March 12, 2006
Notre Dame, Ind. –
2006 National Invitation Tournament Bracket in PDF Format
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Notre Dame (15-13) will play host to a first round game in the 2006 National Invitation Tournament against Vanderbilt (16-11) on Wednesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. (EST). The Irish are the No. 5 seed in their bracket, while the Commodores earned the No. 4 seed.
The 40-team field was announced on Sunday evening, March 12 with both Notre Dame and Vanderbilt receiving opening round byes. The winner of the contest advances on to play either No. 1 seed Michigan or the winner of an opening round game between No. 9 seed UTEP or No. 10 seed Lipscomb.
Wednesday night’s contest will be televised by ESPN.
This will mark Notre Dame’s 10th appearance in the NIT. Through the years, Irish teams have compiled a 22-9 mark (.710) overall in 31 games played and have advanced to the champion game on four occasions (1973, 1984, 1992 and 2000).
The contest will be the ninth meeting ever between the two schools with the series tied at 4-4. Notre Dame has been victorious each of the last two times the teams have met. The last matchup between the two schools was during the 2002-03 campaign when the Irish earned a 76-63 victory at the Joyce Center on December 30, 2002. Wednesday’s contest will mark the fourth visit by a Commodore team to the Joyce Center. Vanderbilt teams are 2-1 in the three previous games they have played at the Joyce Center. It’s last victory over Notre Dame was an overtime decision (87-85) at the Joyce Center on December 4, 1999.
Tickets for the Notre Dame-Vanderbilt game are $28 (loge), $22 (lower arena), $12 (bleacher) and $5 (Notre Dame, St. Mary’s and Holy Cross students). Sales on Monday,. March 13 are limited to Notre Dame season-ticket holders and Notre Dame/Saint Mary’s/Holy Cross students. Sales begin at 9:00 a.m. EST at the Joyce Center ticket windows and by phone by calling 574-631-7356 (VISA, MasterCard, American Express accepted).
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, March 14 to the general public beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST and are available at the Joyce Center Ticket Office, by phone (574-631-7356) and online at www.und.com (click here). A service charge will apply to all orders.