1998 National Invitation Tournament

The 1998 National Invitation Tournament was the 1997 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. Minnesota's tournament victory was vacated as a result of numerous NCAA violations, including academic fraud, that took place under coach Clem Haskins. Kevin Clark also vacated his tournament Most Valuable Player award.

1998 National Invitation Tournament

Season	1997–98
Teams	32
Finals site	Madison Square Garden New York City
Champions	Minnesota Golden Gophers (Vacated) (2nd title)
Runner-up	Penn State Nittany Lions (1st title game)
Semifinalists	Georgia Bulldogs (2nd semifinal) Fresno State Bulldogs (2nd semifinal)
Winning coach	Clem Haskins (2nd title)
MVP	Kevin Clark (Vacated) (Minnesota)
National Invitation Tournaments «1997 1999»

Selected teams

Below is a list of the 32 teams selected for the tournament.^[1]

School	Conference	Record	Appearance	Last bid
Arizona State	Pac-10	18–13	6th	1994
Auburn	SEC	15–13	4th	1996
Ball State	MAC	21–7	3rd	1992
Colorado State	WAC	20–8	5th	1996
Creighton	Missouri Valley	18–9	6th	1990
Dayton	Atlantic 10	20–11	18th	1986
Florida	SEC	14–14	7th	1993
Fresno State	WAC	18–11	6th	1997
Georgetown	Big East	15–14	6th	1993
Georgia	SEC	16–14	8th	1995
Georgia Tech	ACC	17–13	5th	1994
Gonzaga	West Coast	23–9	3rd	1996
Hawaii	WAC	19–8	6th	1997
Iowa	Big Ten	20–10	2nd	1995
Kansas State	Big 12	17–11	4th	1994
LIU Brooklyn	NEC	21–10	10th	1982
Marquette	C-USA	18–10	12th	1995
Memphis	C-USA	16–11	13th	1997
Minnesota	Big Ten	15–15	8th	1996
Missouri	Big 12	17–14	5th	1996
NC State	ACC	16–14	7th	1997
Pacific	Big West	23–9	1st	Never
Penn State	Big Ten	15–12	7th	1995
Rider	MAAC	18–9	1st	Never
Seton Hall	Big East	15–14	12th	1995
Southern Miss	C-USA	22–10	7th	1995
St. Bonaventure	Atlantic 10	17–14	13th	1995
UAB	C-USA	20–11	7th	1997
UNC Wilmington	Colonial	20–10	1st	Never
Vanderbilt	SEC	18–12	7th	1996
Wake Forest	ACC	15–13	3rd	1985
Wyoming	WAC	19–8	5th	1991

Bracket

Below are the four first round brackets, along with the four-team championship bracket.^[1]

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Wake Forest		56
	UNC Wilmington		52
						Wake Forest		68
						Vanderbilt		72
	Vanderbilt		73
	St. Bonaventure		61
											Vanderbilt		65
											Georgia		79
	Georgia		100
	Iowa		93
						Georgia		61
						NC State		55
	NC State		59
	Kansas State		39

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Penn State		82
	Rider		68
						Penn State		77
						Dayton		74
	Dayton		95
	LIU		92
											Penn State		77
											Georgia Tech		70
	Georgetown		71
	Florida		69
						Georgetown		79
						Georgia Tech		80
	Georgia Tech		88
	Seton Hall		70

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Hawaii		90
	Arizona State		73
						Hawaii		78
						Gonzaga		70
	Gonzaga		69
	Wyoming		55
											Hawaii		83
											Fresno State		85
	Fresno State		73
	Pacific		70
						Fresno State		83
						Memphis		80
	Memphis		90
	Ball State		67

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Marquette		80
	Creighton		68
						Marquette		75
						Auburn		60
	Auburn		77
	Southern Miss		62
											Marquette		71
											Minnesota		73
	Minnesota		77
	Colorado State		65
						Minnesota		79
						UAB		66
	UAB		93
	Missouri		86

Semifinals & finals

	Semifinals					Finals
	Georgia		60
	Penn State		66
						Penn State		72
						Minnesota		79
	Fresno State		89
	Minnesota		91

	Third place game
	Georgia		95
	Fresno State		79

Minnesota later forfeited its entire 1997–98 schedule due to an academic fraud scandal.

See also

• 1998 Women's National Invitation Tournament
• 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 1998 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament
• 1998 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament
• 1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
• 1998 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
• 1998 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
• 1998 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 1998 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament
• 1998 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament
• 1998 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament

References

1. Tournament Results (1990's) at nit.org, URL accessed November 7, 2009. Archived 11/6/09