March 18, 2008

NEW YORK- The 71st edition of the MasterCard National Invitation Tournament kicks off action tonight with eight games on tap, and for the first time in NIT history, all tournament games will be televised by ESPN.

The 32 team field features 22 teams with 20 or more wins, has nine automatic qualifiers and includes Ohio State a finalist in last year's national championship and Florida, the 2007 NCAA champion.

First round games feature UMass, a third place finisher in the Atlantic 10 who is eighth nationally in scoring (82.0) and third in blocks playing automatic qualifier Stephen F. Austin, a defensive team whose points against average (55.6ppg) is second nationally.The Syracuse-Robert Morris match up pits the veteran Hall of Fame coach, Jim Boeheim, with a 769-277 record against first year Coach Mike Rice with a career mark of 26-7. Florida State, making its third straight NIT appearance squares off against Akron playing in their fourth NIT.

Also on tap is Creighton, a deep team whose bench chipped in 37.3 points a game against Rhode Island, with a 80.8 scoring average, landing them 13th nationally in that category. Dayton, the team with one of the toughest schedules in the nation will host Cleveland State, a club that went from 20 losses to 20 wins in a season. Morgan State will visit number one seed Virginia Tech, a fourth place finisher in the ACC .

Also tipping off in the first round is Mississippi , who behind head coach Andy Kennedy recorded the first back to back 20 wins seasons in the schools' history squaring off against automatic qualifier UC Santa Barbara, who also set a school record for wins with 23, and finished the regular season ranked fourth nationally in three-point field goal percentage; Illinois State, a 24-9 finisher, who is 17-0 when holding opponents to under 60 points is home against the nation's leader in field goal percentage (.515) and free throw percentage (.792), Utah State. Ohio State will welcome automatic qualifier North Carolina Asheville, along with their 7-7 center, Kenny George; Florida, the reigning two time national champion will face San Diego State, who for the first time in 69 years secured a post season berth for three consecutive seasons; automatic qualifier Alabama State, an overtime loser to Jackson State in the SWAC conference finals travels to Arizona State, who is making their tenth appearance in the NIT.

Oklahoma State out of the Big 12 will visit Southern Illinois, competing in the post season for the seventh consecutive year while the ACC's Maryland Terrapins, appearing in post season play for the 15th straight time will be at Minnesota, a 20 game winner making their 11th NIT appearance. Rounding out first round action is Virginia Commonwealth, at 24-7 in their fifth NIT, home against UAB , a second place finisher in Conference USA and California with a 16-15 mark from the Pac 10 is at New Mexico, who holds the NIT record for seven straight appearances.

"We are looking forward to a great tournament, commented CM Newton, chair of the NIT Selection Committee. The field is very impressive and filled with outstanding players and coaches," he continued.