Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State invited to College Basketball Invitational

Two more Kentucky D-1 schools are still playing basketball. My Alma Matter, Eastern Kentucky, is going for their first ever postseason win in school history at home against Charleston (who beat North Carolina- if that means anything this year). Morehead State, a team that should be in the NIT, also has a home game with Colorado State. I've laughed at bigger schools like Cincinnati that have played in this tournament in the past few years, but it's a very good thing for small schools like EKU that win 20 games and are deserving of a chance at some form of postseason play. EKU and Morehead could have quite the advantage in this tournament on their home courts because unlike some of the teams from bigger conferences, this tournament actually means something to them and their fans.

The field also includes Oregon State from the PAC 10 and St. Louis-the biggest NIT snub in the country. The Billicans finished 4th (behind Temple, Richmond, and Xavier) in a very good A-10 this year and were even on the NCAA bubble for most of the season. I'd say that both Morehead, St. Louis, and several other teams in this tournament are more deserving of playing in the NIT than a barely over .500 North Carolina team. I can't believe I did this...but in honor of my Colonels making the CBI, I actually filled out a CBI Bracket. Here's my picks:

• EKU over Charleston in round 1.
• EKU over VCU to advance to the Final Four!
• Morehead over Colorado State at home
• Morehead over Oregon State on the road.
• Final Four of Princeton, Morehead, St. Louis, and EKU.
• EKU falls to St. Louis, Morehead defeats Princeton.
• 2010 CBI Champs: Morehead State wins 2 games to 1 in a three game series with St. Louis.

(Although I am really hoping for it to end with a 3 game series between EKU and Morehead- that would actually be really cool)

St. Louis is probably the best team, but Morehead will want it more and will have a nice home court advantage. Nobody in St. Louis will care and the Eagles will bring Kentucky another basketball championship!