Georgia Basketball headed to Preseason NIT

UGASports.com got confirmation of it, so I'll add color to the story via additional research and rumors. The Dawgs will open the 2008-2009 season at Purdue in the Preseason NIT Tournament this year. It's Georgia's first trip to this prestigious tournament since 1998. Our other appearances came in 1998, 1993 and 1988.

Based on the tireless research of MemphisDog (MemphisDog is to basketball scheduling as JimFromDuluth is to kickoff times), we believe the following other teams will be involved in the 16 team field:

1st round hosts:
Purdue
Oklahoma
Boston College
Arizona

Other Rumored Teams of Note:
Georgia
Davidson (opens at Oklahoma)
St. John's
Santa Clara
New Mexico State
Cornell (not a team of note, but we think they are in)
James Madison (not a team of note, but we think they are in)
5 more unknown teams

The tournament typically invites only one team per conference. Each regional host (a "name brand" team) usually gets paired with one quality mid-major or Tier 2 power conference school and two low major squads.

I would expect Conference USA, the Atlantic-10 and/or the Missouri Valley Conference to fill at least two of the five remaining slots with teams not named Memphis or Xavier.

The way the bracket works, we would likely have to beat a low major team at Purdue and then the Boilermakers to advance to Madison Square Garden. In NYC, we would get two more guaranteed games likely against the other host teams listed above. But there's more. Per UGASports.com:

The remaining 12 teams [not advancing to NYC] will play third- and fourth-round NIT Season Tip-Off games during Thanksgiving week. The games will be played on three home campus sites that will be determined by a seeding process. Participating teams will not play any team twice and third- and fourth-rounds will be assigned to the most geographically compatible site as possible. (Emphasis added)

According to Felton, if Georgia (17-17 last year) does not advance to New York, the Bulldogs would get to host its final two [rounds] Thanksgiving Week.

If the rumored list of teams above holds up, there's an excellent chance that Georgia could host Stephen Curry and the Davidson Wildcats in Athens. For my money, Curry is the most entertaining scorer since LSU's Chris Jackson. We'll provide more info as the teams and bracket become available.

See Also:
-- So long 'stache - ABH
-- Felton: We can Dominate the Nation - AJC
-- Clean-shaven Felton makes one more promise - AJC
-- Felton Rocks a red sports coat - AJC (images)
-- Closing the Gate - DawgSports.com

PWD

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