Missouri, SMS included in NIT field

NEW YORK -- Shunned by the NCAA tournament for the first time in 12 years, Maryland heads the 40-team field for the NIT.

DePaul was one of Conference USA's five teams selected on Sunday for the 68th NIT. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Mid-American Conference each had four teams chosen, and the Colonial Athletic Association had three. America East is sending two teams -- Northeastern and Boston University -- to the tournament for the first time. The Big East, Big 12, Pac-10 and Southeastern Conference each had two.

Missouri (16-16) was included in the field and will face DePaul (19-10) at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Also representing the Big 12 will be Texas A&M (19-9), which faces Clemson (16-15) in the first round.

Saint Joseph's (19-11) made it to the NCAA's regional finals a year ago, but is one of two Atlantic 10 teams in the NIT. The other, Temple (16-13), will probably not know until Monday if coach John Chaney will return for the Owls' first-round game against Virginia Tech (15-13), a school spokesman said. Chaney missed the final five games of the season as punishment for ordering rough play from one of his players that resulted in an injury to senior John Bryant of Saint Joseph's.

There are 11 teams with at least 20 wins, down from 13 last year. Indiana (15-13) was one of three teams with 15 victories -- the fewest wins by selected teams.

Maryland (16-12) lost five of six, including their last four, and was eliminated by Clemson in the first round of the ACC tournament. The rough finish helped snap its school-record 11 straight trips to the NCAA tournament. Instead, the Terrapins will play Wednesday against Oral Roberts (25-7), which is making its first postseason appearance in eight years.

"One of our goals was to win the national championship, and right now we're not in the tournament," Maryland forward Nik Caner-Medley said. "As a team we didn't reach our goals, so I'm disappointed."

Clemson (16-15) and Miami (16-12) round out the ACCs teams. Miami will face South Carolina (15-13) on Tuesday, pitting Miami coach Frank Haith against Dave Odom, his former boss.

"The NIT is all about matchups, and they looked at Dave Odom, myself and our relationship when they put this together," Haith said.

DePaul (19-10) will be joined by Memphis (19-15), Marquette (19-11), Houston (18-13) and Texas Christian (19-13) from Conference USA.

Notre Dame (17-11), snubbed by the NCAA tournament after going 9-7 in the Big East, is making its second straight trip to the NIT. The Fighting Irish will face Holy Cross (24-6) in the first round Tuesday in South Bend.

"You can say all you want, we had opportunities," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said of his team being overlooked by the NCAA tournament. "You had chances to nail it and you didn't nail it."

Georgetown (17-12), the other Big East team, will host Boston University (20-8).

Buffalo (22-9) will host Drexel (17-11) on Wednesday in its first postseason appreance since joining Division I 14 years ago. Losers in overtime to Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference championship game, the Bulls took little solace in their invitation.

"There won't be any consolation," coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "But we'll show up and give everything we've got. That will be separate from the NCAA tournament. We'll play as hard as we absolutely can for as long as we have to play."

Rice (19-11) at Southwest Missouri State (18-12) will meet in an opening-round game on Wednesday.