Dallas-Fort Worth to host all games of downsized 16-team NIT
The show will go on this year for the National Invitation Tournament, just not at its traditional home, Madison Square Garden.
After last year's cancellation, a downsized 2021 version of the NIT will consist of 16 college basketball teams (instead of 32) and be played exclusively in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the NCAA announced Monday. The tournament will tip off with first-round games March 17-20 at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, and at UNT Coliseum on the campus of North Texas in Denton, Texas.
The decision to center the tourney in one geographic location was made "with the interests of having a safe and healthy environment for all participants," the NCAA release said.
Due to the reduced field size, all 16 teams will be at-large selections when the field is announced Sunday evening, March 14. All games will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.
The NIT was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Texas won the title in 2019.