March 10, 2002

Houston, Texas - 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.

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.

2002 NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Opening Round
Tuesday, March 12
Montana State (19-9) at Utah State (22-6), TBA
South Florida (19-12) at Ball State (20-11), TBA
St. Joseph's (18-11) at George Mason (19-9), TBA

Wednesday, March 13
Wagner (19-9) at Richmond (19-13), TBA
Louisiana-Lafayette (20-10) at Louisiana Tech (20-9), TBA
Houston (18-14) at Vanderbilt (16-14), TBA
Detroit (18-12) at Dayton (20-10), TBA
Georgia St. (20-10) at Tennessee Tech (24-6), TBA

First Round
Tuesday, March 12
Princeton (16-10) at Louisville (18-12), 9 p.m.
Arizona St. (14-14) at UNLV (20-10), 11 p.m.

Wednesday, March 13
St. Bonaventure (17-12) at Syracuse (20-11), TBA
New Mexico (16-13) at Minnesota (17-12), TBA
South Carolina (18-14) at Virginia (17-11), 7:30 p.m.
LSU (18-14) at Iowa (19-14), 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 14
Bowling Green (24-8) at Butler (25-5), TBA
Yale (20-10) at Rutgers (18-12), TBA
UC-Irvine (21-10) at BYU (17-11), TBA
UNC-Greensboro (20-10) at Memphis (22-9), TBA
Temple (15-14) at Fresno State (19-14), 11:59 p.m.

First Round Dates TBA
Wagner-Richmond winner vs. Montana State-Utah State winner
South Florida-Ball State winner vs. St. Joseph's-George Mason winner
Louisiana-Lafayette-Louisiana Tech winner vs. Houston-Vanderbilt winner
Detroit-Dayton winner vs. Georgia State-Tennessee Tech winner

Second Round
March 18 or 19
TBA

Third Round
March 20-22
TBA

Semifinals
Tuesday, March 26
At Madison Square Garden
New York
6:30 and 9 p.m.

Championship Round
Thursday, March 28
At Madison Square Garden
New York
Third Place , 6:30 p.m.
Championship, 9 p.m.