Kats draw TCU in NIT opener
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State men’s basketball team learned its postseason fate on Sunday evening and will head to Fort Worth to take on the TCU Horned Frogs on Wednesday, March 20, in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament.
The game, which will be aired on ESPNU at 8 p.m., will be the program’s first-ever appearance in the NIT and marks the fifth time in the past six seasons for the Kats to participate in a postseason tournament.
The Bearkats received an automatic bid into the NIT by virtue of claiming this year’s Southland Conference championship and the top seed in last week’s SLC Tournament in Katy. SHSU received a double bye in the event, but fell, 79-76, to No. 4 New Orleans in the tournament semifinals on Friday night at the Merrell Center.
“I think that this tournament and this season is a lot like life,” Bearkat head coach Jason Hooten said. “The guys were disappointed that we didn’t reach the ultimate goal, but we have a lot to be proud of. We’ve accomplished a lot and now have the opportunity play in oldest running tourney out there, and for the first time in the history of our school. We can’t dwell on fact that we are not in the NCAA Tournament because when you do that you miss out on enjoying and taking advantage of the opportunity we have in front of us.”
The Kats were seeded No. 8 in its quarter of the bracket and will face the No. 1 seeded Horned Frogs with the winner advancing to face the winner of No. 4 Nebraska and No. 5 Butler.
Sam Houston and TCU have not met on the hardwood since the 2002-03 season when TCU handed the Kats a 91-81 loss in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs lead the all-time series by a 7-1 margin, having won each of the last seven meetings since SHSU won, 30-27, in the 1937-38 season.
TCU went 20-13 this season, and 7-11 in the Big 12. They knocked off Oklahoma State earlier this weekend in the Big 12 Tournament before falling to top-seeded Kansas State.
For ticket information regarding Wednesday’s game in Fort Worth, fans can contact the Bearkat Ticket Office at 936-294-1729 or by visiting GoBearkats.com/Tickets.
