Aug. 19, 2008

Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Bracket in PDF Format

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's basketball team has been invited to participate in the 2008 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, it was announced on Tuesday. The Blazers will be making their third appearance at the annual event, and first since the 1989-90 campaign.

"This is a great event and we are excited to be a part of it," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "This is going to give us a great test to start the season. The field is full of quality teams and it will be a good opportunity for our guys, the fans and for this program."

C.M. Newton, chair of the NIT Selection Committee, echoed Davis' statements.

"Once again, the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament features an outstanding field and we look forward to another exciting start to college basketball," commented Newton.

UAB received the second seed in the West Regional and the No. 7 seed overall. Arizona, the No. 3 seed overall, will host the West Regional against the Blazers, No. 11 seed Santa Clara and No. 15 seed Florida Atlantic. Other regional hosts include No. 1 seed Purdue (North Regional/West Lafayette, Ind.), No. 2 seed Oklahoma (South Regional/Norman, Okla.) and No. 4 seed Boston College (East Regional/Boston, Mass.).

UAB will open tournament play when it takes on the region's No. 11 seed Santa Clara in the opening round. The winner of that game will play the winner of Arizona and Florida Atlantic for the right to go to the semifinals played in Madison Square Garden. All first round games will take place on Nov. 17 with the championship and consolation games of the four regions to follow on Nov. 18.

The NIT semifinal and final doubleheaders will be played over the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 26 and 28). The remaining 12 teams will play third- and fourth-round games on Nov. 24 and 25. These games will be played on the home campus sites of the three highest remaining seeds. Participating teams will not play any team twice and third and fourth rounds will be assigned to the most geographically compatible site possible. ESPN will provide coverage throughout the event; televising games on ESPN2 and ESPNU, with select games also simulcast on ESPN360.com.