In the likely event we don't get an NCAA bid this afternoon (I'm bracing myself for it, anyway) who would you speculate we would play in the first round of the NIT? As the NIT has in the past, generally liked to keep early round matchups somewhat regional, I'm guessing we'll face either UNO or SLU (if the Lions' 19 wins are enough to get them in). Any other guesses?
I guess it's possible...but I don't think they like to match up conference opponents in the first round. Doesn't mean they couldn't meet somewhere down the line, though. Although, I think Bama is going to be in the NCAAs.
I am a rabid UNO fan, but I don't think the Privateers will get a bid at 17-14 (though the program is definitely back on the right track). Even if they choose UNO, LSU already played them this year, so I doubt they would schedule a rematch. I think SLU has a decent chance to get a bid, but they will surely be sent on the road. That would make SLU at LSU somewhat attractive to the NIT. But, I am going to guess that LSU will be playing at Oklahoma in an ESPN first round game. I bet ESPN/NIT would love to capitalize on the Sugar Bowl battle by promoting a basketball duel between the schools. I think the game would be at OU because their attendance is better than ours. If not OU for a road game, look at the usual suspects for an ESPN game.
OU's not a bad guess, as it would still be a fairly regional matchup. And the NC game, combined w/ the talks our two athletic departments have had in the last few weeks about future series in all sports, does give ESPN a good storyline to run with.
