Next: Syracuse Basketball a #1 Seed in NIT

Illinois is no shrug, but they suffer on defense. The Orange will make them pay and its my prediction they will win the NIT Championship. There are lots of great teams in the National Invitational Tournament, but the path for the Orange will have lots of support.