National Invitation Tournament: Four best opening round games of 2018

By Bryan Mauro | Mar 13, 2018

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 18: Head coach Kermit Davis of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders reacts in the first half against the Butler Bulldogs during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 18, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: MiKyle McIntosh /

# 6 Rider Broncs vs # 3 Oregon Ducks

Tuesday March 13^th, 10:00 PM EST

Eugene, Oregon

ESPN 3

This is one of the better first-round matchups in the NIT. Oregon is a team who was in the final four last year. The Ducks had a rebuilding year and were not expecting to play in any postseason early in the year. A late run in the Pac 12 tournament may have gotten the Ducks eligible for the NIT. The Broncs earned the auto bid into the NIT by winning the MAAC regular season. The Broncs are a capable team who have the potential to make a deep run in this tournament especially if Oregon does not play very well.

The Ducks made the semifinals of the Pac 12 tournament before falling to USC. The Ducks have had a tough year by Dana Altman’s standards. A year after making the final four the Ducks lost Dillon Brooks, Jordan Bell and Tyler Dorsey off that team. They lost virtually all of their scoring. The Ducks come into the NIT being led by Peyton Pritchard, Georgetown transfer Paul White, and Illinois State transfer MiKyle McIntosh.

The leaders of this team have postseason experience and that could help carry the Ducks in this tournament. The Ducks are good from the behind the arc and great at the Free Throw line. Peyton Pritchard is the leading scorer for this team averaging 14.1 points per game.

The Rider Broncs enter the NIT as the MAAC regular season champs and enter with an auto bid. The Broncs dominated the conference in the regular season and were able to pick up a nice non-conference win at Penn State. Rider is led by Dimencio Vaughn and his 15.8 points per game.

Rider is lethal from beyond the three-point line shooting them at 36% as a team, but if you foul them, as a team they have a very hard time making free throws. The Broncs are going to be game, and they will be able to keep this game with Oregon close. Rider has confidence especially after beating Penn State at home earlier in the season. Riders athletic department announced that the Broncs were not informed of this matchup until it was announced. The Broncs then boarded a bus at 3:00 AM and made their way to the airport, in order arrive in Eugene on time. Rider will be jet-lagged, but they are still going to give Oregon a game.

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