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No NCAA Tournament means no more basketball for some college basketball teams.
It's soul crushing to not be part of March Madness, but those that just missed out on making the bracket don't have to see their seasons end with other postseason tournaments. The NIT is the most famous example, and there is also the College Basketball Crown.
REQUIRED READING: Selection Sunday live updates: March Madness bracket reveal is here
However, the disappointment of not being in the NCAA Tournament is now too much. College basketball has changed drastically with so much player and coach movement that there isn't as much of a desire to keep playing if you don't have a chance to win a national championship. The NIT used to be a solid second option, but several teams now opt-out of participating.
So who has declined the NIT so far? Here is every team deciding to end its season rather than play in college basketball's invitational.
List as of 3 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15
The Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion was given an automatic spot in the NIT, but declined it on March 14. The Bruins finished 26-6 but coach Casey Alexander left and accepted the job at Kansas State.
The first team to announce it was not participating in the NIT was Virginia Tech. It made the decision on Friday, March 13 after it lost in the first round of the ACC tournament to finish the season 19-13.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who declined NIT? Full list of teams opting out of tournament
Continue reading...
It's soul crushing to not be part of March Madness, but those that just missed out on making the bracket don't have to see their seasons end with other postseason tournaments. The NIT is the most famous example, and there is also the College Basketball Crown.
REQUIRED READING: Selection Sunday live updates: March Madness bracket reveal is here
However, the disappointment of not being in the NCAA Tournament is now too much. College basketball has changed drastically with so much player and coach movement that there isn't as much of a desire to keep playing if you don't have a chance to win a national championship. The NIT used to be a solid second option, but several teams now opt-out of participating.
So who has declined the NIT so far? Here is every team deciding to end its season rather than play in college basketball's invitational.
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Teams to decline 2026 NIT tournament
List as of 3 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15
- Belmont
- Virginia Tech
Teams to announce it is declining NIT
Belmont
The Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion was given an automatic spot in the NIT, but declined it on March 14. The Bruins finished 26-6 but coach Casey Alexander left and accepted the job at Kansas State.
Virginia Tech
The first team to announce it was not participating in the NIT was Virginia Tech. It made the decision on Friday, March 13 after it lost in the first round of the ACC tournament to finish the season 19-13.
An update from our programpic.twitter.com/toajanzBj2
— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) March 13, 2026
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who declined NIT? Full list of teams opting out of tournament
Continue reading...
