This is the biggest scam to me...
Auto NIT Bids with lower RPIs than Tech
85. Weber St.
109. Troy
138. Coastal Carolina
140. Quinnipiac
143. Stony Brook
144. Jacksonville
199. Jackson St.
I had no idea the NIT had auto bids. That's just crazy.
If I remember correctly, the mandate was the the NIT had to take conference winners that were beaten out in their conference tourney. It's basically a way to ensure that conference champions regardless of RPI are given the chance to play in the post season, thus the NIT doesn't become a "what's left" from the "Big 6" conferences.