NIT Moves to New York: Previewing the Other Final Four in College Basketball

As the sports world waits anxiously for Saturday and the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament, college hoops fans will get a taste of the excitement tonight as the NIT revs up with its semifinal contests.

First of all, as you know, the NIT's final four is held every year at Madison Square Garden, which possibly the best venue to watch a broadcast game from. The floor always seems a little shinier, the paint a little brighter and the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Whether it is preseason tournaments, the Big East tournament or the NIT, watching a game on television broadcast from the MSG is treat.

And that ambiance will only enhance the slate of games being played tonight. Going into the NIT, the field was loaded with quality schools because the regular season was so tough. When you have field that has Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, Georgetown and up starts like St. Mary's and Creighton, you know you are in for some quality basketball.

The schools that have survived one of the best NIT fields in years each will add to the tournament that has brought so many memorable moments. And each school has its own unique story line.

The opening game tonight features two Cinderella teams in Baylor and San Diego State. Everyone remembers where the Baylor Bears have come from. A program that was nearly destroyed by murder and cover up and now is on the brink of bring home a trophy. On the other side, you have the Aztecs who are best known for producing running back Marshall Faulk rather than their on court prowess. But coached by seasoned veteran Steve Fisher, the Aztecs also are one of the eight teams left playing college basketball.

On the other side of the bracket is Penn State against Notre Dame and even though they are from power conferences, they started the season with much different expectations. Penn State came from way off the radar and was talked about as a bubble team down the stretch but could not get over the hump and into the tournament. Notre Dame was a preseason favorite to contend for the Big East title but the rough schedule in that conference dealt the Irish a mid season blow they never could rebound from.

While the teams come from different places with different expectations, they each have the same dream; to be one of the two teams in Division I basketball to cut down the nets in April.