In concept the Nationwide Invitational Event needs to be a spot the place mid-majors and lesser-known groups have an opportunity their likelihood to compete towards the very best packages within the nation who barely missed out on the large dance of the NCAA Event.
Rather a lot has modified lately. The NIT has been looking for methods to carve a distinct segment in postseason basketball. Final 12 months the workforce made huge performs to get energy convention groups on board to average success, however for 2024-25 there’s now the Faculty Basketball Crown event, which is able to award bids to colleges — which essentially competes with the NIT for consideration.
In what may both be thought-about bitter grapes, or maybe planning for the brand new event, increasingly main packages are avoiding the NIT to as an alternative skip postseason play all collectively. The thought is that those that simply missed the bubble don’t usually win the NIT, and shedding to a small college may damage recruiting.
To date we now have three groups have introduced they received’t attend the event no matter whether or not they get an invitation or not: LSU, who completed second-last within the SEC this season will probably be joined by two ACC groups in Wake Forest and Pitt, all of whom have mentioned they received’t attend this 12 months.
Right here is the sector for 2025 of groups who’ve accepted an invitation.
Dallas Area
1 SMU
Northern Iowa
4 Oklahoma State
Wichita State
3 Arkansas State
Saint Louis
2 North Texas
Furman
Dayton Area
1 Dayton
Florida Atlantic
4 Center Tennessee
Chattanooga
3 Bradley
North Alabama
2 George Mason
Samford
Irvine Area
1 UC Irvine
Northern Colorado
Jacksonville St.
3 Saint Joseph’s
UAB
2 Santa Clara
UC Riverside
San Francisco Area
1 San Francisco
Utah Valley
4 San Jose St.
Loyola Chicago
3 St. Bonaventure
Kent St.
2 Stanford
CSUN
