Colorado University Athletics
MBB to Play Old Dominion on Wednesday at Events Center
BOULDER - The University of Colorado men’s basketball team has accepted an invitation to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) against the Old Dominion Monarchs, March 15 at the Coors Events Center. The game will not be televised and tip is scheduled at 7:37 p.m.
The Buffaloes are the No. 4 seed in their bracket, while the Monarchs represent the Colonial Athletic Association are No. 5. In the other bracket, the No. 9 and 10 seeds, Fairleigh Dickinson and Manhattan will play against each other with the winner to face No. 1 seed Maryland at College Park, Md.
The higher seeded team in the NIT is the host school. If CU/Maryland advance, the Buffaloes and Terrapins will play March 20 at College Park, Md.
The Buffaloes finished the Big 12 Conference regular season in fifth place with 9-7 record and 20-9 overall record. CU was seeded No. 5 in the Big 12 Men’s Championship, defeated No. 12 Baylor, 65-61 on Thursday, then lost to No. 5 Texas A&M, 86-53, Friday.
The Monarchs are 21-9 and finished in fourth place in the CAA with a 13-5 mark. They were upset in the quarterfinals of their conference tournament.
CU and ODU have never played against each other.
“We would of liked to have been selected to play in the (NCAA) field of 64, but I still believe this team has accomplished a great deal this year,” said CU head coach Ricardo Patton. “We’re talking about a team that was picked ninth at the beginning of the season in some publications and I’m still very proud of what this team has accomplished. We went 14-1 at home and have a chance to set a school record for wins in a season with 15. It’s still a great opportunity for our team of moving forward.”
The NIT, which for the first time will be selected by an at-large committee, is comprised of a 40-team field from across the country. This year also marks the first time in the 69-year history of the NIT that the bracket release will be televised live.
Tickets for the CU/ODU game will go on sale Monday, March 13 and are available at a number of locations at any TicketsWest located at all Colorado King Soopers locations; on-line at www.CUBuffs.com; by calling the CU ticket office (303) 49-Buffs or 800-87-BUFFS; or simply walking to the CU ticket office (located at Folsom Field between gates 4 and 5).
Season ticket holders may order their seat by calling in Monday or Tuesday and prices range from $10, $15, $20, $25.
Student tickets are $4.00, however the first 2,000 CU student tickets will be of no cost and are complimentary with their BuffOne Card.
This will be the fourth NIT appearance for a Patton coached team in his 10 years at Colorado. Back in 1999-2000, CU lost to Southern Illinois, 94-92 in Boulder; in 1998-99, CU defeated Pepperdine, 65-61 at home and then lost at Colorado State, 86-76. Most recently, the Buffaloes lost to Oregon, 77-72 in overtime back in 2003-04.