Amanda Knapp
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Founded in 1938, the NIT is one of the oldest college basketball tournaments in the US. The 2025 NIT took place from March 18 to April 3, with the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs defeating the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in overtime to claim the championship. The 2024 NIT will be hosted in Indianapolis, with the semifinals and championship played at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Tournament | National Invitation Tournament (NIT) |
| Year of Tournament | 2025 |
| Number of Teams | 32 |
| Dates | Commenced on March 18, 2025, and concluded on April 3, 2025 |
| Location | Various sites across the country |
| Semifinals and Championship Location | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |
| Operated by | National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) |
| Teams | Non-NCAA Division I men's college basketball teams |
| Television Coverage | ESPN |
| Past Winners | North Texas Mean Green (2024), University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs (2025) |
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What You'll Learn
The 2025 National Invitation Tournament
The University of Tennessee–Chattanooga Mocs emerged as the champions, defeating the University of California–Irvine Anteaters 85–84 in a thrilling overtime finish. Trey Bonham of Chattanooga was named Most Outstanding Player, and he, along with Justin Hohn (UC Irvine), Honor Huff (Chattanooga), Devin Tillis (UC Irvine), and Atin Wright (North Texas), were selected for the All-Tournament Team.
The 2025 NIT maintained its tradition as a prestigious post-season tournament, predating the NCAA Division I men's tournament by one year. Founded in 1938, the NIT was initially the most glamorous post-season tournament, often featuring stronger teams than the NCAA tournament. While its status was eventually surpassed by the NCAA in the mid-1950s, the NIT remains a highly anticipated event in college basketball.
Leading up to the 2025 tournament, there was some confusion regarding the status of teams as either exempt or at-large. This was due to a lack of clear communication from the NCAA. Additionally, teams from certain conferences, such as the Big East, Big Ten, and Big 12, that declined invitations to the College Basketball Crown were contractually prohibited from participating in the NIT. Despite these complexities, the 2025 NIT showcased the talent and determination of the competing teams, with Chattanooga ultimately claiming the championship title.
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The 2024 National Invitation Tournament
The NIT is a post-season tournament that was founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, one year before the NCAA tournament. It is considered the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball before its status was superseded in the mid-1950s by the NCAA tournament. The tournament was originally played at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, with the semifinals and finals being played there from its founding until 2022.
In recent years, the NIT has made changes to encourage participation by good college teams, such as the 2011 $500 million agreement with ESPN for the rights to cover championships in several sports, including the NIT. These changes aim to make the NIT a "true basketball event" rather than a "loser's tournament".
The 2024 NIT will be broadcast on television on ESPN and its family of channels, with the championship game being aired on ESPN and live-streamed on ESPN+.
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The 2023 National Invitation Tournament
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, and is considered the more prestigious of the two.
From its founding in 1938 until 2022, the semifinals and finals of the NIT were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. However, in August 2022, the NCAA announced that the final rounds of the 2023 NIT would be held at the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, with the 2024 tournament taking place at Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament have been played at various sites across the country, which are selected annually.
The NIT was originally founded by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, with responsibility for its administration transferred to the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Committee in 1940. This committee represented a group of local New York colleges: Fordham University, Manhattan University, New York University, St. John's University, and Wagner College. The tournament began with six teams and has since expanded, with 40 teams competing from 2002 through 2006.
The NIT has a rich history, with several notable moments over the years. For example, from 1943 to 1945, the champions of both the NCAA and NIT tournaments played each other in a postseason charity game to raise money for the war effort during World War II. The series was described as "the games for the national championship" by Ray Meyer, with the NCAA champion prevailing in all three games.
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The history of the NIT
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The post-season tournament was founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, one year before the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The first NIT was won by the Temple University Owls over the Colorado Buffaloes.
From its founding in 1938 to 2022, the semifinals and finals were always played at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City. The tournament was originally played by a field of 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. 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.
In the 1940s, the NIT was the most glamorous of the post-season tournaments and generally had the better teams. The winner of the NIT was regarded as more of a national champion than the winner of the NCAA tournament. Several teams played in both the NIT and NCAA tournaments in the same year, beginning with Colorado and Duquesne in 1940. From 1943 to 1945, the American Red Cross sponsored a postseason charity game between each year's tournament champions to raise money for the war effort. The series was described as "really the games for the national championship" by Ray Meyer, and the NCAA champion prevailed in all three games.
In 1948, responsibility for the NIT's administration was transferred to the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA). Both tournaments were operated by the MIBA until 2005, when they were purchased by the NCAA, and the MIBA disbanded. Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament have been played at various sites across the country, which are selected annually.
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The future of the NIT
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 tournament. From its founding until 2022, the semifinals and finals were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The NIT has a rich history and was once considered the most prestigious post-season tournament for college basketball. However, its status was superseded in the mid-1950s by the NCAA tournament. Despite this, the NIT continues to be an important event, with ESPN providing television coverage and a $500 million agreement in place through the 2023-24 season for the rights to cover the tournament.
In recent years, the NIT has faced some challenges, with an increasing number of teams declining invitations to participate. This is due to various factors, including coaching and roster changes, the tournament's reputation as a consolation prize for teams that didn't make the NCAA Tournament, and the potential delay to the NBA pre-draft process for some players.
Despite these challenges, there is reason for optimism about the future of the NIT. The tournament is adapting to the changing landscape of college basketball, with the semifinals and finals now moving to different cities each year. Additionally, the NIT continues to draw viewership, with a 33% jump in viewership on ESPN for the 2024 quarterfinals.
The NIT is an integral part of the college basketball landscape, and its organizers are working to ensure its continued relevance and success. While the tournament may face some challenges, it remains a prominent event that showcases the talent and competitiveness of men's college basketball teams across the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the 2023 NIT tournament will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The NIT is an annual tournament. The 2023 semifinals and championship game will be played on March 28 and 30.
The NIT tournament features 32 teams.
From its founding in 1938 until 2022, the semifinals and finals were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In 2021, the tournament was held in Texas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
