1973 National Invitation Tournament

The 1973 National Invitation Tournament was the 1973 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. The tournament started on March 17 and concluded on March 25, with all fifteen games at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was won by Virginia Tech, which won its four games by a total of five points, including a 92–91 overtime victory over Notre Dame.^{[1][2] [3]}

1973 National Invitation Tournament

Teams	16
Finals site	Madison Square Garden New York City
Champions	Virginia Tech Hokies (1st title)
Runner-up	Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1st title game)
Semifinalists	North Carolina Tar Heels (2nd semifinal) Alabama Crimson Tide (1st semifinal)
Winning coach	Don DeVoe (1st title)
MVP	John Shumate (Notre Dame)
National Invitation Tournaments «1972 1974»

Selected teams

Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.^[4] For the first time, the Pacific-8 Conference allowed a member to participate;^[5] USC fell to Notre Dame by four points in the opening round.

• Alabama
• American
• Fairfield
• Louisville
• Manhattan
• Marshall
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Notre Dame
• Oral Roberts
• Rutgers
• USC
• Virginia Tech

Bracket

	First Round March 17–19					Quarterfinals March 20 & 22					Semifinals Saturday, March 24					Finals Sunday, March 25
	North Carolina		82
	Oral Roberts		65
						North Carolina		73
						Massachusetts		63
	Massachusetts		78
	Missouri		71
											North Carolina		71
											Notre Dame		78
	Louisville		97
	American		84
						Louisville		71
						Notre Dame		79
	Notre Dame		69
	USC		65
																Notre Dame		91
																Virginia Tech		92
	Virginia Tech		65
	New Mexico		63
						Virginia Tech		77
						Fairfield		76
	Fairfield		80
	Marshall		76
											Virginia Tech		74
											Alabama		73
	Alabama		87
	Manhattan		86
						Alabama		69
						Minnesota		65
	Minnesota		68
	Rutgers		59

	Third place game
	North Carolina		88
	Alabama		69

Source:^[4]

For years after the third-place game, North Carolina hung a banner in the Dean Smith Center that read "NIT 3RD PLACE 1973." The banner became the subject of ridicule from rival fans, and has since been removed.^[6]

See also

• 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament
• 1973 NCAA College Division basketball tournament
• 1973 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 1973 National Women's Invitational Tournament

References

1. "Gobblers aren't turkeys: win NIT overtime thriller". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 26, 1973. p. 12.
2. Putnam, Pat. "Who's afraid of Virginia Tech". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
3. "Unbelievable, Fantastic, Amazing, Virginia Tech does it in NIT 92-91". The Roanoke Times. March 26, 1973. p. 9. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
4. Tournament Results (1970's) at nit.org, URL accessed November 7, 2009. Archived 11/7/09
5. "Irish-USC opener". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 17, 1973. p. 13.
6. "RIP to my favorite Dean Dome feature".