SB Nation Cleveland - NIT Basketball Tournament 2011 Bracket: 'Shocking' -- Wichita State Takes Down Crimson Tide, Captures NIT Titlehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2011-04-01T06:10:17-05:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18130672011-04-01T06:10:17-05:002011-04-01T06:10:17-05:00March Madness Lite: Wichita State Is Your 2011 NIT Champion
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<p>In that "other" tournament, the Wichita State Shockers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 66-57 in New York last night to win the NIT title.</p>
<p>For a full recap of the game <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201103310006">here is a link to the story on Yahoo! Sports</a>.</p>
<p>There was a time when the NIT was bigger than the NCAAs, in the same way, I suppose, that amateur golf was bigger than pro golf. Maybe it was that the venue for the Finals was in the Big Apple, where everything is magnified.</p>
<p>The NIT has, of course, taken the back seat as of late. But that is not to say that there is not something in it worth fighting for.</p>
<p>Trust me, Cleveland State and Kent State wish they had been in Madison Square Garden last night.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/4/1/2084481/march-madness-lite-wichita-state-is-your-2011-nit-championAncientMariner2011-03-29T23:18:36-05:002011-03-29T23:18:36-05:002011 NIT Final Four: Alabama Hangs On, Beats Colorado 62-61 To Advance
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<p>The 2011 <span class="caps">NIT</span> Basketball Tournament is reaching a climax, with the <span class="caps">NIT</span> Final Four taking place in Madison Square Garden. Two of the teams in the final group believe they should be playing in another tournament right now but want to make the most of their <span class="caps">NIT</span> appearance.</p>
<p>That was the stage tonight when the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Buffaloes</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/alabama-crimson-tide" class="sbn-auto-link">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> battled in one of two <span class="caps">NIT</span> Semifinals games. In the end, it was the Tide pulling out a 62-61 win after Trevor Releford scored with 12 seconds remaining to give the Tide the lead.</p>
<p>Colorado had a chance – and plenty of time – to answer the score, but sophomore Alec Burks’ attempt at the buzzer was off-line sending the Tide to the <span class="caps">NIT</span> Championship Game where they will face the Wichita State Shockers.</p>
<p>Burk scored 20 points while Levi Knutson scored 14 for the Buffaloes whose season comes to an end at 24-14. The Buffs have been labeled as a <span class="caps">NCAA</span> Tourney snub this year, a pill made that much more bitter by VCU’s improbable run to the Final Four. <span class="caps">VCU</span> had to win a ‘First Four’ game just to get into the Field of 64, and many thought their spot should have gone to Colorado.</p>
<p>JaMychal Green scored 22 points for the Tide(25-11) who also feel they should be playing in the big-boy tournament. At least for them there is the consolation of another basketball game – and the chances that they could win a post-season tournament.</p>
<p>Alabama led 36-30 at halftime, after both teams used 10-0 runs in the first 20 minutes in an attempt to take control. The Crimson Tide built the lead to 40-30 on a pair of baskets by Green shortly after the break before Colorado slowly climbed back into it.</p>
<p>Green went to the bench with his fourth foul with 12:19 left, and Colorado pulled ahead 48-47 moments later on a basket by Releford and a free throw by Higgins.</p>
<p>Colorado still led 57-52 with 6:02 left, about the same time that Green finally checked back into the game. He scored a couple minutes later to start an 8-0 run, which Charvez Davis capped with a basket that made it 60-57 with 2:56 remaining.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/3/29/2080141/2011-nit-Tournament-Alabama-vs-colorado-final-four-alabama-hangs-on-beats-colorado-62-61-to-advanceJohn Bena2011-03-24T09:50:03-05:002011-03-24T09:50:03-05:002011 NIT Bracket Semifinals: The Stage Is Set For Madison Square Garden
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<p>The 2011 <span class="caps">NIT</span> 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 <span class="caps">NIT</span> Final Four that begins March 29.</p>
<p>The first semifinal will be a battle of teams that feel they should be playing in the 2011 <span class="caps">NCAA</span> Tournament. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes">Colorado Buffaloes</a> have been called the biggest tournament snub ever by some and have steamrolled their way through the <span class="caps">NIT</span>, beating Kent State in the quarterfinals 81-74 on Tuesday night. They will face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a>, another tournament bubble team, after they beat Miami(FL) in another quarterfinal 79-64.</p>
