Northern Iowa will be the Missouri Valley Conference’s lone representative when the NCAA Tournament begins this week, but the Panthers are hardly the only Valley school to see its basketball season extended at least one more game.
The MVC placed two teams in each the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and Collegeinsider.com Tournament (CIT) and one school in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). And while the spotlight will shine on UNI as Ben Jacobsen’s team takes on UNLV for the right to (most likely) face Kansas in the second round, there are some other intriguing postseason matchups featuring Valley schools.
NCAA Tournament
Northern Iowa (#9) vs. UNLV (#8)
Thursday, March 18, 6:10 p.m.
The suspense ended early for UNI fans and players waiting to find out who they’d play in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Panthers were included in the first section of the bracket during the Selection Sunday show, primarily because they find themselves in the #8-#9 game opposite the tournament’s #1 overall seed, the Kansas Jayhawks. To meet KU, UNI will need to knock off the Runnin’ Rebels, something just one team has done in UNLV’s last 7 games. UNLV finished tied for 3rd place in the Mountain West Conference and won six straight contests before losing the MWC title game late Saturday night.
NIT
Illinois State (#6) at Dayton (#3)
Wednesday, March 17, 6:00 p.m.
This game features athletic teams that swept Creighton during the 2009-2010 season. And, fortunately for Jays fans that are tired of watching Osiris Eldridge, Dinma Odiakosa, and the Flyers’ Flight Club, this matchup won’t be televised. The Redbirds look for payback on the road after losing to Dayton in Normal during the NIT’s second round in 2008.
Wichita State (#3) vs. Nevada (#6)
Wednesday, March 17, 8:05 p.m.
The Shockers earned a #3 seed in the postseason NIT and will host the Wolfpack on St. Patrick’s Day. Nevada played fellow MVC school Missouri State in the BracketBusters event and lost in Springfield, while WSU swept three games from the Bears this season. The two schools’ other common opponent, Utah State, defeated Nevada twice and the Shox once (also in the BracketBusters event).
College Basketball Invitational
Indiana State at Saint Louis University
Tuesday, March 16, 8:00 p.m.
Will the Sycamores faithful travel to St. Louis for a second time in three weeks? Kevin McKenna will lead his team back to the Gateway City for a Tuesday evening matchup with SLU, the fourth place finisher in the Atlantic 10 conference.
Collegeinsider.com Tournament
Creighton vs. South Dakota
Tuesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m.
The Bluejays’ postseason streak continues, albeit in a tournament most CU fans didn’t know existed until the last few days. This will be the 59th meeting between CU and USD, but the schools’ first showdown since 1968. The Coyotes are hot, winning 13 straight games and recently winning the championship of the Great West Conference Tournament. Former Bluejay Steve Smith will return to Omaha with USD, as will former CU recruit Roman Gentry.
Missouri State vs. Middle Tennessee
Wednesday, March 17, 7:05 p.m.
The Bears’ bid to the CIT marks MSU’s first postseason invitation since 2007. They’ll face Middle Tennessee for the second time in two seasons; the Bears beat MTSU 63-51 in Springfield in December 2008.
White & Blue Review will have more coverage of the Valley’s postseason results during the week ahead.