What is the NIT? A Brief History

Before there was March Madness, there was the NIT. Here’s a brief history of the lesser-known tournament.

Did your college basketball team not make it to the NCAA Tournament? Shucks. Sorry to hear that. They could still compete in the NIT, a less prestigious tournament that has admittedly lost its glory in the last few decades.

Not every basketball program is lucky or talented enough to be included in the field of 68. Even those riding atop the highest horses have fallen short of making the NCAA Tournament and may instead be eligible to play in the NIT.

Today, competing in the NIT, widely considered as a blander postseason staple of men’s college basketball, bears an undesirable stigma. Do you see anyone placing unwise bets on the winners? Do you even know the winner from years prior?

If you’ve gone most of your adult life having no clue what the NIT is, here’s a brief history of the tournament.

What is the NIT?

The NIT stands for the National Invitational Tournament. It started as the first-ever college basketball postseason tournament but has since become a consolation competition for teams that do not receive a berth in the NCAA tournament.

When was the NIT founded?

The National Invitational Tournament was founded in 1938 as a prestigious cross-country postseason tournament by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. It came into existence one year after the NAIA tournament (which was created by Dr. James Naismith) and one year before the NCAA tournament.

How many teams play in the NIT?

In its inception, the National Invitational Tournament invited six teams to play at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. It has adopted a 32-team format since 2007.

Teams would typically play the early rounds outside of New York, and the Final Four would play at Madison Square Garden. Starting in 2023, the Garden will no longer host any NIT games.

Why did the NIT decline?

Once considered the most prestigious postseason college basketball tournament, the National Invitational Tournament got eclipsed by the NCAA starting in the 1970s. As the NCAA Tournament grew in size and influence and started making more of its own rules, it attracted more viewers and caused the NIT to lose its prestige.

The NCAA also at one point ran negative advertising campaigns against the privately-run rival, and a 1950s point-shaving scandal further damaged the tournament’s reputation.

By the 1980s, the NIT catered only to regionalized communities and effectively turned into a secondary tournament for teams that didn’t make it to the NCAA.

In 2005, the NCAA purchased ownership rights to the National Invitational Tournament.

Who was the 2022 NIT champion?

Xavier beat Texas A&M, 73-72, to win the 2022 NIT championship.