NC State getting a 4-seed in the NIT? We’ll find out for sure tonight at 8:30pm.

Is the season over, or do we have some more postseason basketball to play?

That’s the question that will be answered tonight at 8:30pm when the NIT selection show takes place on ESPNU. 

The NIT is a little different this year, if you haven’t heard. They are reducing the number of teams from 32 to 16 (removing a round of play) and playing the tournament in a bubble in Dallas-Ft. Worth.  They also have some contingency. plans if a team were to have to drop for COVID reasons. The ‘First 4 Out’ will be ranked and will be added to the field of play if a bracketed team pulls out.

Now, with COVID happening and a lot hanging in the balance, there hasn’t been many predictions on who is seeded where in the NIT, however, this guy, who is also tracking NCAA projections, has also been keeping an updated “who’s in – who’s out’ projection for the NIT. Here is his latest.

NIT bubble:

3 seeds: Indiana, St. Mary's, Memphis, Minnesota
4 seeds: NC State, Louisiana Tech, Richmond, Providence (replacing Duke)
First 4 Out: Navy, Davidson, Georgetown, Dayton

— Sean Scott (@TheNumberGuru) March 12, 2021

In this scenario, NC State is a projected 4 seed, just slipping into the tournament. But the question remains…will they accept the invitation?

I’ve seen a few people suggest that NC State will decline based on what is going on in the ACC Tournament, but based on statements we’ve heard from Keatts, and based on NC State roster, I believe they’d accept if invited.

“I give everybody credit for is pulling off athletics during this tough time. I know everybody says “Why are you playing?”, Well we’re playing because sports has helped people get through some of this pandemic. And our kids want to play. If there was ever a point where kids didn’t want to play then I could see that. But we don’t know what we do to help others when we put our guys on the floor and compete to help someone else get through some of their struggles.” – Kevin Keatts

This is an angle of the pandemic that is not often discussed, mostly because of the fear of the cancel-climate we’re living in. Any suggestion that anything is important or should go on while COVID is still out there seems to be met with vitriol on social media, claiming that by doing whatever it is you suggest can be done, is putting someone’s life in danger. But Keatts, as a coach, is in a position to make this statement and makes it well. He looks at it from the angle of mental health, and like it or not, people’s well-being can be closely associated with external outlets. Their favorite team taking the court may be the only thing they have to look forward to. in their lives in these times. Agree or not, this is the point Keatts is making, and the fact that he publically made that statement makes us believe that if given the opportunity to play, if the players want to play, NC State will play in the NIT.

With that tournament taking place in.a bubble, and NC State’s roster filled with young guys in need of postseason experience, why would you walk away from this opportunity? If there is a COVID situation in Dallas, you just go home, but if all goes according to plan, you gain your young team another chance to play survive and advance basketball, and that is something you can’t simulate on the practice floor.

Will they get the opportunity to even make that decision? We’ll have to wait and find out tonight at 8:30pm.