National Invitation Tournament

The National Invitation Tournament, otherwise known as NIT, is sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and is held for college basketball teams that do not make it into the final, regular season NCAA playoffs. The games are held for both men's and women's teams. The NIT began with six teams and currently has thirty-two, divided into four, eight team regions.¹ For sports enthusiasts, the NIT provides a printable bracket for playoff teams.²

Fast Facts

1. Established: 1938
2. Pre-Season NIT determines teams for playoffs
3. 2008 Winners: Ohio State University³
4. "The NIT Season Tip-Off" is played in November
5. "The Postseason NIT" is played in March and April⁴
6. Final two teams play in New York City at Madison Square Garden ⁴

Selection Process

The seedings are similar to the NCAA with the exception that higher seeds always host their games. Selection is currently done by a committee of six former NCAA Head Coaches who prepare a list of potential teams and vote by secret ballot. There is no limit on the number of teams that can be chosen from one conference. ⁴

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