BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech will host Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on ESPNU in the first round of the 2011 National Invitation Tournament in Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies, 21-11 on the season, are the top seed in their bracket, as announced Sunday night. The Wildcats are 21-12 on the season and were the regular season champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The winner of the Virginia Tech vs. Bethune-Cookman game will play the winner of the Wichita State vs. Nebraska game. If the Hokies win, that game would be played in Cassell Coliseum at a date and time to be announced.
Virginia Tech is one of four number-one seeds in the NIT this season. Boston College, Alabama and Colorado are the other top seeds. As a top seed, the Hokies are assured home games as long as they advance in the tournament until the semifinal round. The semifinal and final rounds will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on March 29 and 31.
This is the Hokies’ fourth consecutive trip to the NIT and their third top seed in the last four years. Tech advanced to the third round last season. The Hokies are 23-9 all-time in the NIT and won the 1973 and 1995 NIT Championships.
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