NIT Tournament Overview

The NIT isn’t just an afterthought in college basketball; it’s a platform for mid-major teams to showcase their talent against strong competitors that just missed out on the NCAA tournament. We’ve seen some surprising performances from schools like Chattanooga and North Texas in recent years, proving that even lesser-known teams can make significant impacts. With the rise of many talented teams in the NIL era, we can certainly look forward to some exciting secondary tournaments each year.

One of the key distinctions between the NIT and the NCAA Men’s Tournament is the atmosphere. The NIT captures the essence of college basketball better than its more famous counterpart, especially since the tournament’s earlier rounds are held at university venues. The final round, however, takes place at Butler University’s historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.

This year’s standout is Auburn, which barely missed making it to the major tournament. The only teams that didn’t get selected either declined or were not chosen. However, it’s important not to overlook the mid-major players eager to shine and take down bigger programs under the spotlight of college basketball.

Auburn Area

1 Auburn

South Alabama

–

4 Seattle University

St. Thomas (Minnesota)

–

3 George Mason

Freedom

–

2 Nevada

Malay State

Albuquerque Region

1 New Mexico

Sam Houston

–

4 Utah Valley

George Washington

–

3 Colorado

St. Joseph’s

–

2 California

UIC

Winston-Salem Area

1 Wake Forest

Navy

–

4 Illinois

Kent State

–

3 Yale University

UNCW

–

2 Dayton

Bradley

Tulsa Region

1 Tulsa

S.F.A.

–

4 University of California, Irvine

UNLV

–

3 Wichita

Wyoming

–

2 Oklahoma State

Davidson

Crazy March has arrived.