Maurice D. Williams 08/17/10
New
York - The 16-team field for the 26th edition of the Dick’s Sporting
Goods NIT Season Tip-Off was announced today by C.M. Newton, chair of
the NIT Selection Committee. The bracket has the Pirates of Hampton
University traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face off against the
Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010. “This Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off set high standards early on and has consistently showcased the best in college basketball,” said Newton, who is a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame. “This year's field can certainly hold its own against any of the previous 25 we've had. Half of the field is coming off 20-plus win seasons and several fell just below that mark. We look forward to a competitive tournament.”
“We are very honored that the selection committee has chosen us to take part in the NIT Season Tip-Off,” said HU Head Coach Ed Joyner, Jr. “This is a widely known preseason tournament and it gives Hampton another chance to be seen on the national level.”
Hampton, who finished last season with a 14-18 overall mark, will represent the MEAC and play in the East Regional. The East Regional will be hosted by Wake Forest, who is coming off a 20-win season. Also playing in Winston-Salem is Colonial Athletic Association member Virginia Commonwealth (VCU), which went 27-9 last season. The Rams will face Big South Conference entry and 19-game winner Winthrop.
The regional games will be played on November 15, 16 and 17, the consolation bracket will take place on November 22 and 23 at sites to be determined, and the Championship round comes to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the semifinal contests November 24 and the consolation and championship games November 26. The Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off assures every participating team four games.
First- and second-round games will be played at the home campus of the four highest-seeded teams. The winners of those sites will move on to New York City. The remaining 12 teams will play third- and fourth-round games on the home campus sites of the three highest remaining seeds. Participating teams will not play any team twice, and the third and fourth rounds will be assigned to the most geographically compatible site possible.