UH Men Selected to Play Vanderbilt in the NIT

The men's basketball team will travel to play Vanderbilt on Wednesday night in its first postseason action since 1993. Houston is the only Texas team to be selected for the NIT.

Other articles:
Nashville Tennessean:
Vanderbilt accepts NIT berth

VUCommodores.com:
Vanderbilt Earns NIT Berth -- date/time of game TBD on Monday morning

UHCougars.com Release
The University of Houston men's basketball team will travel to Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, March 13, and play Vanderbilt in an opening round game of the 2002 NIT.

"We are very excited to be in the NIT," Houston head coach Ray McCallum said. "We left the Conference USA Tournament feeling good about our chances with 18 wins. We played well there and felt good about our effort. "Vanderbilt plays in the SEC and is used to playing against top-caliber teams. It will be tough challenge because they have a definite home court advantage."

This marks Houston's first postseason tournament appearance since playing in the 1993 NIT. "I think we surprised a lot of people this season," McCallum said. "This is one step to laying the foundation so we can have the success Houston enjoyed under Guy Lewis. This is a very positive start for our players. I am very happy for our program, our team and our seniors, Dominic Smith and Patrick Okafor, who made the decision to come here and help turn our program around."

The Cougars enter the NIT with an 18-14 overall record and enjoyed their best showing in the Conference USA Tournament when they advanced to the semifinals. The winner of the Houston-Vanderbilt game will play the winner of the Louisiana-Lafayette at Louisiana Tech game in a first round match-up on Thursday, March 14.

The Cougars and Commodores have met one time previously on December 29, 1986, when Houston posted a 73-72 win at the Sugar Bowl Tournament in New Orleans. Houston has played in the NIT seven times overall and the Cougars' best finish was in 1977 when Houston advanced to the championship game.