NIT PICKIN'

Howdy y'all! time to give you, you're NIT preview! That's right we'll give you the ins, outs, ups, downs of "the Lil' Dance". Are you ready? Here goes:

SOUTH REGION:
The top seed is Clemson and they should have no troubles with East Tennessee State in the 1st Round. We like the five seeded Appalachian State to knock off #4 Mississippi. Earlier in the season most people were lookin' to the Mountaineers to be a Cinderella team in the tournament. But their clock struck midnight a bit too early and now they will look to make a run the good 'ol Invitational. I like them to beat both Mississippi and Clemson en route to the quarterfinals. But that's where they'll run into, the eventual champs, the Orange of Syracuse. The 'Cuse should roll through South Alabama, but they'll get tested in the second round by Blake Ahearn and Missouri State, but have no fear, the Orange be headed to NYC.

EAST REGION
We like the top four seeds in this region (West Virginia, UMASS, Drexel, and Oklahoma State) to get past the first round. Although the Dragons may have some difficulties with NC State and the Minutemen will have to fend off a feisty Alabama squad. We like Drexel and West Virginia to play in the Elite Eight, with the Dragons prevailing. Elegar will not be ele-gant, but will be dominant as the Dragons prevail.

NORTH REGION
This is a weak region, for the NIT that is, as we like Utah State to knock off the three seeded Michigan Wolverines in the first round. In the 2nd round, though, they should run up against Florida State, and the Seminoles should be able to handle the Aggies. The top half of the bracket seems pretty weak in our minds, with Mississippi State rolling through Mississippi Valley State and Bradley knocking out Providence. Then we like Bradley to beat the Bulldogs, but fall to the Seminoles.

WEST REGION
This is the upset region. We like all the lower seeds in the first round. Number eight Austin Peay could very well prevail over top seeded Air Force, who was just dreadful down the stretch. Mike "The Big Stromboli" Trimboli and #7 Vermont have an excellent shot at K-State, who has struggled in big games. Well, actually, we flipped a coin when it came down to it, and we ended up picking Fresno State over Georgia. It was a similar scenario for the Hofstra- DePaul matchup. There's just too much pride in Hofstra though and I think the Demons will come out flat. It'll be a Vermont-Fresno State matchup to determine the who goes to the NIT Final Four and we like the Catamounts to mount a run and win it.

Now we think this sets up for Syracuse to avenge and early season loss to Drexel, and we feel they will, and, will beat Florida State in the final. Now we also like to point out that we did no research whatsoever and picked mostly on biases, but we don't think that makes a difference.