1973 National Invitation Tournament

1973 National Invitation Tournament
Teams16
Finals siteMadison Square Garden
New York City
ChampionsVirginia Tech Hokies (1st title)
Runner-upNotre Dame Fighting Irish (1st title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coachDon DeVoe (1st title)
MVPJohn Shumate (Notre Dame)
National Invitation Tournaments
«1972 1974»

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]

Selected teams

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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.

Bracket

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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

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References

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  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. ^ a b 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".