Fourteen National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division I teams participated in the tournament.
Southern Illinois, in their final season as a College Division team,[1] defeated Marquette, 71–56, in the championship game, becoming the only non-Division I/University Division team to win the tournament.
After the NCAA began operating the NIT in 2006, non-Division I teams were no longer eligible to participate.
SIU's Walt Frazier was the tournament MOP.
Below is a list of the 14 teams selected for the tournament.