NIT Season Tip-Off

North Carolina vs. Tennessee, Third Place Game, November 24, 2006

The NIT Season Tip-Off (National Invitation Tournament) is an annual college basketball tournament that takes place in November of each year, toward the beginning of the season. The first two rounds are held at campus sites, while the semifinals and the finals are held during the week of Thanksgiving in Brooklyn, NY. 2020's tournament was to be held at Amway Center in Orlando, FL, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused the NCAA to cancel it. The tournament, which is a part of the regular season for all participating colleges, began in 1985 as the Preseason NIT, so-called in order to distinguish it from the post-season NIT. In 2005, the NCAA purchased the Men's Preseason and Postseason NIT and renamed the November tournament the NIT Season Tip-Off. The tournament remains one of the most well-known preseason tournaments in NCAA Division I men's basketball, along with the Maui Invitational.

Tournament Format

The tournament had a new format in 2006. The first two rounds were held at regional "common sites" instead of campus sites, making the format more like the postseason NCAA Tournament. Through 2014, the semifinals and finals had always been held at Madison Square Garden. In 2006, the common sites were Charlotte, North Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, Indianapolis and Spokane, Washington. The tournament returned to its previous format in 2007 then returned to the 2006 format in 2009.

On September 3, 2014 a new format was announced for the NIT Season Tip-Off. The NIT Season Tip-Off will no longer be a bracketed event, instead becoming a classic with set semifinal matchups in New York, after the NCAA could only get eight teams in the field instead of 16. The NCAA-run event will add a new wrinkle due to the reduced field and feature a showcase of games on Thanksgiving Day with the other four teams that are not in the championship. Teams in the NIT Season Tip-Off will play four games at campus sites prior to the eight teams' arrival in New York.

The NIT Season Tip-Off tournament was not held in 2022 but did return for 2023 and subsequent years.

Tournament History

Venues

Madison Square Garden hosted the semifinal and final rounds for the first three decades, since the tournament's inception. Beginning in 2015, Barclays Center in Brooklyn will hold the two semifinal games on Thanksgiving Day, as well as the championship game the following day. Barclays Center will also have the 2016 and 2018 semis and finals. In 2017, the tournament is scheduled to move over to the nearby Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which is in the process of getting a major renovation to its facilities.

Past championship games

• 1985 – Duke 92, Kansas 86
• 1986 – UNLV 96, Western Kentucky 95 (2 OT)
• 1987 – Florida 70, Seton Hall 68
• 1988 – Syracuse 86, Missouri 84 (OT)
• 1989 – Kansas 66, St. John's 57
• 1990 – Arizona 89, Arkansas 77
• 1991 – Oklahoma State 78, Georgia Tech 71
• 1992 – Indiana 78, Seton Hall 74
• 1993 – Kansas 86, Massachusetts 75
• 1994 – Ohio 84, New Mexico State 80 (OT)
• 1995 – Arizona 81, Georgetown 71
• 1996 – Indiana 85, Duke 69
• 1997 – Kansas 73, Florida State 58
• 1998 – North Carolina 57, Stanford 49
• 1999 – Arizona 63, Kentucky 51
• 2000 – Duke 63, Temple 60
• 2001 – Syracuse 74, Wake Forest 67
• 2002 – North Carolina 67, Kansas 56
• 2003 – Georgia Tech 85, Texas Tech 65
• 2004 – Wake Forest 63, Arizona 60
• 2005 – Duke 70, Memphis 67
• 2006 – Butler 79, Gonzaga 71
• 2007 – Texas A&M 70, Ohio State 47
• 2008 – Oklahoma 87, Purdue 82 (OT)
• 2009 – Duke 68, Connecticut 59
• 2010 – Tennessee 78, Villanova 68
• 2011 – Syracuse 69, Stanford 63
• 2012 – Michigan 71, Kansas State 57
• 2013 – Arizona 72, Duke 66
• 2014 – Gonzaga 73, St. John's 66
• 2015 – Villanova 69, Georgia Tech 52
• 2016 – Temple 81, West Virginia 77
• 2017 – Virginia 70, Rhode Island 55
• 2018 – Kansas 87, Tennessee 81 (OT)
• 2019 – Oklahoma State 78, Ole Miss 37
• 2020 – NONE (COVID-19 pandemic).
• 2021 – Iowa State 78, Memphis 59
• 2022 – No Tournament
• 2023 – Baylor 95, Florida 91
• 2024 - Utah State 61, North Texas 57

Brackets

* – Denotes overtime period

2024

• November 28 – November 29

	3rd place Game November 29 ESPNU					Semifinals November 28 ESPN 2/ESPNU					Championship November 29 ESPN2
						Utah State		72
						St. Bonaventure		67
	St. Bonaventure		68								Utah State		61
	Northern Iowa		56								North Texas		57
						Northern Iowa		48
						North Texas		68

2023

	Semifinals November 22 ESPN2					Championship November 24 ESPN
	13	Baylor	88
		Oregon State	72
						13	Baylor	95
							Florida	91
		Florida	86
		Pittsburgh	71			3rd Place Game ESPN2
							Oregon State	51
							Pittsburgh	76

2021

	Semifinals November 24					Championship November 26
	25	Xavier	70
		Iowa State	82
							Iowa State	78
						9	Memphis	59
	9	Memphis	69
		Virginia Tech	61			3rd Place Game
						25	Xavier	59
							Virginia Tech	58

2020

The field originally included Cincinnati, Arizona, Texas Tech and St. John's.

