1996 National Invitation Tournament

The 1996 National Invitation Tournament was the 1996 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.

1996 National Invitation Tournament

Season	1995–96
Teams	32
Finals site	Madison Square Garden New York City
Champions	Nebraska Cornhuskers (1st title)
Runner-up	Saint Joseph's Hawks (1st title game)
Semifinalists	Tulane Green Wave (1st semifinal) Alabama Crimson Tide (4th semifinal)
Winning coach	Danny Nee (1st title)
MVP	Erick Strickland (Nebraska)
National Invitation Tournaments «1995 1997»

Selected teams

Below is a list of the 32 teams selected for the tournament.

• Alabama
• Arkansas–Little Rock
• Auburn
• College of Charleston
• Colorado State
• Davidson
• Fairfield
• Fresno State
• Gonzaga
• Illinois
• Illinois State
• Iona
• Manhattan
• Marist
• Miami (OH)
• Michigan State
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mount St. Mary's
• Murray State
• Nebraska
• Providence
• Rhode Island
• Saint Joseph's
• Saint Louis
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Tulane
• Vanderbilt
• Washington
• Washington State
• Wisconsin

Bracket

Below are the four first round brackets, along with the four-team championship bracket.

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Wisconsin		55
	Manhattan		42
						Wisconsin		62
						Illinois State		77
	Illinois State		73
	Mount St. Mary's		49
											Illinois State		72
											Tulane		83
	Minnesota		68
	Saint Louis		52
						Minnesota		65
						Tulane		84
	Tulane		87
	Auburn		73

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Michigan State		64
	Washington		50
						Michigan State		70
						Fresno State		80
	Fresno State		58
	Miami (OH)		57
											Fresno State		71
											Nebraska		83
	Nebraska		91
	Colorado State		83
						Nebraska		82
						Washington State		73
	Washington State		92
	Gonzaga		73

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Alabama		72
	Illinois		69
						Alabama		72
						Missouri		49
	Missouri		89
	Murray State		85
											Alabama		68
											South Carolina		67
	South Carolina		100
	Davidson		73
						South Carolina		80
						Vanderbilt		70
	Vanderbilt		86
	Arkansas–Little Rock		80

	First Round					Second Round					Quarterfinals
	Saint Joseph's		82
	Iona		78
						Saint Joseph's		82
						Providence		62
	Providence		91
	Fairfield		79
											Saint Joseph's		76
											Rhode Island		59
	Rhode Island		82
	Marist		77
						Rhode Island		62
						College of Charleston		58 OT
	College of Charleston		55
	Tennessee		49

Semifinals & finals

	Semifinals					Finals
	Tulane		78
	Nebraska		90
						Nebraska		60
						Saint Joseph's		56
	Alabama		69
	Saint Joseph's		74

	Third place game
	Tulane		87
	Alabama		76

See also

• 1996 National Women's Invitational Tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament