NEW YORK, N.Y. ? The Elon men’s basketball team will be part of the 16-team field of the 25th annual Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament, according to the announcement made today by C.M. Newton, chair of the NIT Selection Committee. The Phoenix will be among the four teams competing in the East Regional, which will take place at Duke University, home of the three-time NIT Season Tip-Off Champion Blue Devils.
 
“It is an honor to play in such a historic event,” said first-year Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “The NIT has put together another great field and to be able to participate in the East Regional at Duke is a great way for our players and fans to start the season.”
 
In the East Regional, Elon will take on Atlantic 10 Conference foe Charlotte in the opening round of the NIT, while Duke will challenge Coastal Carolina in first-round action on November 16 or 17.
 
Arizona State, the host of the West Regional, will battle Texas State University-San Marcos, while TCU will face off against Cal State Northridge. In the South Region, host Louisiana State will tip against Indiana State, and Western Kentucky will play the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. North Region host University of Connecticut will entertain Colgate and serve as the site for the contest between Hofstra and Yale.
 
The regional games will be played on November 16 and 17 and the consolation bracket will take place on November 23 and 24 on the home campus sites of the three highest remaining seeds. The championship round will be played at New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the semifinal and final doubleheaders on November 25 and 27.
 
Participating teams will not play any team twice and the third and fourth rounds will be assigned to the most geographically compatible site possible. The NIT Season Tip-Off assures every participating team four games.
 
Matheny, the former associate head coach at Davidson College, was hired at Elon in March to lead a group that returns 10 players from the 2008 squad. The Phoenix welcomes back four seniors (Devan Carter, Adam Constantine, TJ Douglas, Jon Ogolo) to the team as well as an experienced junior guard in Chris Long.