An initial attempt was made to move the event to the bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World, but the tournament was eventually cancelled outright due to COVID-19.

2019

	Semifinals November 27 ESPN2					Championship November 29 ESPN2
	Ole Miss		74
	Penn State		72
						Ole Miss		37
						Oklahoma State		78
	Syracuse		72
	Oklahoma State		86			3rd Place Game ESPN2
						Penn State		85
						Syracuse		64

2018

	Semifinals November 21 ESPN2					Championship November 23 ESPN2
		Louisville	81
	5	Tennessee	92
						5	Tennessee	81
						2	Kansas	87*
		Marquette	68
	2	Kansas	77			3rd Place Game ESPN2
						Louisville		74
						Marquette		77*

2017

Campus Site Games

	Game 1 November 10 Fox Sports 2					Game 4 November 12 Fox Sports 1
							Monmouth	65
		Fairleigh Dickinson	68				Seton Hall	75
		Seton Hall	90

	Game 2 November 10					Game 7 November 17
							UNC Asheville	76
		Austin Peay	54				Vanderbilt	79
		Vanderbilt	73

	Game 3 November 11					Game 10 November 22
							Monmouth	51
		UNC Asheville	60				UNC Asheville	62
		Rhode Island	84

	Game 5 November 13 ACC Network Extra					Game 9 November 19 Regional Sports Network
							Monmouth	53
		Austin Peay	49				Virginia	73
		Virginia	93

	Game 6 November 15					Game 8 November 19
							UNC Asheville	82
		Oakland City	50				Austin Peay	79
		Austin Peay	109

Championship Round

	Semifinals November 23 ESPNU					Championship November 24 ESPNU
		Virginia	68
		Vanderbilt	42
							Virginia	70
							Rhode Island	55
		Rhode Island	75
	20	Seton Hall	74			3rd Place Game ESPNews
							Vanderbilt	59
						20	Seton Hall	72

2016

	Semifinals November 24 ESPNU					Championship November 25 ESPN2
		Temple	89
	25	Florida State	86
							Temple	81
						19	West Virginia	77
		Illinois	57
	19	West Virginia	89			3rd Place Game ESPNU
						25	Florida State	72
							Illinois	61

2015

	Semifinals November 26 ESPNU/ESPN2					Championship November 27 ESPN2
	Arkansas		73
	Georgia Tech		83
							Georgia Tech	52
						8	Villanova	69
		Stanford	45
	8	Villanova	59			3rd Place Game ESPNU
						Arkansas		66
						Stanford		69

2014

	Semifinals November 26					Championship November 28 ESPN2
	Minnesota		61
	St. John's		70
							St. John's	66
						10	Gonzaga	73
		Georgia	76
	10	Gonzaga	88			3rd Place Game ESPNU
						Minnesota		66
						Georgia		62

Thanksgiving Day Games

	Showcase Format – No Tournament
	November 22
	LIU Brooklyn	54
	Stony Brook	73
	November 27
	WKU	62
	Saint Joseph's	59

2013

	First Round November 18					Quarterfinals November 19					Semifinals November 27 ESPNU/ESPN2					Championship November 29 ESPN
	1	Arizona	100
		Fairleigh Dickinson	50
						1	Arizona	87
						5	Rhode Island	59
	5	Rhode Island	66
		Metro State	63
											1	Arizona	66
											8	Drexel	62
	4	Rutgers	66
		Canisius	51
						4	Rutgers	59
						8	Drexel	70
	6	Elon	64
	8	Drexel	71
																1	Arizona	72
																2	Duke	66
	3	Alabama	102
		Stillman College	65
						3	Alabama	75
							Georgia State	58
		Georgia State	96
		McNeese State	70
											3	Alabama	64
											2	Duke	74
	2	Duke	91													3rd Place Game ESPN2
		UNC Asheville	55
						2	Duke	83									Drexel	85
						7	East Carolina	74									Alabama	83
	7	East Carolina	76
		Norfolk State	74

