Aug. 16, 2010
Tournament Bracket 
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist men's basketball team will participate in the 2010 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off. The Red Foxes will open the tournament at Big East foe Villanova on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m., in a game that will be televised by ESPNU as part of ESPN's third annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.
The entire 16-team field for the tournament was announced on Monday by C.M. Newton, chair of the NIT Selection Committee.
"We're really excited," said Marist Head Coach Chuck Martin, who is in heading into his third season. "It's a tremendous opportunity for our young program, and we're looking forward to the challenge."
The Red Foxes will be part of the tournament's North Regional. Following the contest against Villanova, the tournament's top overall seed, the Red Foxes will take on either George Washington or Boston University on Wednesday, Nov. 17, which will also take place at Villanova. The winner of the North Regional Championship will move on to Madison Square Garden for games on Nov. 24 and 26. Those who do not win regional championships will play third-and fourth-round games on the campus sites of the three highest remaining seeds. Each participating team is guaranteed four games.
The seeded teams in the 16-team field include #1 Villanova, #2 Tennessee, #3 Wake Forest, #4 UCLA, #5 VCU, #6 Missouri State, #7 George Washington and #8 Nevada.
Marist last participated in the NIT Season Tip-Off in the 2003-04 season, when the Red Foxes began the tournament by hosting Hofstra.
Marist's entire non-conference schedule will be released at a later date.
About the NIT
In August of 2005, the NIT, LLC, which is under the umbrella of the NCAA, assumed control of the post season NIT and the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament. The postseason NIT was founded in 1938 by a group of New York City sportswriters while the NIT Season Tip-Off, formerly known as the preseason NIT, started in 1985. An independent at-large committee chooses the filed for both events. Since the inception of the two Tournaments, tens of thousands of student-athletes and coaches have participated. Visit www.nit.org for more details on Tournament history, selection committee and procedures.
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA Championships in Division I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.
