Pop the champagne. Blow the party horns. Wave your Husky Dog flags.

UConn received its sixth NIT bid under coach Jim Calhoun, hosting Northeastern at 7 p.m. Tuesday in first round action at Gampel Pavilion.

Okay, so maybe you're not excited that the Huskies are playing in the NIT after reaching the Final Four last season. By the way, they're the No. 4 seed.

Join the crowd.

Other teams have reasons to be unhappy, too.

The NCAA selection committee snubbed Virginia Tech, Illinois and Rhode Island, allowing the NIT to scoop up three very good programs.

For the second time in three years, the defending national champion is playing in the NIT. North Carolina is a No. 4 seed. Florida experienced a freefall in 2008.

Then there's the other side.

Tom Moore's Quinnipiac and Steve Pikiell's Stony Brook are both thrilled to be in the post-season for the first time.

You can bet Northeastern (20-12) is excited, too.

We'll find out Tuesday what the NIT means to UConn and if the Huskies have any fight left in them.