<p>The other half of the <span class="caps">NIT</span> bracket will pit a No. 2 seed against a No. 4 seed. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/washington-st-cougars">Washington St. Cougars</a> beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/northwestern-wildcats">Northwestern Wildcats</a> last night 69-66 to earn a spot against the No. 4 seed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/wichita-st-shockers">Wichita St. Shockers</a>. The Shockers beat No. 1 seed Virigina Tech 79-78 in OT, then beat Charleston 82-75 last night to advance.</p>
<p>Here is a complete look at the Semifinals:</p>
<p><strong>March 29 – 7:00PM et – (4)Wichita State Shockers(27-8) Vs. (2)Washington State Cougars(22-12) – ESPN2</strong></p>
<p>March 29 – 9:00PM et – (1)Alabama Crimson Tide(24-11) Vs. (1)Colorado Buffaloes(24-13) – ESPN2</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/3/24/2069502/2011-nit-bracket-semifinals-the-stage-is-set-for-madison-square-gardenJohn Bena2011-03-22T22:13:32-05:002011-03-22T22:13:32-05:00NIT Basketball Tournament 2011: Colorado Knocks Off Kent State To Reach Quarterfinals
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kent-st-golden-flashes" class="sbn-auto-link">Kent St. Golden Flashes</a> run in the 2011 <span class="caps">NIT</span> Basketball Tournament is over. After becoming the first road team to win two games in the <span class="caps">NIT</span> since 2005, Kent saw it’s road fortune come to an end in Boulder, CO against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Buffaloes</a> 81-74.</p>
<p>Justin Greene scored 20 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead the Flashes(25-12) while guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29380/michael-porrini" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Porrini</a> scored 14 points and dished out 5 assists. The Flashes shot the ball well – 50% from the field – but struggled on the glass where Colorado out-rebounded Kent State 36-26. The Buffaloes grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to just 8 for Kent State.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99937/alec-burks" class="sbn-auto-link">Alec Burks</a> scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Colorado who will next travel to New York City for the <span class="caps">NIT</span> Semifinals. Burks is a <span class="caps">NBA</span> prospect and showed why tonight in his 11-18 performance.</p>
<p>The Buffaloes took a 36-31 halftime lead, but the Flashes rallied to tie the game at 41 with 17 minutes to go. The lead switched hands multiple times in the 2nd half with Kent State leading 65-61 with 7 minutes to go.</p>
<p>The Buffaloes used a 15-5 run, however, to take a 75-70 lead with 3 minutes remaining. Kent State was able to get within two points at 77-75 with 2:15 to go, but Colorado finished the game with four straight points as Kent State missed multiple opportunities down the stretch.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/3/22/2066790/nit-basketball-tournament-2011-bracket-kent-state-coloradoJohn Bena2011-03-22T13:23:06-05:002011-03-22T13:23:06-05:00NIT Basketball Tournament 2011 Bracket: Kent State Thinking Upset Against Colorado
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kent-st-golden-flashes">Kent St. Golden Flashes</a>(25-11) are piling up the frequent flier miles in the 2011 NIT Tournament. First, it was a trip to California to play St. Mary's in the first. round. Then, on Sunday, the Flashes traveled to Connecticut to take on Fairfield in Round 2. The Flashes won both games, becoming the first team to win two road games in the NIT since 2005. Can they make it three straight when they take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes">Colorado Buffaloes</a>(23-13) in Boulder tonight?</p>
<p>Unlike Kent State, the Buffs have enjoyed the luxury of playing at home, and in front of a favorable crowd Colorado took down Texas Southern and recently California. This is the first NIT appearance for Colorado since the 2005-06 campaign and with the two wins the Buffs are a solid 10-7 in this event.</p>
<p>This will be the first-ever meeting between Kent State and Colorado on the hardwood.</p>
<p>Kent State put forth a fantastic effort in its last game, as the Golden Flashes took on Fairfield and a hostile crowd and turned in an impressive 40 minutes of basketball that led to a four-point win. The Golden Flashes shot 50.0 percent in the contest and finished 8-of-19 from long range. Kent State won the battle in the paint by a 38-28 scoring margin, and also found 18 points off 12 Fairfield turnovers. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100501/randal-holt">Randal Holt</a>, who is averaging just 9.9 ppg on the season led the way with 22 points, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123761/carlton-guyton">Carlton Guyton</a> (12.6) tallied 16 points. Michael Porrini and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100505/justin-manns">Justin Manns</a> helped out with 11 and 10 points, respectively. What made the win even more impressive was the fact that the team's leading scorer and rebounder <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53099/justin-greene">Justin Greene</a> (15.3 ppg and 8.4 rpg) was held to just eight points and eight boards.</p>
