Boston College and Harvard missed out on at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday, but both will get the chance to continue their seasons in the 2011 National Invitation Tournament.
The Eagles (20-12, 9-8 ACC) are a No. 1 seed entering the NIT and will face No. 8 seed McNeese State in its first round match-up in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. EST (ESPNU).
Our friend Brian Favat at BC Interruption broke down the match-up between Boston College and McNeese State.
Fresh off the disappointment of missing the NCAA Tournament, the Eagles learned that they will travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana to take on McNeese State in the First Round of the NIT. The game will be played on Tuesday night at 9 PM ET, and will be televised on ESPNU.
McNeese State went 21-11 this year and 11-5 in the Southland Conference. The Cowboys lost to Texas-San Antonio in the Southland Conference Championship. BC and McNeese State played one common opponent this year in Miami (Fla.). BC lost both games while McNeese State lost by 20, 79-59.
Boston College has been to the NIT eleven times before, and as BC Interruption points out, the Eagles have a winning record in true road games.
As I mentioned earlier, this will be BC's 11th appearance all-time in the NIT. Since the early rounds of the NIT were moved back to campus, BC is 5-3 in true road games with wins over Saint Joseph's (1984) , Evansville (1988), Middle Tennessee (1988), Niagara (1993) and Fairfield (2003). Losses to Virginia, Notre Dame and Temple.
Harvard (23-6, 12-3 Ivy League) also received an invitation to the 2011 NIT. The Crimson are a No. 6 seed and will meet No. 3 seed Oklahoma State in the first round on Tuesday night at 7:30 (ESPN).
The complete 2011 National Invitation Tournament bracket can be viewed below, and also at SB Nation.
2011 National Invitation Tournament Bracket
Left bracket:
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 8 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Tuesday at 7 pm
No. 4 New Mexico Lobos vs. No. 5 UTEP Miners on Tuesday at 9 pm
No. 3 Missouri State Bears vs. No. 6 Murray State Racers on Tuesday at 8 pm
No. 2 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 7 Florida Atlantic Owls on Wednesday at 11 pm
No. 1 Colorado Buffaloes vs. No. 2 Texas Southern Wednesday at 7 pm
No. 4 California Golden Bears vs. No. 5 Mississippi Rebels on Wednesday at 9 pm
No. 3 Colorado St. Rams vs. No. 6 Fairfield Stags Tuesday at 9 pm
No. 2 St. Mary's Gaels vs. No. 7 Kent St. Golden Flashes on Tuesday at 11 pm
Right bracket:
No. 1 Boston College Eagles vs. 8 McNeese St. Cowboys on Tuesday at 9 pm
No. 4 Northwestern Wildcats vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Panthers on Wednesday at 8 pm
No. 3 Oklahoma St. Cowboys vs. No. 6 Harvard Crimson on Tuesday at 7 pm
No. 2 Washington St. Huskies vs. No. 7 Long Beach St. 49ers on Wednesday at 10 pm
No. 1 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. No. 8 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Wednesday at 8 pm
No. 4 Wichita St. Shockers vs. No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Wednesday at 7 pm
No. 3 Dayton Flyers vs. No. 6 Charleston Cougars on Tuesday at 7 pm
No. 2 Cleveland St. Vikings vs. No. 7 Vermont Catamounts on Tuesday at 7 pm
Looking for a printable 2011 National Invitation Tournament bracket? Check out the official NIT bracket on NCAA.com.