NIT Preview: Big Ten Teams Rutgers, Michigan, Wisconsin Set for Second Season

Big Ten teams Rutgers, Michigan and Wisconsin begin play in the NIT Tournament on Tuesday night, just two days after being left out of the NCAA Tournament field. All three teams have home games to start the 32-team event.

Rutgers, Michigan and Wisconsin all went into last week's Big Ten Tournament knowing they hadn't done enough yet to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. They needed a win, maybe two, to be sure.

Instead, all three lost their first game and when the 68 NCAA bids were handed out Sunday night, all three were left out. Eight Big Ten teams made it, but these three did not.

All three teams were invited to NIT Tournament instead, and begin play on Tuesday night. All three Big Ten teams are at home.

“I thought we had a resume that stacked up with a lot of teams,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. “It's a tough day because our goal every year is to go every year to the NCAA Tournament. It felt like we certainly did enough. It’s a tough job, the selection committee has.''

Rutgers will host Hofstra on Tuesday, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET. Michigan hosts Toledo and Wisconsin hosts Bradley.

"It’s not our ultimate goal," Michigan center Hunter Dickinson said on a livestream of "Roundball Podcast." "But we’re going to try to make the Michigan fans as proud as possible at this point."

The complete schedule is below.

The 2023 NIT schedule

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday's games (March 14)

• Hofstra at No. 1 Rutgers, 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU
• Toledo at No. 3 Michigan, 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2
• Southern Miss at No. 4 UAB, 7 p.m. ET. Streaming: ESPN-Plus
• Villanova at No. 3 Liberty, 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2
• Yale vs. No. Vanderbilt, 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU
• Bradley vs. No. 2 Wisconsin, 9:30 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN
• Eastern Washington vs. No. 4 Washington State, 11 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU
• Seton Hall vs. No. 3 Colorado, 11 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN 2

Wednesday's games (March 15)

• No. 1 Oklahoma State at Youngstown State, 7 p.m. ET. Streaming: ESPN-Plus
• Central Florida vs. No. 4 Florida, 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2
• Morehead State at No. 1 Clemson, 7 p.m. ET Streaming: ESPN-Plus
• Alcorn vs. No. 2 North Texas, 8 p.m. ET. Streaming: ESPN-Plus
• No. 3 Sam Houston at Santa Clara, 9 p.m. ET. Streaming: ESPN-Plus
• Virginia Tech vs. No. 4 Cincinnati, 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2
• Utah Valley at No. 2 New Mexico, 10 p.m. ET Streaming: ESPN-Plus
• UC Irvine vs. No. 1 Oregon, 11 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN 2