NCAA: New Jersey schools again eligible to host NCAA tourney games

Good news for Jersey: The NCAA tournament is officially back on the good side ... of the NCAA ... in New Jersey.

After a temporary ban was put on the state's universities and arenas due to a fight over legal gambling in the Garden State, the AP reported a permanent injunction from a judge has reversed the decision. In short: Legal betting on sports games has been a dream for New Jersey legislators, but they can't cut through the red tape.

And since Jersey won't be getting the goods on gambling soon, the tourney can come back to New Jersey. Which means the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight can once again return to its rightful place: Newark. Here are the basics:

... U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton issued a permanent injunction (last) Thursday, barring New Jersey from offering sports betting in the state. Gov. Chris Christie signed a sports wagering law last year, but the NCAA and four major sports leagues challenged it.

Carol Blazejowski, the associate vice president for university advancement at Montclair State University, said she had received the NCAA memo. The NCAA did not return calls and an email seeking comment.

This will remain the status quo going forward, unless New Jersey can somehow turn the ship around and get legalized gambling on sports passed.

The NCAA announced in December its sites for the 2015 and 2016 tournaments, meaning New Jersey won't know its next possibility at hosting the NCAAs again until the cycle of voting comes through again and is released in late 2014.

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