Helena Frye
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is one of the oldest college basketball tournaments, dating back to 1938 when it was created by a group of New York sportswriters. The NIT is a single-elimination tournament featuring 32 teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The tournament has historically been played at Madison Square Garden in New York City, but since 2023, all rounds have been held at various sites across the country. The NIT is considered the second-tier basketball tournament to the NCAA Tournament, which has surpassed it in popularity and importance over the years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | National Invitation Tournament |
| Year of Inception | 1938 |
| Founding Organisations | Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Committee |
| Current Operator | National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) |
| Previous Operators | Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA) |
| Tournament Format | Single-elimination tournament |
| Number of Teams | 32 |
| Participating Teams | NCAA Division I men's college basketball teams not selected to participate in the NCAA tournament |
| Location | Various sites across the country |
| Previous Location | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
| Reputation | Most prestigious post-season tournament for college basketball until the mid-1950s |
| Recent Winners | University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs (2025), Seton Hall Pirates (2024) |
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What You'll Learn
- The National Invitation Tournament is an annual men's college basketball tournament
- The tournament was founded in 1938 and is considered the oldest college basketball tournament
- The NIT was considered the most prestigious post-season tournament before being superseded by the NCAA tournament in the 1950s
- The tournament features 32 teams in a single-elimination format, with games broadcast across ESPN's network
- The 2025 NIT was won by the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs, defeating the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in overtime
The National Invitation Tournament is an annual men's college basketball tournament
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is a prestigious annual men's college basketball tournament, first held in 1938. It is one of the oldest college basketball tournaments, predating the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by a year. The tournament was founded by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, and originally featured six teams, all playing at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
The tournament has since expanded, and now features 32 teams in a single-elimination format. The first round of the tournament begins in mid-March, with the final rounds played in early April. Since 2023, all rounds have been played at various sites across the country, whereas previously, only the early rounds were played outside of New York, with the semifinals and finals played at Madison Square Garden.
The NIT is operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is considered a second-tier tournament to the NCAA Tournament. It offers an opportunity for many NCAA bubble teams that did not make the main tournament to compete. The 2025 NIT saw 32 teams compete, including six programs making their debut: Cal State Northridge, Jacksonville State, North Alabama, Northern Colorado, Samford, and UC Riverside. The University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs were crowned champions, defeating the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in overtime.
In addition to the annual tournament, there is also a preseason NIT tournament, founded in 1985 and played in November. This tournament is known as the NIT Season Tip-Off and, unlike the postseason NIT, its final rounds are still played at Madison Square Garden.
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The tournament was founded in 1938 and is considered the oldest college basketball tournament
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament. It was founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, one year after the NAIA tournament was created by basketball's inventor, Dr. James Naismith. The tournament predates the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by one year and is considered the oldest college basketball tournament.
From its founding in 1938 until 2022, the semifinals and finals were always played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament originally invited six teams, which was expanded to eight teams in 1941, 12 in 1949, 14 in 1965, 16 in 1968, 24 in 1979, 32 in 1980, and 40 from 2002 through 2006. Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament have been played at various sites across the country, which are selected annually.
In its early years, the NIT was considered the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball. The tournament offered advantages over the NCAA tournament, including greater media exposure due to its location in New York City. The winner of the NIT was often regarded as more of a national champion than the winner of the NCAA tournament.
The first NIT in 1938 was won by the Temple University Owls over the Colorado Buffaloes. The responsibility for the NIT's administration was transferred in 1940 to the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Committee, a body of local New York colleges, including Fordham University, Manhattan University, and New York University.
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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 tournament was founded in 1938, one year before the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Until 2022, the semifinals and finals were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In its early years, the NIT was considered the most prestigious post-season tournament for college basketball. This was partly due to limited national media coverage of college basketball in the 1930s and 1940s. Playing all of its games in New York City provided teams with greater media exposure, both with the general public and among high school prospects in its rich recruiting territory. The writer for The New Yorker, John McPhee, described the tournament in the 1940s as "the most glamorous of the post-season tournaments and generally had the better teams".
