The 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) has taken an unexpected turn with several top teams declining their bids, paving the way for SMU, Dayton, UC Irvine, and San Francisco to emerge as the No. 1 seeds in the competition.
This surprising development has sent shockwaves through the college basketball community, with many fans and pundits left wondering what prompted these teams to turn down the opportunity to compete in the prestigious tournament.
According to sources, the teams that declined their NIT bids cited various reasons, including player fatigue, scheduling conflicts, and a desire to focus on the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, the four No. 1 seeds - SMU, Dayton, UC Irvine, and San Francisco - are gearing up to take on the challenge of the NIT, with each team bringing its unique brand of basketball to the table.
SMU, known for its high-powered offense, will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament, while Dayton will be relying on its stout defense to carry it through the competition.
UC Irvine, on the other hand, will be counting on its experienced roster to guide it through the ups and downs of the NIT, and San Francisco will be looking to its dominant rebounding ability to give it an edge over its opponents.
The NIT, which features a 32-team bracket, is set to kick off soon, with the top seeds facing off against lower-seeded teams in the first round.
As the tournament gets underway, fans can expect plenty of exciting matchups, thrilling comebacks, and maybe even a few upsets along the way.
With the top teams in the country ready to battle it out for NIT supremacy, one thing is certain - this year's tournament is shaping up to be one for the ages.