Four things to know about the National Invitation Tournament, where Wisconsin is potentially headed
Wisconsin's NCAA bubble appeared to burst Wednesday when it lost to Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Presumably, the Badgers (17-14) are headed toward an invite to the National Invitation Tournament, which has made a number of changes since the last time UW played in the showcase back in 1996.
Here's what to know about the NIT.
Who gets invited to the tournament and how does the seeding work?
A committee process selects 32 teams for the National Invitational Tournament and releases its bracket a couple hours after the NCAA Tournament has wrapped revealing its field of 68. Teams that were regular-season champions but did not earn an automatic-qualifying bid (by losing in the conference tournament) are automatically extended an invitation into the field.
Beginning in 2015, the four teams identified as the "first four out" through the NCAA selection process are granted No. 1 seeds in the NIT. Louisville declined that offer two years ago and decided not to play in the tournament.
The selection committee can take as many teams from the same conference as it wants, though it aligns the field to ensure those teams won't meet until at least the regional final. Teams are also grouped in regions that are as geographically friendly as possible.
The tournament doesn't require teams to have a winning record (it used to), but no team with a losing record has appeared in the field, though some with .500 records have.
When did Wisconsin last play in an NIT?
Wisconsin hasn't been in the NIT since 1996, its fourth appearance (1989, 1991, 1993). UW has not advanced beyond the second round.
Marquette has a ton of experience in the NIT, notably with the famous 1970 championship when Al McGuire turned down an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament. The 1967 team fell in the championship game to Southern Illinois, and the 1963 team took third place.
The 1995 team reached the championship game, losing in overtime to Virginia Tech, 65-64. The 2004 and 2018 teams both reached the third round.
UW-Milwaukee made the NIT in 2004 and 2011, reaching the second round in the 2004 season. UW-Green Bay has made the tournament four times (1990, 1992, 2014, 2015), winning a first-round game the first year.
Shaka Smart, now the head coach at Marquette, led Texas to the 2019 NIT championship.
Where are the NIT games played?
The first three rounds are played on campus sites at the home of the better-seeded team. Historically, the final four teams meet at Madison Square Garden in New York.
But this year, for the first time, the tournament is hosting its semifinals and final at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and will move to Indianapolis at Hinkle Fieldhouse for 2024.
The semifinals will be held March 28, with the championship two days later on March 30.
Who won the NIT last year?
Xavier defeated former Marquette men's basketball coach Buzz Williams and his Texas A&M team in the championship, 73-72. St. Bonaventure and Washington State made the semifinals.
More:Wisconsin's dim NCAA hopes take another hit in a brutal Big Ten tournament loss to Ohio State
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about the National Invitation Tournament
