tommy amaker

This was January 2000, inside Walsh Gymnasium, the cozy headquarters of Seton Hall's basketball program that still looked like a place where Jimmy Chitwood might have knocked down a few jumpers back in the day. Tommy Amaker, sitting on a wood row of bleachers, was describing a vision he couldn't quite shake. "You look at what we're trying to do here, what St. John's is trying to do, you can't help but be excited about what that rivalry could mean to both schools, both states," Amaker said.

You look at what we’re trying to do here, what St. John’s is trying to do, you can’t help but be excited about what that rivalry could mean to both schools, both states   -Tommy Amaker

 

For the first time since 1946, the Harvard men's basketball team will play a postseason game. The Crimson will end the 64-year drought tonight when it travels to Boone, N.C. to take on Appalachian State in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. "We think it's a monumental step," Harvard coach Tommy Amaker said.

We think it’s a monumental step   -Tommy Amaker

 

Harvard will play a basketball game beyond the regular season for the first time since it was in the NCAA Tournament in 1946 and, for Coach Tommy Amaker, he personally sees North Carolina as a great place to resume postseason basketball for his program. Amaker's Harvard Crimson will play at Appalachian State Wednesday night in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. "We are excited," Amaker said.

It's been a fun year for our kids and they've done a tremendous job, so we are appreciative and excited for the opportunity to keep playing.   -Tommy Amaker

 

Sixteen men's basketball teams including Marshall's Thundering Herd are playing for the CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship. Marshall is the overall top seed and has home-court advantage throughout. Opening-round games are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  

North Carolina and UConn are lending some serious star power to the NIT. Both teams went to the Final Four a year ago, and both were No. 4 seeds in the bracket for also-rans released Sunday. In the case of North Carolina, it's the second time in the past three years that the defending national champion missed the NCAA tournament, joining Florida in 2008.

I just didn't do as good a job with this club this year as I needed to   -Roy Williams

 

George Mason and Harvard are among 16 teams in the College Insider.com tournament. The CIT field was revealed late Sunday night on the Web site collegeinsider.com . George Mason (17-14), which made a captivating run to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in 2006 under coach Jim Larranaga, will host Fairfield (22-10) in the first round Tuesday. Harvard (21-7), coached by Tommy Amaker, finished third in the Ivy League and will play at Appalachian State (22-12) on Wednesday.  

George Mason and Harvard are among 16 teams in the College Insider.com tournament. The CIT field was revealed late Sunday night on the Web site collegeinsider.com . George Mason (17-14), which made a captivating run to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in 2006 under coach Jim Larranaga, will host Fairfield (22-10) in the first round Tuesday. Harvard (21-7), coached by Tommy Amaker, finished third in the Ivy League and will play at Appalachian State (22-12) on Wednesday.  

John Wall scored seven of his 15 points in overtime, and Kentucky (32-2) rallied from five down with 2:28 left in regulation to beat Mississippi State 75-74 on Sunday. It was the Wildcats' 26th Southeastern Conference tournament championship. Mississippi State (23-11) lost for the second time to the Wildcats this season after leading late in regulation.  

Appalachian State men's basketball will host Harvard on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Holmes Center in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The game marks the fourth NCAA Division I postseason appearance for the Mountaineers (22-12), who played in the 2007 National Invitational Tournament as well as the 1979 and 2000 NCAA Tournaments. It is the first-ever meeting with the Crimson (21-7, 10-4 Ivy), though the programs' head coaches are familiar with each other.  

Saint Mary's (26-5) 37; Richmond (26-8) 24; San Diego State (25-8) 16; Cornell (27-4) 14; Washington (24-9) 10; Marquette (22-11) 9; Utah State (27-7) 5; Xavier (24-8) 4; Old Dominion (26-8) 3; Georgia Tech (22-12) 2; Siena (27-6) 2; Minnesota (21-13) 1; Texas (24-9) 1. The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.