The 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) promises to be an exciting postseason event for college basketball fans, featuring 32 teams competing for the coveted championship title. This year, the tournament kicks off on March 18, 2025, and will culminate with the semifinals and championship games at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.
The NIT, known for being college basketball's oldest postseason tournament, originated back in 1938. It was created to provide postseason opportunities for deserving teams who may not have secured spots in the NCAA Tournament. "The National Invitation Tournament is college basketball's oldest postseason tournament, established to provide postseason opportunities for deserving teams," stated ESPN.
This year's tournament will see the involvement of numerous schools, including notable participants like Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, SMU, and Stanford. With four No. 1 seeds slated to compete—among them the Mustangs and Dayton—the stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable. "This year's tournament will feature four No. 1 seeds including SMU and Dayton," reported NBC Sports.
The first round commences on March 18 and concludes on March 19, with teams competing at campus sites. Fans can tune in to witness the action on networks like ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, or stream games through the ESPN app. Subsequent rounds of the tournament will follow, with the second round happening on March 22 and 23, and the quarterfinals taking place on March 25 and 26.
How do teams qualify for the NIT? The selection is based on several factors, including exempt bids, automatic bids, and at-large selections. An exempt bid is granted to the two best teams—determined by their KNIT scores—from both the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as of March 16. Each of the top 12 conferences, based on KenPom ratings, will also receive one exempt bid. Regular-season conference champions are awarded automatic bids if their KNIT score is 125 or above. Following this, the selection committee chooses the remaining teams to complete the 32-team field.
The tournament will culminate with the semifinals on April 1, 2025, followed by the championship match scheduled for April 3, 2025. The Hinkle Fieldhouse, home of the Butler Bulldogs, will host both the final four teams and the championship game, continuing its tradition of serving as the venue for this prestigious event.
Last season, the Seton Hall Pirates emerged victorious, defeating the Indiana State Sycamores to win their second NIT title, marking their first championship since 1953. The all-time legacy of the NIT is significant, having witnessed 54 different schools lifting the trophy since its inception, with the Temple Owls claiming the very first championship against the Colorado Buffaloes.
This year, the NIT will be slightly different asTeams not invited to participate have the option to join the newly introduced College Basketball Crown, which is set to feature 16 teams, including Boise State, Nebraska, USC, and Villanova. This debut event, created by Fox Sports, will be played in Las Vegas and promises to create even more excitement surrounding postseason college basketball.
The effect of the College Basketball Crown on the NIT field is notable; it has led to just four power conference schools participating this year. Teams like Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State, which has struggled with a sub-.500 record, will be testing their mettle against stiff competition. With the addition of the College Basketball Crown, it’s evident the dynamics of postseason play are rapidly changing.
Despite the increased competition from new tournaments, the NIT continues to hold its ground as a premier event within college basketball. With the thrill of potential upsets and dramatic matchups, fans can look forward to great showdowns and thrilling moments throughout the tournament slated to occur over the coming weeks.
With these developments and the upcoming games on the horizon, it is clear the event is set to keep fans on the edge of their seats as they rally behind their teams for yet another exciting chapter of college basketball.
