2017 NIT Season Tip Off: Virginia to face Austin Peay and Monmouth before Vanderbilt

We have known for the better part of nine months now that the 2017 Preseason NIT, now called the NIT Season Tip Off, will feature four teams who all made the 2016 NCAA Tournament, including the Virginia Cavaliers, who received the lowest seed among the four, at No. 5. The Hoos are slated to face Vanderbilt, with the winner to face the winner of Rhode Island and Seton Hall.

As part of the NIT Season Tip Off, although it won’t have any bearing as to who will travel to the Barclays Center for the bracketed play, each team will host two non-bracketed teams. It’s been announced that Virginia will face Austin Peay on November 13, and will host Monmouth on November 19.

Austin Peay finished last season 11-19 overall, while Monmouth finished 27-7 overall, with an 18-2 record in the MAAC tournament. They fell in the first round of the NIT to Ole Miss, who made it through to the NIT quarterfinals.

UNC-Asheville and Fairleigh Dickinson are the other two non-bracketed teams, though the Hoos won’t be playing either of them.

Virginia and Vanderbilt will tip off on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, at 4:00 p.m. on ESPNU. Both the championship and the consolation games will be played the following day, on November 24.