Busting Brackets
Fansided

National Invitation Tournament: Four best opening round games of 2018

By Bryan Mauro

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)
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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 08: Jerome Robinson #1 of the Boston College Eagles dribbles against Gabe DeVoe #10 of the Clemson Tigers during the quarterfinals of the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Barclays Center on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 08: Jerome Robinson #1 of the Boston College Eagles dribbles against Gabe DeVoe #10 of the Clemson Tigers during the quarterfinals of the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Barclays Center on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

#5 Boston College Eagles vs #4 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Tuesday March 13th, 8:00 PM EST

Bowling Green, KY

ESPN 3

Boston College and Western Kentucky are two of the more surprising teams in this tournament.  Boston College has made drastic improvements this year from the previous few campaigns in Chestnut Hill.  Jim Christian has the Eagles playing well. This NIT tournament is a giant step for the Boston College program.  The Hilltoppers making the NIT after losing one of the top recruits in the country before the season even started is a heck of a coaching job by Rick Stansbury.

The Hilltoppers made a splash in the offseason on the recruiting front by landing Mitchell Robinson, who then never enrolled in the school.  Rick Stansbury led the Hilltoppers to wins over Purdue and Arizona this year before struggling some in the Conference USA.  The Hilltoppers are a good team who played in the Conference USA title game before falling to Marshall.  The Tops can play and they are going to give every team a battle in this tournament.

Boston College is fun to watch especially when their backcourt are making shots.  Boston College has arguably the best player in this tournament in Jerome Robinson.  Robinson while teaming up with point guard Ky Bowman are a load for opposing teams.  If one is having a bad game the other will step up and make shots.  Boston College when playing well can win this entire tournament.

Next: Top 100 impact players of the 2018 NCAA Tournament

The Eagles will get into trouble if their starters get into foul trouble because they do not have any depth outside of the 7 guys they play.

Home/March Madness