NIT Games Fill Out Card Before Big Dance Starts

The Not In Tournament starts tonight. Okay, I'll be nice, the National Invitational Tournament begins tonight and I am actually pretty happy that we have this tournament as a short bridge to the NCAA Tournament. Yes, the First Four begin with plays tonight, but that is only two games for us to enjoy. The NIT gives us a ton of teams that we've been betting on or against all season. I'm going to focus in on a couple of games for us to choose from today. Let's see if we can get a couple of units in the NIT. 

Minnesota vs. Butler, 9:00 ET

Minnesota comes into this game having lost five of their past six games and not really making an impact in any of them. They were just 18-14 on the season and struggled away from their home court. Even most of their wins have been unimpressive this season. I'd say that the best win they had was at home against Maryland or on the road against Michigan. Playing in the Big 10, they've had to face a number of solid opponents, but Butler also had a tough schedule this season and was able to navigate a strong season against arguably better opponents. In order to win this game, they will need to win the rebounding battle and get some good shooting from deep from their guards. Butler comes into this one with an identical record to Minnesota, but they have the distinct advantage of getting to play on their home floor. This season, Butler has gone 12-5 on their home court. Their losses were to St. John's one of the better Big East schools (call out to Geoff Clark), Creighton, Marquette, Seton Hall, and UConn. All of those teams, with the exception of maybe Seton Hall, are better than Butler. Three of them were ranked when the two squads squared off, too. The issue is that even on their home floor, they were occasionally blown out. The encouraging news is that Minnesota is not as good as any of those teams. The one edge that Minnesota might have in this game is that they could outrebound Butler. The guard play for the Bulldogs should be better and I do think the offense will win this one for them. I did like the total, but it has already moved five points. I still think the best play on the total would be the over, but I'm taking Butler to win this one and cover the -4.5 spread. 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 07: Butler Bulldogs mascot Blue IV on the court during the men's college basketball game between the Butler Bulldogs and New Orleans Privateers on November 7, 2022, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kansas State vs. Iowa, 9:00 ET

I had this argument recently with someone about the best conference in the nation and I said it was the Big 12. Pick whoever you want, but that's who I had in my book. Kansas State only went 8-10 in their conference, but they are 19-14 overall. They even were able to win a game within their conference tournament against Texas. They eventually lost to Iowa State in a game that wasn't very close. Like most college teams, they struggled on the road this season. Their only road wins came against LSU and West Virginia. Neither one of those teams were great this year, but they were good enough to still recognize them as quality wins. Iowa ended up 18-14 on the season and went 10-10 in the Big 10. They lost their first game of the Big 10 Conference Tournament to Ohio State and have lost three of their past five games overall. One good sign for them is that they have been strong on their home floor this season going 13-4. Iowa did face a Big 12 team a couple of times this season and lost both games. Iowa might be able to win this game if they are able to control the rebounding and their forwards win the points in the paint battle. I think Kansas State could win this game outright, but I'll take the five points in this one and just hope they at least keep it close. 

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