Busting Brackets
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2017 NIT: Syracuse favored to win championship?

By Daniel Benjamin

Jan 4, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Andrew White III (3) reverses his dribble as Miami Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown (11), center Ebuka Izundu (15) and guard Davon Reed (5) defend during the first half of a game at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Andrew White III (3) reverses his dribble as Miami Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown (11), center Ebuka Izundu (15) and guard Davon Reed (5) defend during the first half of a game at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 5, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Illinois State Redbirds center Daouda Ndiaye (4) puts up a lay up as Wichita State Shockers center Rauno Nurger (20) defends during the second half of the Championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Wichita State won 71-51. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Illinois State Redbirds center Daouda Ndiaye (4) puts up a lay up as Wichita State Shockers center Rauno Nurger (20) defends during the second half of the Championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Wichita State won 71-51. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois State Region

  1. Illinois State Redbirds (27-8): Illinois State tied Wichita State for the MVC regular season crown and won a program record 27 games. The Redbirds rank sixth in the nation in scoring defense, though, they are just 280th in scoring offense. The Redbirds are a veteran team and have three players averaging 13 points a game. Illinois State is making its 14th appearance in the NIT.
  2. Illinois Fighting Illini (18-14): The Illini won five of their last eight. Senior guard Malcolm Hill can put points on the board but he has recently scuffled with his shot. Illinois is making its fifth appearance in the NIT.
  3. Utah Utes (20-11): The Utes went 5-5 down the stretch of the season, which includes a 78-75 setback to Cal in the opening round of the Pac-12 Tournament. Utah, which has two wins over non-DI schools, is a solid well-rounded deep team. Junior forward Kyle Kuzma leads five players in double-figures with 16.3 points while contributing  9.3 boards a game. Utah is making its 13th NIT appearance.
  4. UCF Knights (21-11): The Knights are playing perhaps their best basketball of the season, having won six of seven. Guards B.J. Taylor and Matt Williams are top-notch scorers, producing 17 and 15 points apiece, and the Knights have a mammoth rim protector in 7-6 center Tacko Fall. This is the Knights’ second NIT appearance.
  5. Colorado Buffaloes (19-14): The Buffaloes won nine of their final 13 games to earn a postseason bid. Senior guard Derrick White, who has scored 31 points in two of his last five games, is perhaps the single most likely player in this region to carry his team to New York City. Colorado is making its ninth appearance in the NIT.
  6. Boise State Broncos (19-11): The Broncos have lost four of seven. 6-7 junior guard Chandler Hutchinson leads the team in several statistical categories, including scoring and rebounding. BSU is making its fifth NIT appearance.
  7. Valparaiso Crusaders (24-8): The Crusaders senior star forward Alec Peters fractured his leg nearly two weeks ago, and the Crusaders promptly lost two of their last three games. If Valpo is going to continue its season they are going to have to rely on Shane Hammick and Tevonn Walker to carry the load offensively. The Crusaders are making their fourth NIT appearance.
  8. UC Irvine Anteaters (21-14): The Anteaters won the Big West regular season title, but fell to UC Davis is the finals of the conference tournament. Senior guard Luke Nelson, who missed the first semester of games, leads the team with 16.9 points a game. This is UC Irvine’s sixth NIT appearance.

Most intriguing first round matchups: Boise State at Utah. This is the eighth matchup between the programs with the last meeting being in 2013. Utah leads the series 4-3.

First round picks: Illinois State, Illinois, Colorado, and Utah.

Second round picks: Colorado over Illinois State. Utah over Illinois.

Third round picks: Utah over Colorado.

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