Milwaukee to face Western Kentucky in NIT Season Tip-Off

NIT Season Tip-Off bracket in PDF Format

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will face Western Kentucky in its first game of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, the NCAA announced today.

The Panthers and Hilltoppers will play Nov. 16 in Baton Rouge, La., as part of the South Regional. A game time has not yet been set.

Louisiana State is the host for the regional, with the Tigers taking on Indiana State in the site's other first round game. The winners and losers square off the following day.

Milwaukee knows it will play a total of four games in the event. If UWM can win twice in Baton Rouge, it would advance to the NIT Season Tip-Off Semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Otherwise, the Panthers will be assigned to one of four consolation sites, with those destinations determined following the conclusion of first and second round play.

This is Milwaukee's second appearance in the NIT's preseason event. The Panthers opened the 2005-06 season with a loss at Memphis in the NIT when the tournament followed a single-elimination format. UWM has also appeared in the postseason NIT once, beating Rice before falling at Boise State in 2004.

UWM went 17-14 last season while claiming 11 wins in the Horizon League. The Panthers have been to the NCAA Tournament three times in this decade, winning three games. UWM also has three regular season league titles to its credit.

In 2009-10, the Panthers bring back much of their team from a season ago, including all-league performer Tone Boyle and all-newcomer team honoree James Eayrs.

Western Kentucky dropped a heartbreaking, 83-81 decision to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago. The Hilltoppers finished 25-9 overall and return five of their top six scorers this season.