2012

	First Round November 12					Quarterfinals November 13					Semifinals November 21					Championship November 23 ESPN
	1	Michigan	91
		IUPUI	54
						1	Michigan	77
						7	Cleveland State	47
	7	Cleveland State	79
		Bowling Green	73
											1	Michigan	67
											4	Pittsburgh	62
	4	Pittsburgh	86
		Fordham	51
						4	Pittsburgh	78
						5	Lehigh	53
	5	Lehigh	89
	6	Robert Morris	60
																1	Michigan	71
																3	Kansas State	57
	3	Kansas State	79
		Lamar	55
						3	Kansas State	87
							Alabama-Huntsville	26
		North Texas	75
		Alabama-Huntsville	78
											3	Kansas State	66
											8	Delaware	63
	2	Virginia	54
		Fairfield	45
						2	Virginia	53
						8	Delaware	59
	8	Delaware	84
		Penn	69

2011

	First Round					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship
	1	Syracuse	95
		Manhattan	56
						1	Syracuse	98
							Albany	74
		Albany	77
		Brown	68
											1	Syracuse	69
											4	Virginia Tech	58
	4	Virginia Tech	91
		Monmouth	46
						4	Virginia Tech	78
							FIU	63
	5	George Mason	76
		FIU	79
																1	Syracuse	69
																3	Stanford	63
	3	Stanford	75
		Fresno State	59
						3	Stanford	64
						7	Colorado State	52
	7	Colorado State	75
		SMU	56
											3	Stanford	82
											2	Oklahoma State	67
	2	Oklahoma State	73
		Arkansas-Pine Bluff	46
						2	Oklahoma State	90
						8	UTSA	85
	6	Oral Roberts	77
	8	UTSA	78

2010

	First Round					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship
	1	Villanova	84
		Marist	47
						1	Villanova	82
							Boston University	66
	7	George Washington	67
		Boston University	76
											1	Villanova	82
											4	UCLA	70
	4	UCLA	79
		Pepperdine	69
						4	UCLA	57
							Pacific	44
	8	Nevada	53
		Pacific	64
																1	Villanova	68
																2	Tennessee	78
	3	Wake Forest	63
		Hampton	56
						3	Wake Forest	69
						5	VCU	90
	5	VCU	67
		Winthrop	54
											5	VCU	72
											2	Tennessee	77
	2	Tennessee	85
		Belmont	76
						2	Tennessee	60
						6	Missouri State	56
	6	Missouri State	80
		Arkansas State	71

2009

	First Round					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship
	1	Duke	74
		Coastal Carolina	49
						1	Duke	101
						8	Charlotte	59
	8	Charlotte	75
		Elon	61
											1	Duke	64
											4	Arizona State	53
	4	Arizona State	84
		Texas State	62
						4	Arizona State	52
						7	TCU	49
	7	TCU	83
		Cal State Northridge	65
																1	Duke	68
																2	Connecticut	59
	3	LSU	56
		Indiana State	45
						3	LSU	71
						5	Western Kentucky	67
	5	Western Kentucky	69
		Milwaukee	65
											3	LSU	55
											2	Connecticut	81
	6	Hofstra	68
		Yale	63
						6	Hofstra	67
						2	Connecticut	76
	2	Connecticut	77
		Colgate	63

2008

First Round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship

E1

Boston College

90

E4

Loyola (MD)

57

E1

Boston College

82

E2

St John's

70

E2

St John's

86

E3

Cornell

75

E1

Boston College

64

M1

Purdue

71

M1

Purdue

87

M4

Eastern Michigan

58

M1

Purdue

78

M3

Loyola

46

M2

Georgia

53

M3

Loyola (IL)

74

M1

Purdue

82

S1

Oklahoma

87

W1

Arizona

75

W4

Florida Atlantic

62

W1

Arizona

71

W2

UAB

72

W2

UAB

64

W3

Santa Clara

61

W2

UAB

67

S1

Oklahoma

77

S1

Oklahoma

94

S4

Mississippi Valley State

53

S1

Oklahoma

82

S2

Davidson

78

S2

Davidson

99

S3

James Madison

64

2007

First Round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship

E1

Syracuse

97

E4

Siena

89

E1

Syracuse

72

E2

St. Joseph's

69

E2

Saint Joseph's

86

E3

Fairleigh Dickinson

66

E1

Syracuse

65

M1

Ohio State

79

M1

Ohio State

91

M4

Wisconsin-Green Bay

68

M1

Ohio State

68

M2

Columbia

54

M2

Columbia

47

M3

Delaware State

41

M1

Ohio State

47

S1

Texas A&M

70

W1

Washington

88

W4

NJIT

47

W1

Washington

83

W2

Utah

77

W2

Utah

77

W3

High Point

64

W1

Washington

63

S1

Texas A&M

77

S1

Texas A&M

67

S4

Oral Roberts

53

S1

Texas A&M

81

S2

UTEP

76

S2

UTEP

77

S3

Texas A&M-CC

62

See also

• National Invitation Tournament

External links

• Official Site of the NIT Season Tip-Off
• Bloomberg.com article discussing purchase of NIT Preseason & Postseason tournaments