Ducks Meet Wolverines in NIT National Semifinals
WHAT’S ON TAP . . . Oregon makes its third all-time appearance in the NIT Final Four when it travels to New York City to square off with Michigan in a national semifinal game at 6 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 30. ESPN2 will televise the game live nationally.
OREGON IN THE NIT . . . 2004 marks Oregon’s ninth all-time appearance in the National Invitation Tournament, which leads all Pac-10 teams. Oregon is now 11-9 in 20 previous NIT games. The Ducks last appeared in the NIT in 1999, when they defeated Georgia Tech (67-64), Wyoming (93-72) and Texas Christian (77-68) to advance to the Final Four in New York. Oregon’s best NIT was its first in 1975 when the Ducks advanced to New York. That team, led by tournament MVP Ron Lee, Greg Ballard and current UO head coach Ernie Kent, finished third.
POSTSEASON SIGNIFICANCE . . . The 2004 NIT also marks Oregon’s third straight postseason appearance, following the 2002 and 2003 NCAA tournaments. It’s just the second time that UO has played in three straight postseason tournaments; the other occasion was 1975-77 when Oregon participated in three straight NITs.
