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Reviewing 71 Years of ‘Great’ NIT Tournaments
BY BERNIE BEGLANE
The National Invitation Tournament is 71 years old now that Ohio State won the championship two weeks ago at Madison Square Garden.
Jack Powers, former athletic director at Manhattan College and now the executive director of the oldest post-season classic, was most enthusiastic after presenting the awards.
It was 47 years after inventing the sport that Dr. James A. Naismith stood at the center court of the ‘old’ Madison Square Garden and presented the first championship trophy to undefeated Long Island University.
Games were played in campus gyms and armories in the initial year, 1938, when six teams were selected.
Expansion began in 1941 when eight schools were picked. By ’68 there were 16, but a cutback to 12 took place in ’76.
Back to 16 the following season, then to 24 in ’79, 32 in ’80, 40 in 2002. By 2007 the number lowered to 32.
“This was a great tournament,” offered Powers, who played at Manhattan College as an undergraduate.
In 1977, the late Peter A. Carlesimo, who served in the MIBA during his tenure as director of athletics at Fordham, became the first full-time executive director of the NIT. Fans were staying away from the Garden for early-round tournament action and attendance was waning. Drastic changes had to be made to save the tournament.
New Format
Carlesimo, along with the MIBA, implemented a plan that would allow college basketball fans to see their local favorites in post-season play. The innovation involved playing at campus sites or local arenas throughout the country, with the four remaining teams coming to New York for the championship round.
The first NIT game to be played outside of Madison Square Garden took place in March, 1977, when Georgetown lost at Virginia Tech, 83-79.
Tickets for the game sold out in three hours. The revised format proved to garner new interest in the NIT.
“Throughout its history, the NIT has showcased some of the greatest talents in basketball,” proclaimed Powers. “The list of coaches and players who have contributed to countless memories and the launching of careers is a long and impressive one.
Changed Role
The NIT’s role has certainly changed, but it still remains a vital part of college basketball.”
This despite early-on battles with the NCAA. Peace was finally achieved when the NCAA was given first crack at the selection of schools.
A quick synopsis is in order.
St. John’s University has played in 16 NIT finals, the most of any school, and has won six titles while finishing second on three occasions.
Anthony Roberts of Oral Roberts University is the all-time individual game scorer, having registered 65 points against Oregon in 1977.
Askia Jones of Kansas State almost topped that with 62 against Fresno State in 1994.
There have been two players to reach 50 points – George Mikan of DePaul with 53 against Rhode Island in 1945 and Elnardo Webster of St. Peter’s with 51 against Marshall in 1968.
Doremus Bennereman of Siena is the all-time leader in points scored in an NIT with 174 in five games. The upstate New York school finished in third place.
There have been 71 team titlists beginning with Temple in 1938 when Don Shields of the Owls was selected as MVP.
New Mexico established a record by appearing in seven consecutive tournaments – 1984 through ’90. The best finish in that run for the Lobos was fourth in 1990.
Thanks to the expansion of the tourney that called for games at on-campus sites, the single-game attendance record is 26,752 when host Syracuse toppled San Diego State, 80-64, at the Carrier Dome.
LIU won the NIT title in 1939 with an undefeated season. The Blackbirds qualified for each of the first classics and also prevailed in 1941.
There has been a long amount of time between championships for West Virginia. The Mountaineers won in 1942 and again last year for 65 years between trophy presentations.
First-Time Champs
Have there been any champs crowned in their first ever appearance? Yes, nine.
Obviously Temple in the inaugural and then West Virginia (1942), St. Louis (1948), San Francisco (1949), Brigham Young (1951), Southern Illinois (1967), Maryland (1972), Fresno State (1983) and UCLA (1985).
Yes, a long and storied history. To add a personal touch, we remember driving as an undergraduate from Fairfield University to the ‘old’ Garden to see the likes of San Francisco.
Now we get to sit at press row!
News from St. John’s Prep
 Jim Gatto, boys’ varsity basketball coach at St. John’s Prep, Astoria, was inducted into the NYS Basketball Hall of Fame March 29 at the Heritage Hall of the Glens Falls Civic Center. The induction coincided with the NYS Basketball Federation Tournament.
Surrounded by friends, family and co-workers, Coach Gatto was honored for his outstanding career which spans nearly 40 years. He has achieved over 500 wins and his teams have won numerous CHSAA Division and League titles, as well as three New York City titles. A member of the New York City CHSAA Hall of Fame and the Old Timers Basketball Hall of Fame, he has been honored by the Frank McGuire Foundation and the National Pro-Am Foundation.
Coach Gatto has coached the Wheelchair Classic, and coached the NY-NJ All-Stars vs. the US All-Stars in a summer classic. He has been named the New York State Catholic School Coach of the Year and Coach of the Year by the league and media many times.
The St. John’s Prep Rugby Club held its initial meeting on March 11. The co-ed club was organized to foster the students’ knowledge of the international game. The club meets two days per week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Depending on turnout, continued interest on the students’ part, and fitness levels, the club may scrimmage against another school sometime at the end of the year. Over 50 students attended each meeting and moderator Andrew Gheraldi hopes the enthusiasm continues.
Gheraldi played rugby at Fordham University, 2002-2005. He was a starter for two MET-NY Union Championship Teams at Fordham and was a MET-NY Union All-Star in 2005. He currently plays for Old Maroon Rugby Football Club in New York and before working at St. John’s Prep, he was a part-time assistant coach for Fordham University’s B-Side rugby team.
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