As previously reported, Georgia will be participating in the Preseason NIT this year. We open at Purdue against a low major, and then we likely get Purdue. Win both games, and we advance to Madison Square Garden. Lose either of those first two games, and we return to Athens to host a 4 team mini-tournament.
Here are the latest rumored brackets based on MemphisDog's information*.
Purdue Host Site:
-- Purdue
-- Georgia
-- Loyola (Ill.)
-- Eastern Michigan
Arizona Host Site:
-- Arizona
-- Santa Clara
-- UAB (rumored replacement for Drake)
-- Arkansas State
Oklahoma Host Site:
-- Oklahoma
-- Davidson
-- James Madison
-- New Mexico State
Boston College Host Site:
-- Boston College
-- St. Johns
-- Cornell
-- Loyola (Md.)
If we don't advance to New York for the 3rd and 4th games, we appear likely to serve as a host city for two games. The candidates to join us in Athens would be decided based on geography...not bracket. Therefore, you could easily see Davidson and/or UAB in Athens this season.
All of the big boy scheduling that is rumored (as many as 8 high major or upper mid-major opponents this year) is scary with the strong possibility of Billy Humphrey out for half the season due to suspension.
NOTE: It's easier to project the top two teams in each host city than the next two.
*MemphisDog is to basketball schedules what JimFromDuluth is to football TV projections.
