SMU, Dayton, UC Irvine and San Francisco are the No. 1 seeds within the 2025 Nationwide Invitation Event, organizers revealed Sunday evening.
Solely 4 of the 32 groups within the area — SMU, Stanford, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State — hail from one of many 5 energy conferences, marking a probably sharp decline in high quality for the normal second-tier match.
The packages that declined match invitations included Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, Wake Forest, Pitt, LSU and South Carolina. Indiana was among the many first 4 groups out of the NCAA Event area. For distinction, LSU (3-15 in Southeastern Convention play) and South Carolina (2-16) have been the one two SEC groups out of 16 to overlook the NCAA Event.
There have been meant to be exempt bids for 2 groups from the ACC and SEC. SMU and Georgia Tech symbolize the ACC.
This additionally marks the primary yr the NIT faces competitors from the School Basketball Crown, which was promised two groups from the Huge Ten, Huge East and Huge 12 conferences in its inaugural 16-team area.
As for the NIT, groups will play on campus websites earlier than the semifinals and finals are held in Indianapolis. Video games start this Tuesday.
SMU will open in opposition to Northern Iowa and will face No. 4 seed Oklahoma State within the second spherical, because the Cowboys face Wichita State.
Dayton will host former NCAA Event darlings Florida Atlantic within the opening sport for his or her area, which additionally consists of No. 2 seed George Mason, an Atlantic 10 rival. George Mason got here near stealing the convention’s computerized bid to the NCAA Event from VCU on Sunday.
UC Irvine completed 28-6 this season and fell to UC San Diego within the Huge West match ultimate. The Anteaters open in opposition to Northern Colorado and will draw No. 4 seed Georgia Tech within the second spherical.
San Francisco will face Utah Valley and will face a regional rival within the second spherical, No. 4 seed San Jose State. Stanford can be on this West Coast-focused area, a No. 2 seed opening in opposition to Cal State Northridge.
–Discipline Stage Media