It’s that time of year again, folks! Actually, we might be a little late on it this year. But here we go… CIV’s NIT Tournament Preview!

While the field is not yet set for either of the post-season tournaments, we like to get this preview out early, so you can look ahead to some teams that might make some noise in this year’s NIT.

• Arizona - With an RPI of 24, many will say that the Wildcats don’t have the resume for the NIT, but we disagree. Their record is a mediocre 16-12, they have a below .500 conference record, and they have lost 6 of their last 8 games. On paper, one might think Arizona is the favorite to win the NIT, if it makes the cut. However, we think Arizona could just as easily come in without focus and lose in round 1. The NIT could provide a great showcase for the amazingly huge “upside” for both Chase Budinger and Jerryd Bayless.

• Texas A&M - This is the team we will be cheering for. Why? Because we love to see history made. From our research, no team has ever won the Pre-Season NIT and Post-Season NIT in the same season. The Aggies may have the chance to do just that. While Texas A&M has been ranked as high as 9th this season, the team has fallen to 47 in the RPI thanks to losing 4 of its last 5 (including 27-point losses to Texas and Oklahoma). If South Carolina does not make the NIT, then Texas A&M will be our darling.

• Syracuse - Just a few weeks ago, Syracuse was sitting pretty at 6-4 in the Big East. Now, the Orange have lost 5 of 6, including a blown-lead/badly-reffed heart breaker at home to Pitt over the weekend. They have games left at Seton Hall and home to Marquette. Anything less than a sweep of those games, and the Cuse will need Jerry McNamara to come back to help them win the Big East tourney for the automatic bid to the NCAA. Otherwise, the Orange can try out their match-up zone in the NIT… again.

• Maryland - So, are the Terps the talented team that won at UNC? Or the sorry team that lost at home by 8 to American? Down the stretch, it’s been the sorry team. After a nice winning streak, the Terps have lost 4 of their last 6 and slipped to 64th in the RPI. In what many viewed as a must-win for Maryland Sunday night, it blew a 20-point lead at home to Clemson. Can the Terps right the train in time to make a run at the NIT title? We hope to see Greivis Vasquez taunting the crowd in Madison Square Garden at the end of March!

• Ohio State - This is the other team we will be rooting for if South Carolina does not somehow make a run to get into the NIT. Why? Because the Buckeyes are the team that lost to Texas A&M in the Pre-Season NIT final. Oh what a rematch! Ohio State looked to be in good shape for an NCAA bid, but it has now lost 4 straight, including a 10-point defeat at the hands of Michigan (RPI no. 177). Our favorite stat for the Buckeyes: in 29 total games this season, they have failed to break 60 points 7 times. We are the Big 10!

• Ole Miss - This year’s Clemson. (And yes, we are terribly disappointed that this year’s Clemson is not Clemson.) The Rebels opened the season 13-0, including a 3-point win over Clemson. Since then, the Rebs are a mere 6-9 with 5 of those losses coming to teams with an RPI ranking of over 100. This resume screams NIT. And if this year’s Clemson is anything like last year’s Clemson, then the Rebs are headed to the NIT title game.