2007 National Invitation Tournament

Annual NCAA basketball competition August 2023 April 2026 NIT 2007 32 Madison Square Garden New York City West Virginia Mountaineers 2nd Clemson Tigers 2nd Air Force Falcons 1st Mississippi State Bulldogs 1st John Beilein 1st Frank Young West Virginia The 2007 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams which did not participate in the 2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The West Virginia University Mountaineers won the 2007 NIT. The participating teams were selected by the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) selection committee using numerous resources such as computer rankings, results (head-to-head, chronological, last 10 games played, non-conference), and polls.http://www.nit.org/about-nit/selection-procedures.html National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Principles and Procedures for Establishing the Bracket 2007-03-12 National Invitation Tournament https://web.archive.org/web/20070117165224/http://www.nit.org/about-nit/selection-procedures.html 2007-01-17 live The first round, second round, and quarterfinal games are held at the home court of the higher seed. The semifinal and final round are played at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The 32 participating teams were announced on March 11, 2007.http://www.nit.org/sports/m-nit/spec-rel/011107aaa.html 70th Annual National Invitation Tournament 2007-03-12 National Invitation Tournament https://web.archive.org/web/20070113020542/http://www.nit.org/sports/m-nit/spec-rel/011107aaa.html 2007-01-13 live This is the first time since the NIT began seeding that all of the #1 seeds made the Final Four. Not only that, but both of the semifinal matches between the #1 seeds were one point games. Selected teams Automatic qualifiers The following teams were automatic qualifiers for the 2007 NIT field after losing in their respective conference tournaments; by virtue of winning their conferences' regular season championship and not qualifying for the NCAA tournament. TeamConferenceRecordAppearanceLast bid2006 men Austin Peay Governors Austin PeayOhio Valley21–112nd20042006 men Delaware State Hornets Delaware StateMEAC21–122nd20062006 men East Tennessee State Buccaneers East Tennessee StateAtlantic Sun24–92nd1983MaristMAAC24–82nd19962006 men Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils Mississippi Valley StateSWAC18–151stNeverSouth AlabamaSun Belt20–115th20012006 men Toledo Rockets ToledoMAC23–97th20042006 men Vermont Catamounts VermontAmerica East25–71stNever Thirty-two NCAA Division I teams participated in the 2007 NIT, reduced from the prior years' 40.N.I.T. Sets Its Field of 32 https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/sports/ncaabasketball/12nit.html Associated Press 2007-03-12 2007-03-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20150605051635/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/sports/ncaabasketball/12nit.html June 5, 2015 live Teams are chosen by the NIT selection committee based on numerous resources, including "computer rankings, head-to-head results, chronological results, Division I results, non-conference results, home and away results, results in the last 10 games, polls and the coaches' regional advisory committee's rankings". The teams are then seeded according to the NIT's procedures for seeding teams. The teams are then placed into four regions: East, South, West, and North.http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/nit/sports/m-nit/auto_pdf/2007-Bracket National Invitation Tournament 2007-03-12 National Invitation Tournament https://web.archive.org/web/20070309182826/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/nit/sports/m-nit/auto_pdf/2007-Bracket 9 March 2007 dead East RegionSeedSchoolConference RecordBerth type 1West VirginiaBig East22–9At-large bid22006 men Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma StateBig 1222–12At-large bid3DrexelCAA23–8At-large bid4UMassA-1023–8At-large bid5AlabamaSEC20–11At-large bid62006 men NC State Wolfpack NC StateACC18–15At-large bid7MaristMAAC24–8Automatic82006 men Delaware State Hornets Delaware StateMEAC21–12Automatic South RegionSeedSchoolConference RecordBerth