Who makes the NIT? What you need to know ahead of bracket selections for 2025
The National Invitation Tournament, or NIT, has a long history — but the selection process for its 32 teams has undergone a series of changes for 2025.
The NIT remains the ultimate undercard, its teams filled after the NCAA Tournament committee slots in its field of 68 for the March Madness main event. Postseason newcomer the College Basketball Crown, a newly created 16-team tournament, also will have its say.
Before the field is NIT field is announced for 2025, here is everything you need to know about the new process:
When is the 2025 NIT?
Played every year since 1938 — except in 2020 — the NIT has been known for games being played on college campuses in the opening rounds instead of a neutral site, with the semifinal and final round at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After spending 2023 in Las Vegas, the semifinals and final in 2025 are back at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the second year.
- First round: Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19 | Campus sites
- Second round: Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 | Campus sites
- Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26 | Campus sites
- Semifinals: Tuesday, April 1 | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
- Championship: Thursday, April 3 | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
How are teams selected for the NIT?
The NIT consists of 32 teams that don't make the 68-team NCAA Tournament. The selection process is new for 2025 and includes multiple layers centered mostly around something called "KNIT" score. Here are the details:
- What is KNIT score? The KNIT score is a team's average ranking in these seven metrics: ESPN Basketball Power Index (BPI), Kevin Pauga Index (KPI), NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET), Ken Pomeroy Rating (KenPom), Strength of Record (SOR), Torvik ranking (TOR) and Wins Above Bubble (WAB).
- Exempt bids: The first 16 teams selected to the NIT field will be "exempt bids" and each school is given option to host first-round games. It includes the two teams with the highest KNIT scores from each the ACC and SEC. The other 12 exempt bids are the team with the best KNIT score in each of the top 12 conferences, according to KenPom as of Sunday morning.
- Automatic bids: Regular-season conference champs with a KNIT score of 125 or better will get an automatic bid.
- At-large bids: After automatic bids are filled, the committee selects he best available teams to complete the 32-team field.
How is the 2024 NIT seeded?
The NIT will seed its 16 exempt teams, four in each of the bracket's eight-team quadrants. The seeded teams are spread among the quadrants and the opponents will be placed by geography where possible.
Did Bradley make the NIT?
Yes. The Braves will have the best KNIT score Sunday morning among non-NCAA Tournament teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, earning the program an automatic bid and a home game. Bradley's KNIT as of Friday evening was 85, behind only NCAA qualifier Drake in the MVC. BU's history with the NIT us unparalleled. The Braves have appeared in the NIT 23 times and won it four times (1957, 1960, 1964 and 1982). This will be BU's third straight trip to the tournament.
What is the College Basketball Crown tournament?
New for 2025, the College Basketball Crown (CBC) is a 16-team tournament to be played in Las Vegas from March 31 to April 6. The Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 each get two qualifiers to the field, with the 10 additional teams selected at-large by a committee. This tournament could affect which teams play in the NIT.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2025 NIT bracket changes in college basketball playoffs
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