Advertisement

While conference tournaments wrap up, Xavier Musketeers play waiting game for NIT

shelby dermer, cincinnati enquirer
·4 min read

NEW YORK − Selection Sunday is one of the best days on the college basketball calendar. While many shoe-ins for the NCAA Tournament are playing in their conference tournament championship game, there are just as many March Madness hopefuls, typically huddled around a large screen in their home arena, looking to make the 68-team field.

Xavier, coming of an 87-60 loss to top-seeded UConn in the Big East Quarterfinals Thursday at Madison Square Garden, will not be one of those teams. However, Sunday will still hold some significance to the Musketeers.

The Xavier Musketeers head for the locker room after the second half of the NCAA Big East Conference Tournament second round game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Xavier Musketeers at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Xavier was eliminated from the tournament by a 87-60 loss to UConn.
The Xavier Musketeers head for the locker room after the second half of the NCAA Big East Conference Tournament second round game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Xavier Musketeers at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Xavier was eliminated from the tournament by a 87-60 loss to UConn.

Xavier, in danger of its first losing season in nearly three decades, isn't done just yet. Though injuries and inexperience caused the Musketeers to miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons, Xavier still has the possibility of a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bid.

Speaking at the podium Thursday after falling to UConn, Xavier head coach Sean Miller said his team would be up for playing in the event.

"I don't know if the NIT will come calling. If it does, I do think we have more basketball left in us and we'll embrace that if it does," Miller said.

"I don't know if the NIT will come calling. If it does, I do think we have more basketball left in us and we'll embrace that if it does," Xavier head coach Sean Miller said following Thursday's loss to top-seeded UConn.
"I don't know if the NIT will come calling. If it does, I do think we have more basketball left in us and we'll embrace that if it does," Xavier head coach Sean Miller said following Thursday's loss to top-seeded UConn.

How Xavier makes the NIT

So, what has to happen for the NIT to come calling? Thankfully for the Musketeers, the NIT has done away with its previous rule where teams with a losing record can't receive an invite. In October, the NIT announced new experimental rules for invitation, where regular-season league champions that do not win their conference tournament will no longer receive an automatic NIT bid.

Instead, the NIT is inviting the top-2 teams from each of six major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC) in the NET Rankings that did not make the NCAA Tournament, a move that undoubtedly hurts successful mid-major programs.

What does that mean for Xavier? The Musketeers will be sitting at home Sunday hoping as many Big East teams get invited to the dance as possible.

Currently, Xavier is seventh in the Big East in NET at No. 63. There are three locks for the NCAA Tournament in the conference in UConn, Creighton and Marquette.

St. John's (No. 34 NET) appears to have secured a March Madness spot with its quarterfinal win over Seton Hall Thursday. Seton Hall (No. 68 NET), projected as one of the last four in by ESPN's Joe Lunardi Saturday, looks like it will go dancing, as well, despite not winning a game at Madison Square Garden.

Providence head coach Kim English is shown during the second half of their game Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marquette beat Providence 91-69.
Providence head coach Kim English is shown during the second half of their game Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marquette beat Providence 91-69.

By all projections, it appears Villanova will miss the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are No. 40 in the NET, but desperately needed a win over Marquette in the quarterfinals. Villanova lost in overtime and will get an automatic NIT bid with its top-40 position.

It all comes down to Providence. The Friars' fate decides Xavier's.

Xavier fans hoping to watch more basketball this spring were part of the Friar Faithful Friday night in the Big East Tournament semifinals, unfortunately Marquette was too much in a 79-68 win for the Golden Eagles.

Providence (No. 57 NET), listed by Lunardi as one of the First Four Out, could've locked up an NCAA Tournament bid with an upset of the Golden Eagles one day after knocking out Creighton in the quarterfinals.

If Providence goes dancing, Xavier and Villanova likely lock down the two automatic NIT bids. Since Providence fell, there's a chance Xavier is on the outside looking in for the NIT if Kim English and company don't hear their names called on Sunday.

NITBracketology.com's Friday update as Xavier missing the NIT cut to Providence and Villanova.

Another path

Miller may have announced Xavier's willingness to play in the NIT, an event the Musketeers have won twice (1958, 2022), but it doesn't mean other Big East coaches would follow suit.

Schools still have the choice to decline an NIT bid, something North Carolina did last season. If either of the two teams ahead of Xavier in the NET were to choose not to partake in the NIT, the Musketeers would get the nod.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: March Madness: Selection Sunday still matters for Xavier Musketeers