March Madness may steal the spotlight, but there’s another postseason jewel in college hoops. And it surely has way more drama, buzzer-beaters, and loads of pride: the National Invitation Tournament, or just the NIT. Sure, it’s secondary to the NCAA Tournament, but don’t get it twisted—this tournament still carries significance and tradition.
The NIT is More Than Just a Consolation Prize
Well, it’s called the “Little Dance” by some fans, but for bubble teams that get left behind, the NIT is a consolation prize for pursuing postseason success. So what is the NIT, how does it function, and why will it continue to matter in 2025?
The NIT was founded in 1938, one year before the NCAA Tournament’s very existence. Madison Square Garden was the hoops mecca at the time, and the NIT was the tournament all teams coveted.
For a brief period, it was even more prestigious than the Big Dance. But as the NCAA grew and stole the spotlight, the NIT went from center stage to a still-respectable sideshow.
Nowadays, the NIT encompasses 32 Division I men’s basketball teams that missed the grade for March Madness. It’s an elimination tournament—one loss, and you’re out. Although historically, it automatically included regular-season conference champions who fell short of the NCAA bid, which was dropped beginning in 2024.
The NCAA now manually chooses teams based on performance, strength of schedule, NET ratings, and other parameters to craft a competitive and balanced bracket.
CHATTANOOGA SURVIVES 😱
An OT thriller in the NIT championship 🍿 pic.twitter.com/nvzkXgR5So
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 4, 2025
The format?
Straightforward but hard-hitting. The initial three rounds—Round one, Round two, and the Quarterfinals—are hosted at the higher seed’s home court, so fans are frequently able to cheer on their team in familiar surroundings.
The anticipation builds as teams fight through these early matches with visions of making it to the semifinals and championship. Since 2023, those final rounds have been relocated to a neutral venue.
In 2025, that distinction fell to the iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis—yes, the very same hardwood from the film Hoosiers. And it’s not just about the hardware. For some programs, the NIT offers badly needed postseason experience.
Call it an incubator for future stars, a preview of next year’s breakout talent, or a farewell tour for seniors who simply want to hoop one last time.
From Bubble Teams to Cinderella Runs
Though it may lack the sparkle of “One Shining Moment,” the NIT is hardly irrelevant. Ask Dayton, Oregon, or Colorado, for instance, who’ve ridden deep NIT performances to create momentum and national hype. It’s not rare for teams to leave the NIT with a chip on their shoulder and make a push for NCAA relevance the next season.
Consider Chattanooga, for instance. In 2025, the Mocs shocked the world, beating Middle Tennessee State, Dayton, and Bradley to earn their way to the NIT Championship—and then won it all.
It was their first-ever NIT championship and a run that inspired fans and boosted the program’s national profile. In a tournament with a plethora of “almosts,” Chattanooga made themselves the ultimate “why not us?” tale.
KEEP READING: Who’s The Best College Basketball Team to Never Win It All?
Many coaches use the NIT to test rotations, give freshmen serious minutes, and evaluate who’s ready to take a leap. For smaller schools, it’s also a rare opportunity to play in the national spotlight. You’ll see packed arenas, rowdy student sections, and players leaving everything on the floor. This isn’t just participation-trophy energy—it’s competitive fire.
The NIT also boasts a distinguished list of alumni. Hall of Fame coaches such as Bob Knight, Dean Smith, and John Calipari all ran their teams through the NIT at one point or another.
And NBA players?
Oh yes. Guys such as Jeremy Lin (Harvard), Jalen Brunson (Villanova), and Devin Booker (Kentucky) all played in the tournament at one point before becoming stars on the next level.
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