The Washington Huskies will again tempt fate on Selection Sunday.
Like last year, the Huskies have a practice scheduled for tonight in anticipation of a postseason invitation.
Last year, UW had no need to take the court when it was snubbed by the NIT.
But this season, despite a worse record (16-16 compared to 19-13 last year), the Huskies’ chances of playing again appear better thanks to the introduction of a new postseason tournament, the College Basketball Invitational.
After the NCAA tournament selects 65 teams and the NIT takes 32, the CBI will invite 16 more (the CBI says it will compete for teams with the NIT, but logically, it will choose from teams left over).
Playing for the right to say “We’re No. 98″ might not seem like much.
But UW coaches and players say they would like to continue their season.
Do the Huskies deserve to keep playing?
“In the conference that we are in, no doubt,” said coach Lorenzo Romar, citing the strength of the Pac-10 this season.
The CBI was formed as a reaction to the NIT reducing its field from 40 to 32 teams after it was taken over by the NCAA. The NIT also now is required to invite all regular-season champions that don’t make the NCAA tournament.

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