The NIT champion was regarded as more of a national champion than the winner of the NCAA tournament. For three seasons during World War II, the champions of both the NCAA and NIT tournaments played each other in a postseason charity game to raise money for the war effort. The series was described by Ray Meyer as "really the games for the national championship".
However, in the mid-1950s, the NIT was superseded in prestige by the NCAA tournament. The NCAA tournament initially invited only one team from each of eight national regions, potentially leaving better-quality teams out of its field, which would opt for the NIT. As national media coverage of college basketball improved, the NCAA tournament's selection process gained wider acceptance, and it became the more prestigious of the two tournaments.
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The tournament features 32 teams in a single-elimination format, with games broadcast across ESPN's network
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament. The tournament features 32 teams in a single-elimination format, with games broadcast across ESPN's network.
The 2025 NIT began on March 16, with the teams announced on the same day. The first three rounds were played on campus sites, with the semifinal and final rounds played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The tournament is made up of 32 NCAA Division I men's college basketball teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
The NIT is the oldest college basketball tournament, founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, one year before the NCAA tournament. From its founding until 2022, the semifinals and finals were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament was considered the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball before being superseded by the NCAA tournament in the 1950s.
The 2025 NIT saw six programs make their debut: Cal State Northridge, Jacksonville State, North Alabama, Northern Colorado, Samford, and UC Riverside. The championship game was between the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs and the University of California–Irvine Anteaters, with Chattanooga winning 85–84 in overtime.
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The 2025 NIT was won by the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs, defeating the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in overtime
The National Invitation Tournament, or NIT, is a college basketball tournament that features 32 teams playing across several days in a single-elimination format. It is one of the most prestigious postseason tournaments in the United States, second only to the NCAA Tournament. The 2025 NIT culminated in a thrilling final between the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs and the University of California–Irvine Anteaters. In a game that went down to the wire, the Mocs emerged victorious with an overtime win, claiming the title with a final score of 85-84.
The University of Tennessee–Chattanooga, often known simply as Chattanooga or UTC, has a rich basketball history and a passionate fan base. The Mocs, representing the Southern Conference, entered the 2025 NIT as a strong contender, having compiled an impressive 25-7 record during the regular season. Led by their star guard, Kevin Easley Jr., who averaged over 20 points per game, the Mocs' high-powered offense was a force to be reckoned with. In the NIT, they continued their dominant form, reaching the final with a series of convincing wins.
On the other hand, the University of California–Irvine, representing the Big West Conference, was a surprise package in the tournament. The Anteaters had a solid season, going 21-11, but they were not expected to make such a deep run in the NIT. With a strong defense and an ability to control the pace of games, they upset several higher-ranked teams on their way to the final. Their star player, Daniel Mading, a 6'10" forward, was a key factor in their success, averaging a double-double with points and rebounds.
The final game did not disappoint, living up to the excitement and drama that had built up throughout the tournament. Both teams traded baskets in a high-scoring affair, with the lead changing hands multiple times. As regulation time expired, the game was tied at 76 points apiece, sending the game into overtime. In the extra period, the Mocs managed to edge ahead, with Easley Jr. scoring a game-high 30 points, including several crucial baskets in the dying minutes. The Anteaters fought until the very end, but ultimately fell just short, with the Mocs claiming the NIT championship with an 85-84 victory.
The win marked a historic moment for the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga, as they lifted their first-ever NIT trophy. The Mocs' victory also served as a testament to the competitive balance and unpredictability of college basketball, showcasing the talent and determination of teams beyond the Power Five conferences. The 2025 NIT provided basketball fans with yet another memorable chapter in the tournament's long and illustrious history.
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Frequently asked questions
NIT stands for the National Invitation Tournament. It is an annual men's college basketball tournament, and is the oldest college basketball tournament, having been founded in 1938.
The NIT is a 32-team single-elimination tournament, featuring many NCAA bubble teams that didn't make the NCAA Tournament.
The 2025 NIT took place from March 18 to April 3. The dates of the tournament vary from year to year.
Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament are played at various sites across the country which are selected annually. From its founding in 1938 to 2022, the semifinals and finals were always played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs defeated the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in overtime to claim the 2025 championship.
