Xavier to host NIT matchup against Toledo on Wednesday

The NIT bracket has been revealed and Xavier will be a 3 seed, hosting 6 seed Toledo at Cintas on Wednesday at 7pm on ESPN3. The winner of this game will go on to play the winner of the Texas/South Dakota State game.

Xavier, who finished 18-15 and 9-9 in Big East play, is playing in the NIT for the first time since 2000. The Muskies won the NIT way back in 1958, when they were still sending the ref up to pluck it out of the peach basket after every made shot (not actually).

Toledo finished the season at 25-7 and 13-5 in the MAC. Toledo’s best win was probably a neutral site victory over UC Irvine back before Thanksgiving. Since then, the only KenPom top 100 team they’ve played is Buffalo, who beat them twice. Toledo washed out of the MAC tournament in the first round against Northern Illinois.

Xavier has been hot recently, winning 7 of 9 and dropping their second Big East tournament game against Nova on a controversial call at the end of regulation. With a determined young core, a first year head coach, and three grad transfer seniors looking to leave one last mark on the game, this is a team primed to make a run in the NIT.