BU to face GW in NIT Season Tip-Off

By René Reyes

Fresh off its first 20-win season in six years, the Boston University men’s basketball team opens the 2010-11 campaign on Nov. 16 against George Washington University in the first round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, which was announced today by the chairman of the NIT Selection Committee, C.M. Newton.

“This Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off set high standards early on and has consistently showcased the best in college basketball,” Newton said in a statement on the NIT’s website. “This year's field can certainly hold its own against any of the previous 25 we've had. Half of the field is coming off 20-plus win seasons and several fell just below that mark. We look forward to a competitive tournament.”

Under second-year coach Patrick Chambers, the Terriers will compete in the North Regional side of the bracket, along with Villanova University, Marist University and GW. All games in the North Regional will be played at the Pavilion, Villanova’s home floor.

The 16-team field also consists of the likes of UCLA, the University of Nevada, Wake Forest University, Virginia Commonwealth University (the same squad that eliminated BU in the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational last season) and the University of Tennessee.

Chambers confirmed this announcement on his Twitter page.