Virginia Tech Receives No. 1 Seed in the NIT

For the third time in four years Virginia Tech has received a No. 1 seed in the NIT. The Hokies will host home games as long as they advance through the first three games until the NIT semifinals, which will be held in New York City on March 29 and 31.

Tech opens its fourth consecutive NIT against Bethune-Cookman from the MEAC at 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday on ESPNU. The winner will face the winner of Wichita State and Nebraska sometime between March 18-21.

After being left out of a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament, the Hokies were granted yet another No. 1 seed in the NIT, which Tech Hoops has dubbed "The Official Postseason Home of Virginia Tech Basketball." And although the Hokies have played nothing but home games in the NIT the previous three seasons, they have never advanced to New York for the NIT's version of the Final Four.

In 2008, Tech advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT before losing to Ole Miss. In 2009, the Hokies beat Duquesne before getting blown out in the second round by Baylor. Last year, the Hokies scored a big win over UConn in the second round of the NIT before losing against at home in the quarterfinals to Rhode Island.

The other side of the Hokies' bracket includes match-ups between Dayton and the College of Charleston and Cleveland State and Vermont. It's a bracket that the Hokies could easily make it out of and advance to New York. However, most of Tech's tournament hopes will depend on whether or not it's motivated enough to make a run to the semifinals.