Preaseason NIT Semifinals Preview: Purdue-BC and Oklahoma-UAB

While the Preseason NIT field has been stronger in past years, this year's semifinal teams should not be overlooked. The quartet still features two top-15 teams and arguably the best player in the country.

No. 9 Purdue (4-0) and No. 13 Oklahoma (4-0), with star forward Blake Griffin, will both be in action tonight at Madison Square Garden. It's a shame that New Yorkers don't get to see Stephen Curry and Davidson, who lost to the Sooners, but they'll get their chance in December when the Wildcats come to the Garden for the Jimmy V Classic.

It's not like Griffin isn't equally dazzling. The 6'10" sophomore would've been a lottery pick in last year's NBA Draft, but he decided to return to school. He is a rare combination of the four S's—speed, size, strength, and skill—that makes him perhaps the most dominant player in college basketball. Through four games this season, Griffin is averaging 26 points and 19.8 rebounds per contest.

Oklahoma's opponent tonight, UAB, has a trio of scorers averaging at least 15 points a game, led by senior guard Robert Vaden. But like every other team in the country, the Blazers don't have anyone to slow down Griffin, making a trip to the NIT finals very difficult. Even so, UAB's last-minute win at Arizona proved they are not a team to be taken lightly.

On the other side of the bracket, Purdue faces Boston College. The Boilermakers coasted to New York, winning their two regional games by an average margin of 26 points. BC will be their first true test of the season, though.

If they want to prevail, they'll have to slow down guard Tyrese Rice. The Eagles' senior leader is averaging 16.7 ppg, but he is coming off one of the worst shooting games of his career, as he went a measly 2-14 from the field in an upset loss to Saint Louis.

Purdue's Chris Kramer, last season's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, will likely guard Rice, and the pesky junior will do all he can to frustrate BC's leading scorer. If Rice can't get going, BC might have trouble cracking 60 points, and that will probably result in a trip to the consolation game.

A championship showdown between Oklahoma and Purdue seems likely, but with both underdogs having a big-time scorer on their roster, upsets are possible. Unless Griffin has a rare off night and Purdue's young talent falters under New York's bright lights, though, don't count on it.

Note: I'll be at tonight's games, so check back for a recap tomorrow!