Andrew Pace
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is a post-season basketball tournament founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. The tournament is open to teams that did not receive bids for the NCAA basketball tournament, including all teams that won regular-season conference championships but failed to earn NCAA tournament bids. The 2025 NIT was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I men's college basketball teams not selected to participate in the 2025 NCAA tournament. The Chattanooga Mocs won the 2025 NIT, defeating the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in overtime to claim their first-ever NIT title.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of First NIT Championship | 1938 |
| First Winner of the NIT Championship | Temple University Owls |
| Runner-up of the First NIT Championship | Colorado Buffaloes |
| Most Recent Winner (as of April 2025) | University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs |
| Most Recent Runner-up (as of April 2025) | University of California–Irvine Anteaters |
| University with Most NIT Championships | University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1981, 2001) |
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What You'll Learn
- Who won the first NIT tournament (Temple University Owls)?
- Which team has won the most NIT championships University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane?
- Which team won the 2025 NIT Championship Chattanooga Mocs?
- Which team won the 2024 NIT Championship North Texas Mean Green?
- Which team won the 1940 NIT Championship Colorado Buffaloes?
Who won the first NIT tournament? (Temple University Owls)
The first-ever National Invitation Tournament (NIT) was won by the Temple University Owls, who beat the Colorado Buffaloes 60-36 in the final. The tournament 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, and a year before the first NCAA tournament.
The NIT was originally the most prestigious of the two major postseason tournaments in men's college basketball. However, over time, the NCAA tournament gained popularity and prestige, and now the NIT is considered a "consolation" event for teams that don't make the NCAA tournament. The tournament features 32 Division 1 basketball teams, with only the semi-finals and finals held at a neutral court.
The structure of the NIT has evolved over the years. It originally invited six teams, with all games played at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. The field expanded to eight teams in 1941, 12 in 1949, 14 in 1965, 16 in 1968, 24 in 1979, and 32 in 1980. The tournament has also seen periods with 40 teams from 2002 to 2006 and a return to 32 teams from 2007 to 2019.
The NCAA now owns the rights to the NIT, having purchased a 10-year agreement in 2005 to settle an antitrust lawsuit. This led to the disbandment of the MIBA (Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association), which had been administering the tournament since 1940. The MIBA had argued that the NCAA was using its powers illegally to compel teams to accept NCAA tournament invitations over the NIT.
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Which team has won the most NIT championships? University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is a prestigious post-season basketball tournament founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. The tournament is held in high regard, with the winner often considered a more significant achievement than the NCAA tournament champion.
The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane basketball team has a proud "championship tradition", winning the NIT in 1981 and 2001. The team has also made 16 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 NIT appearances, and two CBI appearances. The Golden Hurricane's success in the NIT is a testament to the university's athletic prowess and a "lure" for prospective players.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane is the name given to the athletic teams representing the University of Tulsa. The name was chosen in 1922 by TU football coach H.M. Archer, who substituted "Hurricane" for "Tornado" after discovering that "Golden Tornadoes" was already in use by Georgia Tech. The Golden Hurricane football program has competed in 23 bowl games and joined the American Athletic Conference in 2014.
While the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane has a respectable record in the NIT, other teams have achieved more success in the tournament. For example, several teams have won the NIT multiple times, and some teams have even won consecutive championships.
Overall, the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane's NIT championships in 1981 and 2001 are a significant part of the team's history and a source of pride for the university.
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Which team won the 2025 NIT Championship? Chattanooga Mocs
The Chattanooga Mocs emerged as the winners of the 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), defeating the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in a thrilling overtime finish. This marked the Mocs' first NIT title, capping off a Cinderella story and tying the program record for most wins in a single season.
The 2025 NIT, a single-elimination tournament, featured 32 NCAA Division I men's college basketball teams that did not qualify for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The tournament began on March 18 and concluded on April 3, with the semifinal and final rounds taking place at the iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Chattanooga's victory over the No. 1 seeded UC Irvine Anteaters was sealed by Forward Garrison Keeslar's game-winning jump shot with just 11 seconds left on the clock. Guard Trey Bonham, who scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, was named the Most Outstanding Player. His performance, which included a half-court buzzer-beater to end the first half, was pivotal in the Mocs' triumph.
The NIT, founded in 1938, has a rich history and has often been regarded as a prestigious tournament in its own right, sometimes even more so than the NCAA tournament. It has helped propel programs into the spotlight and served as a stepping stone to success for many universities, including the University of Connecticut. The tournament's format and selection criteria have evolved over the years, adapting to the dynamic landscape of college basketball.
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Which team won the 2024 NIT Championship? North Texas Mean Green
The North Texas Mean Green won the 2023 NIT Championship. The annual National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 2024 NIT was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I men's college basketball teams not selected to participate in the 2024 NCAA tournament. The tournament began on March 19 and ended on April 4, with the semifinal and championship final played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The North Texas Mean Green's 2023 victory was a significant achievement, as the team had not been automatically qualified for the tournament. In 2023, the NIT introduced a change to its qualification criteria, where teams with the best regular-season records in their conferences but failed to win their conference tournaments no longer automatically qualified. Instead, the top two teams from six major conferences, based on NET ranking, were selected to participate. Despite this new criterion, the North Texas Mean Green demonstrated their skill and determination to become the NIT champions in 2023.
The 2024 NIT maintained the change in qualification criteria, with only one automatic qualifier from the Pac-12 accepting a bid, resulting in only 11 automatic bids. The tournament featured 32 teams, including both automatic qualifiers and at-large selections, with the top teams from major conferences not chosen for the NCAA tournament being given a chance to compete.
While some fans view the NIT as a "consolation" tournament, it holds a significant amount of prestige and is considered a step towards success for many teams. The University of Tulsa, for example, proudly showcases its NIT "championship tradition," with its wins in 1981 and 2001, while the University of Connecticut also regards the NIT as the beginning of its basketball success.
The North Texas Mean Green's 2023 NIT championship victory serves as a testament to their hard work and talent, setting a precedent for future tournaments. Although they did not win the 2024 NIT Championship, their 2023 victory remains a memorable achievement.
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Which team won the 1940 NIT Championship? Colorado Buffaloes
The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team won the 1940 NIT Championship. The team, also known as the Buffs, represents the University of Colorado Boulder and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The Colorado Buffaloes have competed in sixteen NCAA tournaments, most recently in 2024, and eleven National Invitation Tournaments. In addition to their 1940 win, they have made the NIT semifinals in 1991 and 2011.
The 1940 Colorado Buffaloes squad was invited to both the NCAA tournament and the NIT tournament, which was considered more prestigious at the time. The team was led by coach Forrest B. Cox, who was at the helm from 1936 to 1940. During his tenure, the Buffaloes joined the Mountain States Conference and won four MSC titles. Under Cox, the team had three NCAA tournament bids and two NIT bids. The 1940 squad is considered by some to be the greatest in the history of CU Basketball.
The Buffaloes' success in 1940 can be attributed in part to the talented players on the team, including four All-Americans: Jack Harvey (1939 and 1940), Jim Willcoxon (1939), Bob Doll (1942), and Leason McCloud (1942). This group of players formed a formidable unit, helping the Buffaloes to achieve a successful season and ultimately win the NIT Championship.
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