Clemson earns NIT bid, faces Wright State in opener

**Update: Clemson vs. Wright State moved to Tuesday at 7PM**

This isn’t where Clemson expected to be, but Brad Brownell’s squad will host his former school, Wright State, in Tuesday's first-round matchup of the NIT in Littlejohn Coliseum at 7 PM.

The Tigers missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth, having the second-best N.E.T. rating of every team that missed the Big Dance. Clemson finished at #35 in N.E.T., while #33 NC State was also left out, while Arizona State #63 and St. John’s #73 are both in the NCAA Tournament.

As for Clemson, now an NIT No. 2 seed, they will face No. 7 seed Wright State and can advance to play the winner of No. 3 seed Furman and No. 6 seed Wichita State. 

If the Tigers can beat Wright State, it would make for an interesting second-round game as Furman is right next door in Greenville, and Wichita State is coached by Greg Marshall who once coached at Winthrop and is a native of Greenwood, SC.

General public tickets are $12 and Clemson students get in for FREE with a valid ID. All tickets are on sale now at ClemsonTigers.com, at the athletic ticket office Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by calling 1-800-CLEMSON.

All seating is general admission, with the exception of the coliseum and courtside club, and areas behind the team benches.

Clemson is making its 17th appearance in the NIT. The program has an 18-16 record all-time in the event, and advanced to the championship final twice previously (1999, 2007). Clemson is 12-4 in Littlejohn Coliseum in the NIT, having won 12-of-its-last-13 at home heading into Tuesday’s contest.

The first three rounds of the NIT are held at host sites, while the semifinals and championship are scheduled for Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 2 and 4.

Wright State finished 21-13 overall and 13-5 in the Horizon League this season. Loudon Love leads the Raiders with 15.1 points per game this season and also leads the team with 8.2 rebounds per contest.