NIT shrinks from 40 to 32 teams
Aug 2, 2006 20:36:50 GMT -5
Post by Class of '83 on Aug 2, 2006 20:36:50 GMT -5
NIT shrinks from 40 to 32 teams
Posted: Tuesday August 1, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- The field for the postseason NIT has been reduced to 32 schools from 40, its number for the last five years.
The six-member NIT Committee announced Tuesday that a study of team and fan feedback has shown the tournament would be best suited with four eight-team regions.
"After examining the structure and operation of the event, the committee determined that a 32-team field is in the best interest of the championship," committee chairman C.M. Newton said. "It is more logical in terms of structure, easier to follow for fans and participants, more workable in bracketing, it allows more scheduling flexibility and it also eases the burden on travel.
"We studied different options very carefully and having been through the postseason tournament last March, we are confident that a 32-team NIT is the way to go."
The reduction will not affect the NIT's automatic bid to any regular-season conference champion which does not make the NCAA's field of 65. Seven teams earned an NIT bid that way in 2006.
The 2006 postseason NIT was the first chosen by an independent, at-large committee, a change that came about when the NIT, L.L.C., which is owned by the NCAA, took over the tournament in August 2005.
Besides Newton, the selection committee includes Dean Smith, Don DeVoe, Reggie Minton, Carroll Williams and Jack Powers.
NIT, L.L.C. also runs the NIT Season Tip-Off in November.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/ncaa/08/01/bc.bkc.nitreduction.ap/index.html
Posted: Tuesday August 1, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- The field for the postseason NIT has been reduced to 32 schools from 40, its number for the last five years.
The six-member NIT Committee announced Tuesday that a study of team and fan feedback has shown the tournament would be best suited with four eight-team regions.
"After examining the structure and operation of the event, the committee determined that a 32-team field is in the best interest of the championship," committee chairman C.M. Newton said. "It is more logical in terms of structure, easier to follow for fans and participants, more workable in bracketing, it allows more scheduling flexibility and it also eases the burden on travel.
"We studied different options very carefully and having been through the postseason tournament last March, we are confident that a 32-team NIT is the way to go."
The reduction will not affect the NIT's automatic bid to any regular-season conference champion which does not make the NCAA's field of 65. Seven teams earned an NIT bid that way in 2006.
The 2006 postseason NIT was the first chosen by an independent, at-large committee, a change that came about when the NIT, L.L.C., which is owned by the NCAA, took over the tournament in August 2005.
Besides Newton, the selection committee includes Dean Smith, Don DeVoe, Reggie Minton, Carroll Williams and Jack Powers.
NIT, L.L.C. also runs the NIT Season Tip-Off in November.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/ncaa/08/01/bc.bkc.nitreduction.ap/index.html