NIT field set

[Da Coach]

The NIT field is set, and Indiana State gets a 6-seed and will play at #3 seed Arkansas Tuesday night.

Illinois is a #2 seed. Indiana was left out.

NIT teams/matchups-

http://www.testudotimes.com/2014/3/16/5514350/nit-tournament-2014-full-schedule-bracket

Bracket-

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/2014_NIT_Bracket.pdf

[Braves2006]

Any reason why every lower seed has the home game besides Illinois? Or is that a typo?

[lightsout]

Any reason why every lower seed has the home game besides Illinois? Or is that a typo?

The Illini currently have no home court available to them, the $165 million State Farm Center renovation project has begun and will run until late 2016.

[Braves2006]

The Illini currently have no home court available to them, the $165 million State Farm Center renovation project has begun and will run until late 2016.

Thanks. That will make winning this tournament a whole lot more difficult for them.

[Da Coach]

9 NIT games tonight (Tuesday 3/18 )-

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/scoreboard?date=20140318&confId=50

Indiana State playing at Arkansas-

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400546961

Also, #8 seed Robert Morris knocked off #1 seed St. Johns 89-78-

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400546962

[Da Coach]

Indiana State not looking good so far. They are getting blown out at Arkansas in the first round of the NIT. It is 59-45 with 11:27 left in the 2nd half

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400546961

[tornado]

Indiana State did not put on a good showing given they are by far the 2nd best team in the MVC..

Many of the NIT games had terrible crowds...
Minnesota drew 3000, Georgetown drew 2000, and St. John's - playing at home in a city of 8 million people - drew just 1000 and got embarrassed at home by RMU which proved the tremendous benefit of having shooters.

FGCU got absolutely robbed playing #1 seed Florida State.
Fouls were 26-13 and FT attempts were 28 to 7!
Not to mention numerous horrible calls and no-calls that hurt them down the stretch.

[Da Coach]

The other 7 first round NIT games are tonight (Wed. 3/19), including Illinois at Boston University-

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/scoreboard?date=20140319&confId=50

[bigjimmy]

Illinois, after being down 53-43 with 10 minutes left, outscored Boston University 23-9, including 12-1 in the last 4 minutes, to win 66-62. Rayvonte Rice, who scored 7 of those 12 points, was the reason for the win as Boston couldn't stop him in the 2nd half. Rice ended with 28 points, 20 in the 2nd half. The Illini will next play at Clemson. In the CBI ISU Red leads Morehead State 33-25 and in the CIT Missouri State leads Murray State 44-39 early in the 2nd half. By the way I watched the ISU Blue game last night and as much as I'm glad he's gone Jake Odum had a terrible game in his last appearance for the Sycamores. A real credit to his team, town and the Valley.

[tornado]

Illini didn't play well but give them credit - they did what they needed to do to win

[Da Coach]

With all the NCAA games Friday, there was also 1 NIT game played-
Belmont beat Robert Morris-

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/scoreboard?date=20140321&confId=50

[Da Coach]

1 more NIT game played Saturday 3/22

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/scoreboard?date=20140322&confId=50

[Da Coach]

Illinois is playing Clemson in an early NIT game today (Sun. 3/23)-

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400547502

Illinois only has 23 points with 14 minutes left in the game. They are 0-11 from three so far.

[Da Coach]

Suddenly, just after my last post, Jon Ekey and Rayvonte Rice, a couple ex-MVC players, have caught fire for Illinois and pulled them back into the game. A couple three pointers by Ekey and drives by Rice have now put Illinois in the lead with a minute to go-

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400547502

[Da Coach]

Tough luck for the Illini. They lose to Clemson 50-49.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400547502

Their poor shooting (37%) cost them.
They were down 1 with 9.2 seconds left, which should have been plenty of time to run a play and get a decent shot. But instead, Tracy Abrams ended up taking a 26+ foot shot and he shot an air ball. Jon Ekey had been the only Illinois player who made a 3-point shot in the game, yet he never touched the ball on the last possession.
Illinois really needs some shooters. Ekey was 3-7 from three, the rest of the team was 0-14.