type1ClemsonACC21–10At-large bid2SyracuseBig East22–10At-large bid32006 men Missouri State Bears Missouri StateMVC22–10At-large bid42006 men Ole Miss Rebels Ole MissSEC20–12At-large bid52006 men Appalachian State Mountaineers Appalachian StateSoCon25–7At-large bid62006 men San Diego State Aztecs San Diego StateMWC21–10At-large bid7South AlabamaSun Belt20–11Automatic82006 men East Tennessee State Buccaneers East Tennessee StateA-Sun24–9Automatic West RegionSeedSchoolConference RecordBerth type12006 men Air Force Falcons Air ForceMWC23–8At-large bid2Kansas StateBig 1222–11At-large bid32006 men DePaul Blue Demons DePaulBig East18–13At-large bid4GeorgiaSEC18–13At-large bid52006 men Fresno State Bulldogs Fresno StateWAC22–9At-large bid62006 men Hofstra Pride HofstraCAA22–9At-large bid72006 men Vermont Catamounts VermontAmerica East25–7Automatic82006 men Austin Peay Governors Austin PeayOVC21–11Automatic North RegionSeedSchoolConference RecordBerth type1Mississippi StateSEC18–13At-large bid2Florida StateACC20–12At-large bid3MichiganBig Ten21–12At-large bid42006 men Bradley Braves BradleyMVC21–12At-large bid5ProvidenceBig East18–12At-large bid62006 men Utah State Aggies Utah StateWAC23–11At-large bid72006 men Toledo Rockets ToledoMAC19–12Automatic82006 men Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils Mississippi Valley StateSWAC18–15Automatic First round The first round took place on March 13, 2007, and March 14, 2007. The higher-seeded team hosted each game. March 13, 2007RegionHome teamScoreAway teamVenueNorthMississippi State Bulldogs82–63Mississippi Valley State Delta DevilsHumphrey Coliseum – Starkville, MSNorthMichigan Wolverines68–58Utah State AggiesCrisler Arena – Ann Arbor, MINorthFlorida State Seminoles77–61Toledo RocketsDonald L. Tucker Center – Tallahassee, FLEastWest Virginia Mountaineers74–50Delaware State HornetsWVU Coliseum – Morgantown, WVEastMassachusetts Minutemen89–87Alabama Crimson TideMullins Center – Amherst, MAEastDrexel Dragons56–63NC State WolfpackDaskalakis Athletic Center – Philadelphia, PAEastOklahoma State Cowboys64–67Marist Red FoxesGallagher-Iba Arena – Stillwater, OK March 14, 2007RegionHome teamScoreAway teamVenueNorthBradley Braves90–78Providence FriarsCarver Arena – Peoria, ILWestAir Force Falcons75–51Austin Peay GovernorsClune Arena – Colorado Springs, COWestGeorgia Bulldogs88–78Fresno State BulldogsStegeman Coliseum – Athens, GAWestDePaul Blue Demons83–71Hofstra PrideMcGrath Arena – Chicago, ILDePaul normally plays non-exhibition games at Allstate Arena, but due to a scheduling conflict, DePaul played on campus at McGrath Arena.Lew Freedman Lew Freedman NIT's fine with DePaul http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-070311cityncaa,1,3762158.story?coll=cs-college-headlines Chicago Tribune 2007-03-11 2007-03-13WestKansas State Wildcats59–57Vermont CatamountsBramlage Coliseum – Manhattan, KSSouthClemson Tigers64–57East Tennessee State BuccaneersLittlejohn Coliseum – Clemson, SCSouthOle Miss Rebels73–59Appalachian State MountaineersTad Smith Coliseum – Oxford, MSSouthMissouri State Bears70–74San Diego State AztecsHammons Student Center – Springfield, MOSouthSyracuse Orange79–73South Alabama JaguarsCarrier Dome – Syracuse, NY Second round The second round took place March 15, 2007, through March 19, 2007. The higher-seeded team hosted the game. Second RoundDateRegionHome teamScoreAway teamVenue3/15NorthFlorida State Seminoles87–66Michigan WolverinesDonald L. Tucker Center – Tallahassee, FL3/15EastWest Virginia Mountaineers90–77Massachusetts MinutemenWVU Coliseum – Morgantown, WV3/16EastNC State Wolfpack69–62Marist Red FoxesReynolds Coliseum – Raleigh, NC*3/17NorthMississippi State Bulldogs101–72Bradley BravesHumphrey Coliseum – Starkville, MS3/19WestAir Force Falcons83–52Georgia BulldogsClune Arena – Colorado Springs, CO3/19WestKansas State Wildcats65–70DePaul Blue DemonsBramlage Coliseum – Manhattan, KS3/19SouthClemson Tigers89–68Ole Miss RebelsLittlejohn Coliseum – Clemson, SC3/19SouthSyracuse Orange80–64San Diego State AztecsCarrier Dome – Syracuse, NY** *Under normal circumstances, the RBC Center would be used as NC State's home court, but a concert was scheduled that night at that facility, forcing the Wolfpack to use