HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University’s goal of making the NCAA tournament for a third time in four years was derailed Saturday by a loss in the MEAC championship game. But the National Invitation Tournament is giving the Pirates a chance to keep playing.
Having secured a berth with its regular-season championship, the Pirates were made a No. 8 seed and will play at Notre Dame Tuesday at 9 p.m. It will be HU’s first appearance in the NIT, which extends automatic bids to regular-season champions that lose in their conference tournaments.
2018 NIT BRACKET
Notre Dame (20-14) was one of the last four teams out of the NCAA tournament and is one of four No. 1 seeds in the NIT. The Fighting Irish upset Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC tournament before losing to Duke in the quarterfinals.
“We figured it would be a Notre Dame-type of team when we saw the teams that didn’t get in (the NCAA),” HU coach Buck Joyner said. “I don’t know much about them other than that they’re a well-coached team with good ball players.
“Getting another opportunity to play probably means more than anything else. But going to Notre Dame ain’t a bad consolation prize because you get to play in one of the most storied atmospheres.”
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