<p>Once again the Buffaloes used their offensive firepower to post a victory, as they scored 89 points in a win over California. Colorado, which is averaging 80.1 points per matchup, shot 45.6 percent in the victory and finished 9-of-20 from behind the arc. Alex Burks, who is leading the team on the season with 20.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg, poured in 25 points against the Golden Bears, but he was not the only player that joined in on the fun. Cory Higgins, who is netting 16.2 ppg on the year, added 22 points for Colorado, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/25887/levi-knutson">Levi Knutson</a> chipped in 10 points off the bench.</p>
<p>Kent State could pose a problem for Colorado because the Golden Flashes are tough defensively, but all the traveling could finally wear on them. Look for Colorado to get the victory, and punch its ticket to New York. The game can be seen on ESPN at 9PM et.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/3/22/2065965/nit-basketball-tournament-2011-bracket-kent-state-thinking-upsetJohn Bena2011-03-20T13:51:48-05:002011-03-20T13:51:48-05:00NIT Basketball Tournament Bracket Update: Kent State Beats Fairfield, Moves On To NIT Quarterfinals
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kent-st-golden-flashes">Kent St. Golden Flashes</a> are moving on in the 2011 <span class="caps">NIT</span> Basketball Tournament after beating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/fairfield-stags">Fairfield Stags</a> on the road 72-68. Kent State will next face top seeded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes">Colorado Buffaloes</a> in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night with a trip to Madison Square Garden on the line.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100501/randal-holt">Randal Holt</a> scored 22 points while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123761/carlton-guyton">Carlton Guyton</a> added 16 to lead the Flashes(25-11) to the win. The Flashes took a 52-49 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining on a three pointer by Rodriguez Sherman and never trailed again.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100475/derek-needham">Derek Needham</a> led the Stags with 20 points – 18 in the first half – while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52954/ryan-olander">Ryan Olander</a> added 15 points. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29380/michael-porrini">Michael Porrini</a> scored 11 points for the Flashes who shot 50% from the field compared to 45% for Fairfield. Kent State was 8-19 from three point range while Fairfield converted just 7-26.</p>
<p>The game was tied at 35 at the break and Fairfield took a 41-37 lead as Kent State struggled to score. With the game tied at 49, the Flashes went on an 11-6 run to take a 60-55 lead. The Stags closed to within 7-68 with :14 seconds to go, but the Flashes iced the game away from the free throw line.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/3/20/2062093/nit-basketball-tournament-bracket-update-kent-state-beats-fairfieldJohn Bena2011-03-20T10:44:57-05:002011-03-20T10:44:57-05:00NIT Basketball Tournament Bracket: Golden Flashes Travel To Fairfield Looking To Advance
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<p>Cleveland State is gone in the 2011 <span class="caps">NIT</span> Basketball Tournament, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kent-st-golden-flashes">Kent St. Golden Flashes</a> remain. The Flashes will travel to Bridgeport, Connecticut to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/fairfield-stags">Fairfield Stags</a> looking to advance to the Quarterfinals and a meeting with No. 1 seed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes">Colorado Buffaloes</a>.</p>
<p>Postseason play has become commonplace for the Golden Flashes, as this is their 12th appearance in 13 years. This is the second straight <span class="caps">NIT</span> for the Golden Flashes, and the ninth in their history. In that time the team has collected a 4-8 ledger. One of those victories came in this year’s event, as Kent State defeated Saint Mary’s, 71-70. Kent State was the first team in the Mid-American Conference in 21 years to win back-to-back regular-season titles, but the team eventually fell in the conference tournament championship contest against Akron.</p>
