- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Wake Forest to Host Navy in NIT Opener
Deacons look to extend season in postseason tournament matchup
Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:50am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Wake Forest will welcome the Navy Midshipmen to Joel Coliseum on Wednesday night for a first-round matchup in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Deacons are looking to extend their season after missing out on the NCAA Tournament, while Navy aims to pull off an upset on the road.
Why it matters
The NIT provides an opportunity for Wake Forest to continue building momentum heading into the offseason, as the program looks to build on its progress from this season. For Navy, a win over a Power 5 opponent like Wake Forest would be a significant accomplishment and boost the Midshipmen's profile.
The details
Wake Forest earned an NIT bid after finishing the regular season with a 19-13 record, including a 10-10 mark in ACC play. The Deacons are led by junior guard Damari Monsanto, who averaged 15.2 points per game this season. Navy, meanwhile, posted a 19-12 record in the regular season and earned an automatic bid to the NIT by winning the Patriot League regular-season title.
- The first-round NIT matchup between Wake Forest and Navy will tip off on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
The players
Damari Monsanto
A junior guard who led Wake Forest in scoring this season, averaging 15.2 points per game.
What they’re saying
“We're excited for the opportunity to continue our season in the NIT. Navy is a tough opponent, but we're looking forward to the challenge of trying to make a run in this tournament.”
— Steve Forbes, Head Coach, Wake Forest
What’s next
The winner of the Wake Forest-Navy matchup will advance to face the winner of the Vanderbilt-Toledo first-round game in the second round of the NIT.
The takeaway
While missing out on the NCAA Tournament is disappointing for Wake Forest, the Deacons have a chance to build momentum for next season by making a deep run in the NIT. A strong postseason performance could provide a springboard for the program heading into the offseason.
