Indianapolis, Ind. - St. Thomas Aquinas men's
basketball team, the 2014 ECC runner-up, was one of 10 selected to
participate in the NIT Season Tip-Off, as announced by the NCAA on
Friday afternoon.
The NIT Season Tip-Off is one of college basketball's premier
early-season tournaments, culminating with the semifinals and final
at Madison Square Garden. Although the Spartans will not be able to
advance to play at MSG (the four teams advancing to New York will
be predetermined), they will play two games against Division I
opponents.
On November 22, St. Thomas Aquinas will travel across the country
to Spokane, Washington to take on a perennial Top 25 ranked,
Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have made 17 straight NCAA Tournament
appearances and are coming off a season which saw them post a 29-7
record.
A week later on November 29, the Spartans will make a shorter trip
to Long Island to face Stony Brook. The Seawolves are the reigning
Regular Season Champions of the America East Conference.
St. Thomas Aquinas finished last season with a 15-14 record to post
their first winning season since the 2007-08 campaign. Under the
direction of first-year head coach, Tobin Anderson, the Spartans
also advanced to the final game of the ECC Championship Tournament
for the first time in program history.
Other schools competing in the NIT Season Tip-Off include; Georgia,
St. John's, Minnesota, LIU Brooklyn, Saint Joseph's, Western
Kentucky, and fellow Division II East Region member, Franklin
Pierce.
To view the full NCAA release and tournament schedule, click here.
