“We’re going to struggle sometimes in the half court,” UD coach Brian Gregory said. “We weren’t built to be a half-court-scoring team. That’s not our strength. So you better make sure you control the glass, and you better make sure you don’t turn the ball over, and we didn’t a good job on either of those.”
The Flyers (20-12, 8-8 A-10) likely will have more time to work on shoring up those flaws. While the 78-73 loss to Xavier probably ended their NCAA tournament hopes, they appear to be a strong candidate for the NIT. The Flyers had an RPI of 51, with quality wins over Xavier, Georgia Tech and Old Dominion.
The NIT changed its format for picking teams after being purchased by the NCAA in 2005. In the past, UD could count on playing in that second-tier tourney even in so-so years because of its drawing power, but selections now are based solely on merit.
Teams are seeded just as they are in the NCAA with the higher seeds playing at home. Schools that win their regular-season league titles and don’t make the NCAA tourney receive automatic bids, and that group will eat up about 10 of the 32 spots.
Still, an RPI of 70 or better is considered NIT material.
“I would think we’ll go to the NIT,” Gregory said. “I don’t know if we’ll get a home game or not. You’ve got to remember two years ago, we had a 30 RPI and were a third seed. But we’ll go play anywhere.”
In 2007-08, the Flyers earned a No. 3 seed after finishing the regular season 21-10 and 8-8 in the league and being ranked 32nd in the RPI. They beat Cleveland State at home and Illinois State on the road before losing in the quarterfinals at Ohio State.
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