It’s impossible to tell the history of college basketball without mentioning the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Once upon a time, the NIT was the preeminent postseason tournament in college basketball. Of course, it’s now only the second-best tournament, which is why it’s easier to find cheap NIT Tournament tickets than it is tickets to the NCAA Tournament. But with so many good teams nowadays, it’s still a major tournament that teams are honored to play in. Every year, it features name-brand programs and great venues, which is why there continues to be a huge demand for last-minute NIT Tournament tickets.

A History Lesson

The NIT was first played in 1938 when it was far more prestigious than the NCAA Tournament. For many years, the team that won the NIT would typically be considered the national champion. While the NCAA Tournament eventually overtook the NIT as the premier march tournament, there is still no shortage of attention or excitement around the NIT. With the vast number of quality college basketball programs in today’s game, the level of play in the NIT isn’t far behind the NCAA Tournament. For proof of that, fans can look no further than the list of players who have won MVP in the NIT. That list includes players like Renaldo Balkman, Dajuan Wagner, Ralph Sampson, Reggie Miller, and Walt Frazier.

Early-Season Action

The success of the NIT as a postseason tournament eventually led to the creation of the NIT Season Tip-Off in 1985. Every November, some of the best teams in the country are selected to play in the NIT Season Tip-Off, giving fans many intriguing non-conference games to watch during the early part of the season. Just like the NIT Tournament in March, the early rounds are held at on-campus venues while the last four teams play the semifinals and finals at Madison Square Garden.