<p>As for the Stags, they claimed just their second ever victory in the <span class="caps">NIT</span> and the first for the school since 1973 when they defeated Colorado State, 62-60. This is the sixth appearance in this event for Fairfield, which is 2-5 all- time. Fairfield claimed the regular-season title in the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference, but stumbled in the league’s tournament game, missing out on a chance to join the Big Dance.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53099/justin-greene">Justin Greene</a> was the leader for this Kent State squad all year, so naturally when the Golden Flashes needed a big shot, the veteran forward stepped up and produced. Greene dropped in a layup with three seconds remaining in regulation against Saint Mary’s, capping off KSU’s furious late rally. Saint Mary’s led every step of the way in the second stanza, until Greene scored that basket. Kent State was playing catch up for most of the match, the team still shot a healthy 48.4 percent from the floor and also made 8-of-17 shots from long range. Justin Greene, who led the team on the year with 15.5 ppg and 8.4 rpg, finished with 11 points, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29380/michael-porrini">Michael Porrini</a> paced the squad with 19 points. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100501/randal-holt">Randal Holt</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123761/carlton-guyton">Carlton Guyton</a> (12.5 ppg) both registered 13 points apiece, while Holt also recorded six rebounds and six assists.</p>
<p>In what was a see-saw battle from start to finish, one player stepped up his game down the stretch to lead his team to victory, and that was Fairfield’s <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27597/yorel-hawkins">Yorel Hawkins</a>, who scored 10 of the last 11 points for the Stags, leading them to a slim win over Colorado State. Hawkins, who is averaging 10.0 ppg on the season, finished with a game-high 17 points. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52954/ryan-olander">Ryan Olander</a> (10.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg) added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100475/derek-needham">Derek Needham</a> the team’s leading scorer and distributor on the year (13.9 ppg and 146 assists) contributed 10 points, to go along with six assists. The Stags were not overwhelming offensively, shooting just 43.1 percent from the floor, while making only 3-of-17 attempts from long range. However, what helped the Stags reach the second round was their defensive performance, as they held Colorado State to just 32.2 percent from the floor, and forced 20 turnovers.</p>
<p>These two teams are very similar considering both programs rely on defense first. Fairfield is slightly better in that area, but the Golden Flashes are more productive at the offensive end.</p>
<p>Kent St. leads the all-time series between to two teams 3-1.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/3/20/2061751/nit-basketball-tournament-bracket-kent-state-golden-flashes-travel-to-fairfield-stagsJohn Bena2011-03-19T15:39:57-05:002011-03-19T15:39:57-05:00NIT Basketball Tournament Bracket: Cleveland State Vikings Fall To Charleston 64-56, Ending 2010-11 Season
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<p>The Cleveland State Vikings’ run in the 2011 <span class="caps">NIT</span> Basketball Tournament is over. The Vikings fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/charleston-cougars">Charleston Cougars</a> 64-56 at the Wolstein Center ending their season at 27-9.</p>
<p>As has been the case much of the season, when guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/27072/norris-cole">Norris Cole</a> struggles for the Vikings they have a hard time scoring points. Today was no exception as Cole scored 18 points but was just 6-22 from the floor including 0-8 from three point range. The Vikings as a team shot just 1-25(4.0%) from three, marking one of their worst performances of the season. Overall the Vikings shot 33.3% from the field.</p>
<p>Charleston shot the ball much better – 45.7% from the field – including 7-19 from three point range. The VIkings did a solid job on Cougars leading scorer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29126/andrew-goudelock">Andrew Goudelock</a> who scored just 13 points on 3-12 from the floor. Together with Cole, the two teams’ leading scores – who average nearly 45 points per game combined – scored 31 points on a combined 0-14 from three point range.</p>
<p>The game was a back and forth affair until <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29137/antwaine-wiggins">Antwaine Wiggins</a> buried 3 of his 11 points, giving the Cougars a 48-46 lead with *:42 to go, a lead the Cougars would never give away.</p>
<p>Cleveland State was held scoreless for nearly 8 minutes in the 2nd half sealing their fate – and their season. Charleston(26-10) will advance to face the winner of the Wichita State – Virginia Tech game in the Quarterfinals.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/3/19/2060619/nit-basketball-tournament-bracket-cleveland-state-vikings-charleston-cougarsJohn Bena