Andrew Pace
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament. Founded in 1938, it is the oldest college basketball tournament and was considered the most prestigious post-season tournament until the 1950s when it was superseded by the NCAA tournament. The 2024 NIT began on Tuesday, March 19, and the championship game was played on Thursday, April 4. The 2025 NIT championship game is scheduled for 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 3.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding Body | Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association |
| Founding Year | 1938 |
| Current Operator | National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) |
| Previous Operators | Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA) |
| Location | Various sites across the country |
| Number of Teams | 32 |
| Start Date | Varies, e.g., March 19 for 2024 |
| Championship Date | Varies, e.g., April 4 for 2024 |
| Championship Time | Varies, e.g., 7 p.m. ET for 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
- The 2025 NIT championship game will be held on Thursday, April 3, at 9 pm
- The National Invitational Tournament is college basketball's oldest tournament
- The tournament was founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
- The first NIT was won by the Temple University Owls over the Colorado Buffaloes
- The 2024 NIT semifinals and championship were played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
The 2025 NIT championship game will be held on Thursday, April 3, at 9 pm
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament. It is one of the oldest college basketball tournaments, dating back to 1938, when it was founded by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. The 2025 NIT championship game will be held on Thursday, April 3, at 9 pm.
The NIT was once considered the most prestigious post-season tournament for college basketball. However, its popularity and importance were later surpassed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) tournament, which began in 1939. Despite this, the NIT still holds a significant place in college basketball culture, with a rich history and tradition.
The tournament has evolved over the years, expanding from an initial field of six teams to 40 teams from 2002 through 2006. Since 2022, the tournament has reverted to a 32-team format, with games played at various sites across the country. The semifinals and finals were traditionally held at Madison Square Garden in New York City until 2022, with the host cities being selected through a nation-wide bid process.
The NIT provides an opportunity for teams that do not qualify for the NCAA tournament to compete in a consolation postseason tournament. While some teams may decline NIT bids, the tournament still offers a chance for college basketball fans to catch additional games and witness the talent and competitiveness of the participating teams.
So, mark your calendars for Thursday, April 3, at 9 pm, when the 2025 NIT championship game will take place, promising an exciting conclusion to this year's tournament.
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The National Invitational Tournament is college basketball's oldest tournament
The National Invitational Tournament (NIT) is college basketball's oldest tournament, with a history that dates back to 1938. Founded by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, it predates the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by a year. The NIT was once considered the most prestigious post-season tournament for college basketball, offering advantages that the NCAA tournament couldn't match at the time.
In its early years, the NIT was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, providing teams with greater media exposure and a chance to impress prospects in a rich recruiting territory. The tournament has since expanded, with all rounds since 2023 being played at various sites across the country, selected annually.
The NIT was created by a group of New York sportswriters and was first won by the Temple University Owls, who defeated the Colorado Buffaloes. From its inception until at least the mid-1950s, the NIT was regarded as the premier showcase for college basketball talent. John McPhee, a writer for The New Yorker, described the tournament in the 1940s as "the most glamorous of the post-season tournaments, and generally [featuring] the better teams."
The status of the NIT as the preeminent tournament was eventually superseded by the NCAA tournament in the mid-1950s. However, the NIT remains an important event in the college basketball calendar, with a rich history and tradition. Teams that don't qualify for the NCAA tournament often view the NIT as a consolation opportunity to compete in a post-season tournament.
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The tournament was founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
The National Invitational Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament. It is the oldest college basketball tournament, predating the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by a year. The tournament was founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association and was considered the most prestigious post-season tournament for college basketball before its status was surpassed in the mid-1950s by the NCAA tournament.
The first NIT was won by the Temple University Owls, who beat the Colorado Buffaloes. From its founding in 1938 until 2022, the semifinals and finals were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament originally featured 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 2022, the tournament has reverted to a 32-team format.
The NIT was created one year after the NAIA tournament was created by basketball's inventor, Dr. James Naismith, and one year before the NCAA tournament. The tournament was operated by the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA) until 2005 when it was purchased by the NCAA and the MIBA disbanded. 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, New York University, and St. John's University.
The NIT has a rich history and has been described as a saturnalia and the "most glamorous" of the post-season tournaments in the 1940s, with the winner often regarded as the national champion. During World War II, the champions of the NCAA and NIT tournaments played each other for three seasons, with the games sponsored by the American Red Cross as a charity event to raise money for the war effort.
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The first NIT was won by the Temple University Owls over the Colorado Buffaloes
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament. The tournament was founded in 1938, one year before the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, and was considered the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball before its status was superseded in the mid-1950s by the NCAA tournament. The first NIT was won by the Temple University Owls over the Colorado Buffaloes. The Temple Owls thus became the first-ever NIT champions in 1938, and were also regarded as the national champions for that year.
The Temple University Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I as a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Owls have a long and proud history in college basketball, with over 2,000 wins, making them the sixth most successful NCAA Division I men's college basketball program of all time. They have reached the NCAA Tournament over thirty times and have appeared in the NIT 19 times.
The Owls play their home games in the Liacouras Center on the university's main campus in Philadelphia. The team has strong rivalries with other Philadelphia colleges, including Villanova, Penn, Saint Joseph's, and La Salle. The Owls have won 27 Big 5 titles, the most of any team, and their student section is known for unfurling long banners about the opposing team during Big 5 games.
The first NIT was a landmark moment for the Temple University Owls, as they defeated the Colorado Buffaloes to claim the championship. The Owls had a successful season, finishing with a record of 23-2, and their victory in the NIT solidified their place in college basketball history. The team was retroactively recognised by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll and the Helms Athletic Foundation as the national champion for the 1937-38 season. This recognition further emphasised the significance of the Owls' achievement in winning the inaugural NIT tournament.
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The 2024 NIT semifinals and championship were played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
The National Invitational Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament. It is college basketball's oldest tournament, dating back to 1938, and was once the most prestigious showcase for college basketball.
The 2024 NIT semifinals and championship will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Hinkle Fieldhouse is a basketball arena on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was completed in early 1928 and was the largest basketball arena in the United States until 1950. The arena was originally known as Butler Fieldhouse until 1966 when it was renamed in honour of Butler's longtime coach and athletic director, Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle. The Fieldhouse has a rich history in basketball, hosting the East Regional of the 1940 NCAA basketball tournament, the inaugural American Basketball Association (ABA) All-Star Game in 1968, and serving as the home court for the Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team since 1928.
The choice of Hinkle Fieldhouse as the venue for the 2024 NIT semifinals and championship continues a tradition of hosting significant basketball events and reinforces its standing as an iconic basketball arena in the United States.
Over the years, Hinkle Fieldhouse has undergone renovations and upgrades, including a $36.2 million restoration project completed in 2014, ensuring that it remains a modern and functional venue while preserving its historical significance.
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Frequently asked questions
The National Invitational Tournament (NIT) began in 1938 and was created by a group of New York sportswriters.
The NIT is an annual men's college basketball tournament.
The 2024 NIT tournament began on Tuesday, March 19, and the championship game was held on Thursday, April 4.
The 2023 NIT semifinals and championship game were held on March 28 and March 30.
The 2025 NIT championship game is at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 3.
