The 2011 NIT Tournament Final Four is set after the final three teams punched their ticket to Madison Square Garden last night with quarterfinals wins. Alabama, Washington State and Wichita State all won their quarterfinal games last night to join Colorado in New York for the NIT Final Four that begins March 29.
The first semifinal will be a battle of teams that feel they should be playing in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. The Colorado Buffaloes have been called the biggest tournament snub ever by some and have steamrolled their way through the NIT, beating Kent State in the quarterfinals 81-74 on Tuesday night. They will face the Alabama Crimson Tide, another tournament bubble team, after they beat Miami(FL) in another quarterfinal 79-64.
The other half of the NIT bracket will pit a No. 2 seed against a No. 4 seed. The Washington St. Cougars beat the Northwestern Wildcats last night 69-66 to earn a spot against the No. 4 seed Wichita St. Shockers. The Shockers beat No. 1 seed Virigina Tech 79-78 in OT, then beat Charleston 82-75 last night to advance.
Here is a complete look at the Semifinals:
March 29 – 7:00PM et – (4)Wichita State Shockers(27-8) Vs. (2)Washington State Cougars(22-12) – ESPN2
March 29 – 9:00PM et – (1)Alabama Crimson Tide(24-11) Vs. (1)Colorado Buffaloes(24-13) – ESPN2