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| Preseason NIT | |
|---|---|
| Name | Preseason NIT |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Organizer | National Invitation Tournament |
| Country | United States |
| Current champion | Virginia (2019) |
| Website | NIT.com |
Preseason NIT The Preseason NIT is a men's college basketball tournament historically held before the regular season featuring prominent programs and televised matchups involving University of North Carolina, Duke University, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of Michigan. It served as a showcase linking storied programs such as Indiana University Bloomington, University of Louisville, Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame with marquee venues like Madison Square Garden, United Center, Rupp Arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Allen Fieldhouse. The event drew attention from conferences including the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Southeastern Conference, Big East Conference and governing body National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The tournament provided early-season competition featuring teams from Arizona State University, University of Arizona, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Florida, University of Texas at Austin and highlighted coaches associated with Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, John Calipari, Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo. Format iterations involved brackets and campus-hosted opening rounds with finals staged at neutral sites such as Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, T-Mobile Arena, Barclays Center, Capital One Arena. Media partners included networks like ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Turner Sports.
Created in 1984, the tournament grew amid the rise of programs like Georgetown University, Villanova University, Kansas State University, Wake Forest University, Clemson University. Early editions featured matchups that included future professional stars such as Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Christian Laettner, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan (as college-era adversaries) and propelled narratives linked to events like the 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, 1992 NCAA tournament, 1993 NCAA tournament, 2000 NCAA tournament, 2015 NCAA tournament. Organizational changes connected the event to the National Invitation Tournament brand, and venue shifts reflected relationships with properties including Madison Square Garden Company, MSG Networks, AOL Time Warner, Disney–ABC Television Group, Live Nation.
Teams received invitations from organizers and selection committees often featuring representatives from Big East Conference, ACC, Big Ten Conference, SEC, Pac-12 Conference. Bracket sizes varied with formats including 8-team, 16-team, and hybrid campus/neutral site models involving arenas like Rupp Arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, MSG, United Center, Staples Center. Invitations were extended to programs such as North Carolina State University, Purdue University, Ohio State University, University of Virginia, University of Notre Dame based on preseason rankings from polls like the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, USA Today Coaches Poll, CBS Sports Top 25, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The field sometimes included international exhibitions tied to organizations like FIBA, NCAA International, NABC.
Champions and finalists included programs such as Indiana University Bloomington, Duke University, University of Kentucky, University of Connecticut, University of Kansas with standout performances by players later associated with NBA Draft, NBPA, Basketball Hall of Fame, All-American honors. Memorable editions featured matchups pitting Duke against Kentucky, Kansas against Michigan State University, North Carolina against UCLA, Syracuse against Louisville, Arizona against UConn. Coaches who claimed titles included Mike Krzyzewski, John Calipari, Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams, Rick Pitino.
Proponents argued the event boosted exposure for programs such as Villanova University, Marquette University, Seton Hall University, St. John's University, Providence College and provided nonconference strength-of-schedule benefits relevant to NCAA tournament at-large considerations, impacting metrics like the NET and RPI. Critics cited concerns from stakeholders including American Athletic Conference, Mountain West Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, Pac-12 Conference, WAC about travel burdens, academic calendars tied to NCAA Academic Progress Rate, student-athlete welfare debates involving NCAA Board of Governors and television over-scheduling influenced by ESPN and Fox Sports. Debates referenced analogous controversies surrounding events like the Las Vegas Invitational, Battle 4 Atlantis, Maui Invitational.
Broadcasting rights moved among networks such as ESPN, CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 1, TBS, NBC Sports Network with production partnerships involving companies like IMG, WME-IMG, Octagon, Intersport, Learfield IMG College. Sponsors included corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nike, Inc., Adidas, State Farm, AT&T and partnerships with venues owned by Madison Square Garden Company, AEG, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Fenway Sports Group.
Historical leaders and record-holders feature programs and individuals linked to Duke University career wins, North Carolina scoring lists, UCLA rebounding marks, Kentucky assists, Kansas field-goal percentages. Statistical archives reference players who advanced to NBA Most Valuable Player Award, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, All-NBA Team, Olympic Games rosters, and institutions that tallied multiple championships like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, UConn.
Category:College basketball competitions in the United States