page_title: National Invitation Tournament
section_title: Men's postseason NIT champions
hierarchical_section_title: National Invitation Tournament / Men's postseason NIT champions
caption_attribution_description: The Edward A. Keller Memorial Award won by the Cal men's basketball team at the 1999 National Invitation Tournament on display in a trophy case in the lobby of Haas Pavilion.
context_page_description: The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Played at regional sites and at Madison Square Garden in New York City each March and April, it was founded in 1938 and was originally the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball.
  Over time it became eclipsed by the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament—now known informally as "March Madness". The NIT has since been regarded more as a "consolation" tournament for teams that did not receive a berth in the NCAA tournament.
  A second, much more recent "NIT" tournament is played in November and known as the NIT Season Tip-Off. Formerly the "Preseason NIT", it was founded in 1985. Like the postseason NIT, its final rounds are played at Madison Square Garden. Both tournaments were operated by the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association until 2005, when they were purchased by the NCAA, and the MIBA disbanded.
  Unless otherwise qualified, the terms "NIT" or "National Invitation Tournament" refer to the post-season tournament in both common and official use.
context_section_description: St. John's won the 2003 NIT title, but later vacated the title due to an ineligible player.
  Marcus Hatten of St. John's was the MVP of the 2003 tournament, but vacated the award with St. John's title.
  Minnesota won the 1998 NIT title, but later vacated the title due to academic fraud.
  Kevin Clark of Minnesota was the MVP of the 1998 tournament, but vacated the award with Minnesota's title.
  Michigan won the 1997 NIT title, but later vacated the title and forfeited its entire 1996-97 schedule due to ineligible players.
  Robert Traylor of Michigan was the MVP of the 1997 tournament, but was later declared ineligible and his award vacated.
caption: California's 1999 NIT trophy
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