WNIT Field Announced

[DECKS]

48-Team Field Announced
For 2008 Postseason WNIT

Monday, March 17, 2008 – The 48-team field of the Postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament was announced tonight.

The WNIT kicks off postseason action Wednesday, with first-round games. All games are held on the campuses of participating schools. While 32 teams will play in the first round, 16 teams received a bye and will begin their tournament with a second-round game. The Postseason WNIT features 16 first-round games, followed by 16 second-round games, eight third-round games, four quarterfinal games, two semifinal games and the championship. The WNIT championship begins at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, April 5, and will be hosted by one of the two final participating schools.

The WNIT awards an automatic berth to each of the nation’s 31 conferences. The spot goes to the team that finishes the highest in the regular-season conference standings that does not advance to the NCAA Tournament. If there is a tie, the WNIT abides by the conference tiebreaker. To be considered for WNIT selection, a team must have an overall record of .500 or better.

The remaining spots are filled by teams selected at-large.

This year’s field features five teams from the Big 10, four teams from the Big East and four teams from SEC. Other conferences that got more than one team in the field were the Big 12 and Missouri Valley (three each), and the Sun Belt, Atlantic 10, ACC, and Colonial (two each).

Game times will be announced Tuesday, March 18, by the WNIT.

Here are the 48 teams in the tournament:
Automatic Berths
American (Patriot)
Arkansas-Little Rock (Sun Belt)
Boise State (WAC)
Boston College (ACC)
Bowling Green (Mid-American)
Charlotte (Atlantic 10)
Colorado (Big 12)
Dartmouth (Ivy)
Evansville (Missouri Valley)
Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun)
Gonzaga (West Coast)
Idaho State (Big Sky)
Iona (Metro Atlantic)
James Madison (Colonial)
Kentucky (SEC)
Marquette (Big East)
Michigan State (Big Ten)
North Carolina A&T (MEAC)
Quinnipiac (Northeast)
Prairie View A&M (SWAC)
Radford (Big South)
South Dakota State (Summit)
Southeast Missouri (Ohio Valley)
Southern Miss (C-USA)
TCU (Mountain West)
Texas State (Southland)
UC Davis (Big West)
Vermont (America East)
Western Carolina (Southern)
Wisconsin-Green Bay (Horizon)

At-large Berths
Dayton
Drake
Creighton
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Michigan
Mississippi State
MTSU
NC State
South Carolina
South Florida
St. John’s
Texas Tech
Villanova
Virginia Comm.
Wisconsin

[DECKS]

Even though the pairings haven't been announced I'd say it's a solid bet we'll be playing NC State. Slim chance we could host UNC-Charlotte.

[@ProfBellamy]

The pairings are online, click on "Brackets"

We play South Carolina on the 21st. Time: TBD. If we can win it, then we'll play NC State at State.

[DECKS]

Looks like we got jobbed with that pairing. We probably drew the toughest first round game. Prarie View got matched up with Texas State!

[Bornthrilla]

I need to do some research on USC and see if we have a chance to pull off the upset.

[aggiejazz]

admin said:

I need to do some research on USC and see if we have a chance to pull off the upset.

I personally would not call it upset if A&T wins. There is one common opponent, UNC Ashville. The scores were about the same, USC 80 -UNCA 52; NCAT 88 - UNCA 62

USC is 15-15; 4-11 in the SEC

[Bornthrilla]

We should've gotten the home game.

[natedizzle]

USC beat us by 50 points last year

[DECKS]

USC will be an extremely tough matchup for us. Since NC State received a first round bye, I thought they should have had UNC-Charlotte traveling to the Dawg Pound.

[JayBee]

I think they will find any way possible to not have to let a PWC travel to an HBCU for a tournament game.