The National Invitation Tournament will leave Madison Square Garden after this season as the NCAA announced a bidding process Monday to find new sites for the 2023 and 2024 semifinals and finals.
The NIT predates the NCAA Tournament as the top postseason championship in college basketball. Now, the NIT selects 32 of the best teams that miss out on the NCAA Tournament. The first three rounds are held at campus sites before shifting to New York for its final four.
The event was founded in 1938 and always concluded in New York, save for the 2021 tournament during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was held in Texas.
“The NIT has had a rich history in New York City and we appreciate the invaluable partnership with Madison Square Garden,” NCAA senior VP Dan Gavitt said in a statement. “This has not been an easy decision to make, but it is a mutual one. We are looking forward to crowning a worthy and historic NIT Champion at the Garden this week. (The years) 2023 and 2024 offer exciting possibilities for hosting the tournament in a new city and venue that will provide the teams with an outstanding experience.”
The NCAA said it would announce new locations as soon as this spring. ESPN previously reported that the change was coming.
The 2022 NIT will hold its last semifinals at MSG on Tuesday. St. Bonaventure will play Xavier and Washington State will face Texas A&M. The winners will square off in the championship game Thursday.
–Field Level Media