The National Invitational Tournament (NIT) is a post-season college basketball tournament for teams that did not make it to the NCAA tournament. Every year, the NIT invites 32 teams to compete for the championship title. But how exactly are NIT teams selected? This article will provide an overview of the NIT selection process.
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Selection Committee
The National Invitational Tournament is overseen by a nine-member selection committee. This committee is comprised of representatives from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and a selection of members from the NIT board. The committee is responsible for selecting the 32 participating teams for the tournament.
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria for the NIT is based on a number of factors including a team’s overall record, strength of schedule, record against fellow conference members, and record against non-conference opponents. The committee also takes into account a team’s overall performance in the conference tournament.
Other factors that can influence a team’s selection include the team’s recent history of success in the NIT, its fan base and attendance numbers, and its overall exposure in the media.
Bubble Teams
The selection process for the NIT can be broken down into two distinct steps. The first step is the selection of the “bubble teams”—the teams that are on the cusp of making the tournament but are not yet guaranteed a spot.
At this point, the selection committee takes a close look at the teams on the bubble and evaluates them based on their individual merits. The committee looks at a team’s overall record, strength of schedule, record against fellow conference members, and record against non-conference opponents.
Automatic Qualifiers
The second step of the selection process involves the selection of the “automatic qualifiers”—the teams that are guaranteed a spot in the tournament. These teams are usually the regular season conference champions and teams that have earned an at-large bid to the tournament.
The automatic qualifiers are determined by a variety of factors including a team’s overall record, strength of schedule, record against fellow conference members, and record against non-conference opponents. The committee also takes into account a team’s overall performance in the conference tournament.
Selection Day
Once the selection committee has determined which teams will be invited to the tournament, the official selection announcement is made on Selection Sunday. On this day, the 32 teams that will be participating in the NIT are announced to the public.
Conclusion
The selection process for the NIT is a complex one and involves a variety of factors. The selection committee evaluates teams based on their overall record, strength of schedule, record against fellow conference members, and record against non-conference opponents. The committee also takes into account a team’s overall performance in the conference tournament as well as its recent history of success in the NIT, its fan base and attendance numbers, and its overall exposure in the media. The official selection announcement is made on Selection Sunday.