Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Basketball To Play In 2007 Preseason WNIT
5/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 29, 2007
2007 WNIT Bracket in PDF Format
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - For the first time in program history, the Michigan State women's basketball team has been selected to participate in the Preseason WNIT. The event, which is in its 14th season and kicks off Nov. 9, features 16 teams from 16 different conferences. The season-opening tournament will feature a new format this fall, as it moves from single elimination to a three-game guarantee format. Nine of the 16 teams are coming off postseason play, including Delaware, Delaware State, East Tennessee State, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, Notre Dame, TCU and Western Kentucky. A completed bracket with first-round pairings will be announced in June.
The Preseason WNIT invites up to one team per conference. Invitations are made based on expected team strength for the 2007-08 season, as well as past team history. Other factors include conference results, fan base, and geographical location. Nine of the teams will be playing in the Preseason WNIT for the first time in school history: Delaware State, East Tennessee State, IUPUI, LSU, Marshall, Michigan State, Princeton, Radford and Samford.
Below is a look at the complete field for the 2007 Preseason WNIT:
DelawareDelaware StateEast Tennessee StateEvansvilleIUPUILSUMarshallMarylandMiami (OH)Michigan StateNotre DamePrincetonRadfordSamfordTCUWestern Kentucky
A Look at the Tournament Format
All games in the tournament are hosted by participating schools. The initial round of the event will involve eight sites hosted by participating institutions. The winner's bracket will look identical to past Preseason WNIT tournaments.
First-Round Winners
The eight first-round winners will continue on in traditional bracket play, with half of them hosting the other half in separate host sites. The winning teams will continue on, with separate host sites throughout the semifinals and championship. The two teams in the championship game will play four games in the tournament.
First-Round Losers
The eight teams who lose their first-round games will be regrouped into "consolation bracket quads", which are two four-team pools. One team in each pool will be selected to host the other three teams. Each team will play two games for a total of three in the tournament. These rounds will be called Consolation Rounds One and Two.
Quarterfinal-Round Losers (from original bracket)
Of the four quarterfinal teams, two teams will be selected to host one of the other quarterfinal-round losers in a single game at separate sites. This game provides the third game for each of these schools. This round will be called Consolation Round Three.
The 2007 event will start the first Friday of the regular season, Nov. 9. The quarterfinals will be Nov. 11-13, with the semifinals occurring Nov. 14-15. The tournament championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 18. The consolation bracket quads will be played Nov. 16-17. Quarterfinal-round losers will play their final game Nov. 16 or Nov. 17, at separate sites.