their older arena (still regularly in use for women's basketball), Reynolds Coliseum. **A new attendance record for a NIT game was set at the Syracuse–San Diego State game in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won the game 80–64 with the attendance total of 26,752. The old record of 23,522 was set by Kentucky in 1979. Quarterfinals The quarterfinals round took place March 20, 2007, and March 21, 2007. (March 22 was reserved as a backup date in case of scheduling conflicts, but none arose.) The higher-seeded team hosted each game. QuarterfinalsDateRegionHome teamScoreAway teamVenue3/20EastWest Virginia Mountaineers71–66NC State WolfpackWVU Coliseum – Morgantown, WV3/20NorthMississippi State Bulldogs86–71Florida State SeminolesHumphrey Coliseum – Starkville, MS3/21WestAir Force Falcons52–51DePaul Blue DemonsClune Arena – Colorado Springs, CO3/21SouthClemson Tigers74–70Syracuse OrangeLittlejohn Coliseum – Clemson, SC Semifinals The semifinals round took place March 27, 2007 at Madison Square Garden. SemifinalsDateWinnerScoreOpponentVenue3/27West Virginia Mountaineers63–62Mississippi State BulldogsMadison Square Garden – New York, NY3/27Clemson Tigers68–67Air Force FalconsMadison Square Garden – New York, NY Finals The finals round took place March 29, 2007 at Madison Square Garden. ChampionshipDateWinnerScoreOpponentVenue3/29West Virginia Mountaineers78–73Clemson TigersMadison Square Garden – New York, NY The post-tournament celebration by the Mountaineers was overshadowed by a typographical error on the championship T-shirt, on which the school name was rendered as WEST VIRGINA.Typo creates controversy at 'West Virgina' http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2819286 ESPN.com 2007-03-30 2007-04-03 The vendor, 6th Man Sportswear, apologized for this mistake, and corrected the spelling for all T-shirts except those 25 printed for the team in preparation for a victory.http://6thmansportswear.com/west-virgina-misspelled-nit-t-shirt.shtml 'West Virgina' NIT Tournament Champions Tee Shirt: If 'I' Did It 6thManSportswear.com 2007-04-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20070410102817/http://6thmansportswear.com/west-virgina-misspelled-nit-t-shirt.shtml 2007-04-10 dead Bracket East Region First Round Second Round Quarterfinals 1 West Virginia 74 8 Delaware State 50 4 Massachusetts 89 5 Alabama 87 3 Drexel 56 6 North Carolina State 63 2 Oklahoma State 64 7 Marist 67 1 West Virginia 90 4 Massachusetts 77 6 North Carolina State 69 7 Marist 62 1 West Virginia 71 6 North Carolina State 66 South Region First Round Second Round Quarterfinals 1 Clemson 64 8 East Tennessee State 57 4 Mississippi 73 5 Appalachian State 59 3 Missouri State 70 6 San Diego State 74 2 Syracuse 79 7 South Alabama 73 1 Clemson 89 4 Mississippi 68 6 San Diego State 64 2 Syracuse 80 1 Clemson 74 2 Syracuse 70 West Region First Round Second Round Quarterfinals 1 Air Force 75 8 Austin Peay 51 4 Georgia 88 5 Fresno State 78 3 DePaul 83 6 Hofstra 71 2 Kansas State 59 7 Vermont 57 1 Air Force 83 4 Georgia 52 3 DePaul 70 2 Kansas State 65 1 Air Force 52 3 DePaul 51 North Region First Round Second Round Quarterfinals 1 Mississippi State 82 8 Miss. Valley State 63 4 Bradley 90 5 Providence 78 3 Michigan 68 6 Utah State 58 2 Florida State 77 7 Toledo 61 1 Mississippi State 101 4 Bradley 72 3 Michigan 66 2 Florida State 87 1 Mississippi State 86 2 Florida State 71 Semifinals and Finals Semifinals Finals 1 West Virginia 63 1 Mississippi State 62 1 Clemson 68 1 Air Force 67 1 West Virginia 78 1 Clemson 73 See also 2007 Women's National Invitation Tournament 2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 2007 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament 2007 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament 2007 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 2007 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament 2007 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament References National Invitation National Invitation Tournament Category:2000s in Manhattan National Invitation Tournament Category:National Invitation Tournament Category:College basketball tournaments in New York City Category:Sports competitions in Manhattan