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The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament featuring teams that are not competing in March Madness. The tournament, which debuted in 1938, is operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 2024 NIT semifinals took place on April 2, and the championship game was held on April 4. The 2025 NIT semifinals and final will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with the championship game taking place on April 3.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| NIT stands for | National Invitation Tournament |
| Type of Tournament | Single-elimination postseason college basketball tournament |
| Year of debut | 1938 |
| Teams Involved | Teams who aren't competing in March Madness |
| Number of Teams | 32 |
| Seeded Teams | Top 16 teams |
| Rounds | Two initial rounds before quarterfinals |
| Semifinals Date and Time | April 2, 2024, at 7 pm and 9:30 pm |
| Championship Date and Time | April 4, 2024, at 7 pm ET |
| Championship Venue | Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana |
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What You'll Learn
- The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament
- The 2024 NIT semifinals were on April 2, and the championship game was on April 4
- The 2025 NIT semifinals and final will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
- The NIT was considered the most prestigious post-season tournament before being superseded by the NCAA tournament in the 1950s
- The NCAA tournament is now regarded as the pre-eminent postseason tournament
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament
From its founding in 1938 until 2022, the semifinals and finals were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament have been played at various sites across the country, with the semifinals and final played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for two consecutive years.
The NIT predates the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by one year and was considered the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball before its status was superseded by the NCAA tournament in the mid-1950s. The NIT is still held in generally higher regard than newer tournaments that have debuted since 2008, such as the College Basketball Invitational and the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
A second, more recent "NIT" tournament, known as the NIT Season Tip-Off or Preseason NIT, was founded in 1985 and is played in November. Unlike the postseason NIT, its final rounds are played at Madison Square Garden.
The 2024 NIT semifinals were held on April 2, and the championship game was played on April 4 at 7 pm ET, with the Seton Hall Pirates claiming their second NIT title.
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The 2024 NIT semifinals were on April 2, and the championship game was on April 4
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The tournament debuted in 1938 and is a single-elimination format. It involves teams that aren't competing in March Madness. From its founding in 1938 to 2022, the semifinals and finals were always played at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City.
The 2024 NIT semifinals were on April 2, with games at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The championship game was on April 4 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The semifinals and championship game were played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, home of the Butler Bulldogs basketball teams.
The NIT is a prestigious tournament with a long history, and the 2024 edition provided an opportunity for teams to showcase their talent and pursue the championship title. The semifinals and final are crucial stages that determine the ultimate winner, with the semifinalists vying for a place in the championship game and the chance to lift the trophy.
The 2024 NIT promised intense competition and thrilling basketball action, with teams battling it out on the court to secure their place in the latter stages of the tournament. The semifinals set the tone for the championship game, where the finalists competed for the ultimate prize. The dates of April 2 and April 4 marked pivotal moments in the tournament, as the semifinals and championship game decided the fate of the contenders and crowned the new champion.
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The 2025 NIT semifinals and final will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 2025 NIT semifinals and final will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the second consecutive year. The NIT was considered the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball before its status was superseded in the mid-1950s by the NCAA tournament.
Historically, the NIT offered some advantages over the NCAA tournament. In its early years, before 1950, playing all of its games in New York City provided teams with greater media exposure, both with the general public and potential recruits. The NCAA also staged its eastern regional final and Final Four in New York City during this period.
The NIT has a rich history, with universities like Tulsa and Connecticut regarding their NIT championships as a source of pride and a "lure" for players to join their programs. The NIT is also generally held in higher regard than newer tournaments that have debuted since 2008, such as the College Basketball Invitational and the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
The 2025 NIT semifinals will take place on Tuesday, April 1, and the championship game is set for Thursday, April 3. Butler University and the Indiana Sports Corporation will serve as hosts for the event, which will feature a 32-team field. The first round, second round, and quarterfinals will be played at campus sites, with only the top 16 teams seeded.
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The NIT was considered the most prestigious post-season tournament before being superseded by the NCAA tournament in the 1950s
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NIT predates the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by one year. From its founding in 1938 until 2022, the semifinals and finals were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In the early years of college basketball, the NIT was considered the most prestigious post-season tournament. This was partly due to the limited national media coverage of college basketball in the 1930s and 1940s, and by hosting all its games in New York City, the NIT provided teams with greater media exposure. Additionally, the original NCAA tournament only included eight teams, so many good teams were left out and opted to play in the NIT instead, making it the stronger tournament.
However, in the mid-1950s, the NCAA tournament overtook the NIT in prestige and became the pre-eminent postseason tournament. Several factors contributed to this shift. Firstly, the NCAA expanded its field to include more teams, while the NIT was associated with point-shaving scandals that reduced the legitimacy of its winners. Secondly, the NCAA eliminated the one-team-per-conference rule in 1975, requiring invited teams to participate in their tournament or forfeit any postseason play. This further relegated the NIT to a collection of teams that did not qualify for the NCAA tournament.
While the NIT has lost some of its luster compared to the NCAA tournament, it still holds significance for some universities. For example, the University of Tulsa, a two-time NIT champion, views its NIT "championship tradition" with pride and as a selling point for recruiting players.
As for the day of the NIT basketball finals, the 2024 schedule indicates that the championship game will be held on April 4, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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The NCAA tournament is now regarded as the pre-eminent postseason tournament
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 2024 NIT semifinals were held on April 2, and the championship game was held on April 4.
The status of the NIT as the most prestigious tournament was superseded by the NCAA tournament in the mid-1950s. In its earliest years, before 1950, the NIT offered some advantages over the NCAA tournament. Playing all of its games in New York City provided teams with greater media exposure to the general public and high school prospects. Until 1950, the NCAA tournament selection committee invited only one team from eight national regions, leaving better-quality teams and natural rivals out of its field, which would opt for the NIT.
The NCAA tournament has several avenues for teams to earn a bid. The first is through an automatic bid, where the 31 Division I conferences all receive an automatic bid, awarded to the team that wins the postseason conference tournament. The second avenue is through an at-large bid, where the selection committee decides which teams that are not automatic qualifiers have the pedigree to earn an invitation to the tournament.
The NCAA tournament has also grown in size over the years, increasing incrementally from 8 teams in 1939 to 64 teams in 1985. A 65th team and a corresponding "play-in game" were added in 2001, and the tournament now includes 68 teams. This growth has allowed for more teams to participate and for more exciting pairings and underdog stories.
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Frequently asked questions
The final takes place at the end of the tournament, after the quarterfinals and semifinals. The 2024 championship game was held on April 4, and the 2025 final will be held on April 3.
Since 2023, the NIT final has been played at a neutral site. The 2024 and 2025 finals were held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the home of the Butler Bulldogs. From its founding in 1938 to 2022, the final was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The semifinals are held the day before the final. In 2024, they were held on April 2, and in 2025, they will be held on April 1.
The NIT final is broadcast on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
