2018 NIT Tipoff

[GoldenDieners32]

Us,Kansas,Louisville and Tennessee will be in it according to Ben Steele

[wadesworld]

Thanks.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=54859.0

[GoldenWarrior11]

Tough lineup but it will be great exposure for us.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Love it! I doubt we get matched with Tennessee in the semis. That would mean either rivalry renewed with Louisville or Grimes grudge match with Kansas.

[MUMountin]

It'll be interesting to see the stature of Louisville's program a year out from the Adidas scandal/Pitino firing. 

[We R Final Four]

Love it! I doubt we get matched with Tennessee in the semis. That would mean either rivalry renewed with Louisville or Grimes grudge match with Kansas.

why would we not play Tenn?

[Nukem2]

why would we not play Tenn?

cuz ESPN would like a Kansas - Louisville final.

[We R Final Four]

ah yes--of course.

[PGsHeroes32]

why would we not play Tenn?

What nukem said and the fact they usually try to seed match ups based on how the teams are expected to be that season.

I doubt us and Tennessee are both expected to be better then Louisville next year.

[brewcity77]

I doubt us and Tennessee are both expected to be better then Louisville next year.

That will depend a lot on the off-season, but I could easily (very, very, very easily) see Louisville being the perceived weakest team. Two senior starters graduate and they could see numerous transfers depending on who the new coach is and NCAA sanctions.

Both us and Tennessee return all but one player, and the Volunteers arguably return more than we do (though they don't have any impact commits I'm aware of like Hauser & Morrow). Both of us could start the season as top-20 teams while Kansas looks like a probable top-5.

Considering all the question marks on the program, I'm not sure the same could be said for Louisville.

[GGGG]

Regardless of Louisville's issues, they will bracket it so Kansas and Louisville could meet in championship.

[jsglow]

100% agree with Sultan. 

And as I understand it, the NIT will set up 2 home games for us as part of the tournament.  So while those are routinely lesser opponents, perhaps it means that the NIT pays their 'buy' fee meaning that MU can keep a little more powder dry for other buy opponents?  Our Gavitt game will almost certainly be on the road and the Georgia home/home will be over so it'll be interesting to see what we do.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

If the ncaa has any balls Louisville will not be playing at all next year

[Galway Eagle]

100% agree with Sultan. 

And as I understand it, the NIT will set up 2 home games for us as part of the tournament.  So while those are routinely lesser opponents, perhaps it means that the NIT pays their 'buy' fee meaning that MU can keep a little more powder dry for other buy opponents?  Our Gavitt game will almost certainly be on the road and the Georgia home/home will be over so it'll be interesting to see what we do.

Any chance we pull a Depaul and get ND to open the new arena?

[Loose Cannon]

Any chance we pull a Depaul and get ND to open the new arena?

If not, maybe Wojo can talk to "K".

[jsglow]

You guys raise an interesting point.  Perhaps we do schedule a marque home/home (Duke or ND would be great) to christen Chaluparena.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I'm not expecting a big name to open the arena.  Just what my gut instinct is telling me.  Probably will start a home & home on the road with a mid to upper tier P-5 school.  I'm thinking our main non-con schedule will look something like:

Wisconsin
N-Louisville
N-Tennessee
@ B1G Gavitt (Minnesota? Northwestern? Michigan?)
@ ? (Vandy, NC State, TAMU, Oklahoma...something like that)

Obviously, Kansas might be swapped for either Louisville or Tennessee and make for an even tougher schedule.  Hopefully add a home game versus a Vermont style mid-major.  A very good, possibly great schedule. 

[GGGG]

Wasn't the Utah series delayed until next year?  Or am I not remembering that correctly?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wasn't the Utah series delayed until next year?  Or am I not remembering that correctly?

Ithink that was the theory. Not sure if it was proven.  Would make sense with Bailey coming in.  Give the kid a game in his home state.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Id love to beat Q Grimes and company. They're going to be a top 3 team but I want a shot at them.

Of course,  this is assuming the FBI doesnt find anymore ku players driving around in cars that "need a clearer financial picture"

[muguru]

Don't rule out Arizona being on the schedule next year

[BossplayaOtto]

Don't rule out Arizona being on the schedule next year

A game with AZ would be awesome.

This string has me wondering if Marquette will bring in a marquee opponent to christen the new arena, or not.

On one hand, it's probably not needed as the 1st official game at the new place will be a big draw regardless (shoot even the exhibition will have heightened appeal), but would certainly make it even more special if we played ND or Duke etc.

Regardless, our family is super excited for the new digs. The survey and proposed pricing was a hot topic amongst the season ticket holders we met in Maui.