The National Invitational Tournament, which started as 32 teams back on March 15th, has now whittled its way down to four as Alabama, Colorado, Wichita State, and Washington State battle for the championship at Madison Square Garden in New York. All four teams will take the floor this evening, but tonight's second contest features the top seeded Crimson Tide squaring off against another one seed in the Buffaloes. Tip off is scheduled for 9:00pm ET on ESPN2. NCAA Point Spreads have Alabama listed as a -135 2011 NIT Semifinals moneyline favorite and the Over/Under set at 143.5.
Colorado, which felt slightly that it did not receive an NCAA Tournament bid, has made the most of its NIT opportunity, and
now finds itself on the cusp of a championship game appearance. The 24-13 Buffaloes arrived at Madison Square by virtue of its wins over Texas Southern, California, and Kent State.
Colorado's solid play began long before its March 16th meeting with the Tigers, though, as it won five of its final seven games. The Buffaloes late success, and their NIT success in particular, has had a great deal to do with sophomore guard Alex Burks. Burks has scored no fewer than 23 points in CU's last six games and he is averaging 25.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the team's NIT run.
He will be the Crimson Tide's first and biggest priority when Alabama and Colorado lock horns this evening.
Anthony Grant's squad, like its opponent tonight, had a number of big wins during the season, beating NCAA Tournament teams Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia in route to a 21-11 pre-NIT record.
The Crimson Tide, which fell to John Calipari's Wildcats in the SEC Tournament, earned their way to the Big Apple by recording wins over Coastal Carolina, New Mexico, and Miami.
Alabama's last win, a 79-64 beating of the Hurricanes, was especially impressive as the Tide shot 54.5 percent from the field while forcing Miami into a 2-for-15 night from beyond the arc. Four Tide players scored in double figures, including freshman guard Trevor Releford, who tallied a game high 22 points.
Both of these teams are used to playing against high caliber opposition, and should not be rattled by tonight's step up in competition. It should be tightly contested, but Colorado has an offensive edge in Burks that will help it move on to the final.
Alabama vs Colorado Spreads 2011 NIT Semifinals:
Alabama Crimson Tide -2.5 (-110), Over 143.5 (-110), -135 (Moneyline)
Colorado Buffaloes +2.5 (-110), Under 143.5 (-110), +125 (Moneyline)
