:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63259602/usa_today_10718690.0.jpg)
The full CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament schedule was revealed on Monday, and is headlined by a team that won a game in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, and a co-champion of the Missouri Valley.
Here’s how it sets up:
MONDAY, MARCH 18:
Quinnipiac (16-14) vs. NJIT (21-12) 7:00 pm
TUESDAY, MARCH 19:
Cornell (15-15) vs. Robert Morris (17-16) 7:00 pm
Jim Phelan Classic: IUPUI (16-16) vs. Marshall (19-14) 7:00 pm
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20:
Texas Southern (21-13) vs. New Orleans (19-13) 8:00 pm
Grambling (17-16) vs. UT Rio Grande Valley (19-16) 8:00 pm
Presbyterian (18-15) vs. Seattle (18-14) 10:00 pm
Hugh Durham Classic: Green Bay (17-16) vs. ETSU (24-9) 7:00 pm
THURSDAY, MARCH 21:
FAU (17-15) vs. Charleston Southern (17-15) 7:00 pm
Coach John McLendon Classic: Saint Francis Brooklyn (17-15) vs. Hampton (16-17) 7:00 pm
Riley Wallace Classic: CSU Bakersfield (16-15) vs. Cal State Fullerton (16-17) 10:00 pm
Lou Henson Classic: Kent State (22-10) vs. UL Monroe (18-15) 8:00 pm
FRIDAY, MARCH 22:
Drake (24-9) vs. Southern Utah (16-16) 8:30 pm
SATURDAY, MARCH 23:
FIU (19-13) vs. Texas State (24-9) 7:00 pm
Second Round
NOTE: Top 3 seeds will get a bye after first round
Quarterfinals - March 27-31
Semifinals - April 2
Championship - April 4
Marshall, which beat Wichita State in last year’s NCAA Tournament, will try to get to 20 wins for the third straight season, while senior guard Jon Elmore will get a shot at the program’s all-time scoring record. Per the Herald-Dispatch, that quest seemed like it was the reason the Thundering Herd accepted the invite.
“How many points does Jon need for the record?” queried [Athletic Director Mike] Hamrick, referring to Marshall senior star point guard Jon Elmore’s quest to break Skip Henderson’s career points record of 2,574 points.
The answer is 20 points.
Hamrick shook his head and mused, “I really didn’t want to play in one of those tournaments. Especially during spring break. But I sure would like to see Jon get that record.”
Drake is one of the headliners, as the 24-9 Bulldogs surged up the standings to claim a share of the MVC regular season crown in Darian DeVries first season in charge. They’ll play Southern Utah, which will be making its second postseason appearance in 31 years as a Division I program.
UTRGV — which had its best Division I season at 19-16 — will make its second straight CIT appearance. The Vaqueros will be joined by two other WAC teams, one of which is Seattle, a team that was bitten heavily by injuries after racking up wins over California and Washington State in the non-conference.
Presbyterian — in its second season under Dustin Kerns — posted an 18-win season, a dramatic turnaround after finishing the 2016-17 season on a 1-19 slog. The CIT will be a farewell tour for point guard Davon Bell and stretch forward Francois Lewis. They’re joined by league mate Hampton, which went 9-7 in its first year in the Big South after transitioning from the MEAC.
The CIT differs from the CBI in that it generally excludes teams from power conferences, as well as the AAC, A-10 and Mountain West. Participants also generally must have a winning record to qualify.