Did you say you were hungry for MORE UConn men's basketball this year?

I thought you might have.

We (mostly) took the last five days off after UConn's embarrassing blowout loss to St. John's in the Big East tournament. It was a spiritual journey in which we looked deep within ourselves. At the end of any existential journey into one's mind, you realize that, when you consider everything that exists, you have no choice but to conclude that it's all meaningless.

That's just about the best segue I could come up with to announce this:

UConn will host Northeastern in the first round of the NIT Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ESPN2). Get your brackets in now.

More, including the school's official release, after the jump.

This game, of course, matches up Jim Calhoun's last two coaching stops. Northeastern went 20-12 this year, 14-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association. After a 2-7 start, the other Huskies won 15 of 16 over a period stretching from Christmas to mid-February.

KenPom ranks UConn 55th (down from 38th as recently as the Louisville game), and Northeastern 76th. We'll scrounge together a preview sometime before Tuesday.

If UConn were to win, they'd face a second-round matchup with either a pissed-off Virginia Tech team or Quinnipiac. UConn's the fourth seed, so they'd either host Tom Moore or travel to Blacksburg. Elsewhere in UConn's "region", #2 Rhode Island hosts Northwestern and #3 Wichita State hosts Nevada.

I am not happy with any of this. But here we are. UConn's 17-15, having blown in spectacular fashion every chance it had at making a run at a tournament that matters. They've put us all in this situation. We may as well make the best of it. I'll never not watch a UConn basketball game, and hey, maybe if everyone decides to just back off and let Kemba do his thing, the Huskies might win a game or two.

The last time UConn played in the NIT, they were embarrassed with a home loss to Detroit Mercy. I'd like to see the seniors leave Gampel with one last win, at the very least.

A run to MSG would kind of make the end of this season palatable. A run to MSG and Syracuse looking to Vermont would honestly make me feel OK about everything that has happened since November.

Stick with us this week. The season that refuses to die...refuses to die.

EDIT: For those of you interested in attending, here's the official press release with all you need to know:

STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut men's basketball team has been selected to the field of 32 for the 2010 National Invitation Tournament and will host Northeastern in the first round on Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. The game will be televised nationally on espn2.

UConn (17-15) is the No. 4 seed in the Virginia Tech bracket and Northeastern (20-12) is the No. 5 seed.

Tickets for the game Tuesday in Storrs are $10 each, $2 for UConn students.

UConn Club members have first priority on available seats beginning Sunday evening until Monday, March 15 at Noon. Donors are receiving an email on Sunday evening providing priority to purchase tickets online. Donors can also phone the UConn Athletic Office at 1-877-AT-UCONN (288-2666) between 9:00am and Noon on Monday.

All UConn fans may order tickets beginning at Noon on Monday, March 15. Tickets are available at UConnHuskies.com (Click "BUY TICKETS" in Ticket Center) or by calling the UConn Athletic Office at 1-877-AT-UCONN (288-2666).

Tickets for UConn students are $2 each and can be purchased on campus at the Gampel Pavilion Ticket Office beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 15. Current student ID required.

Parking is $5 per vehicle and will be collected at the entrances to the North and South garages on game day.