In a surprising move, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino informed the NIT selection committee that his team would not be participating in the National Invitation Tournament. This announcement comes as Selection Sunday approaches, when the 68-team men’s college basketball bracket for the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament will be unveiled. The NIT, considered an “also-ran” event, has seen several notable teams decline invitations, including St. John’s, Oklahoma, and Pittsburgh. This decision sets the stage for the highly anticipated March Madness tournament as teams vie for a shot at the national championship.

NIT Selection Controversy

As the NIT selection committee finalized the bracket for the tournament, first-year St. John’s coach Rick Pitino made a surprising move by declining the invitation for his team. The NIT, often considered a secondary event to the NCAA tournament, has seen an influx of rejections from prominent teams such as St. John’s, Oklahoma, and Pittsburgh. Pitino’s decision to opt-out indicates the team’s desire to focus on other endeavors, potentially citing a lack of motivation for a tournament they consider less prestigious. This controversy surrounding the NIT selection adds an intriguing twist to the upcoming March Madness tournament as the spotlight shifts to the NCAA bracket unveiling on Selection Sunday.

• St. John’s, Oklahoma, and Pittsburgh decline invitations to the NIT.
• Selection Sunday will reveal the 68-team men’s college basketball bracket for the NCAA tournament.
• Controversy arises as prominent teams reject NIT invitations, questioning the importance of the tournament.

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“We didn’t want to play in the also-ran event,” stated St. John’s coach Rick Pitino regarding the team’s decision to decline the NIT invitation. This sentiment reflects a desire to focus on higher-profile tournaments such as the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament.

Selection Sunday and March Madness Anticipation

With Selection Sunday approaching on March 17th, the anticipation for the March Madness tournament is reaching its peak. Basketball fans eagerly await the unveiling of the 68-team bracket for the NCAA tournament, marking the beginning of an exciting three weeks of intense competition. As the completion of a busy and unpredictable week draws to a close, fans and teams alike anxiously await the release of the bracket, signaling the official start of the tournament. Amidst the excitement, the NIT selection controversy adds an intriguing subplot to the anticipation surrounding March Madness.

• Selection Sunday for the 2024 NCAA tournament will take place on March 17th.
• The release of the official bracket will set the stage for the highly anticipated March Madness tournament.
• The NIT selection controversy adds an intriguing subplot to the excitement surrounding the NCAA tournament.

“After months of anticipation, the arduous wait is over — a bracket, at last, is here,” exclaimed basketball fans as the NCAA tournament bracket was unveiled. The release of the bracket signifies the official commencement of the highly anticipated March Madness tournament.