After Bradley University upset Loyola in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament semifinals, the Ramblers’ hope for a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance disappeared. However, Loyola finished first in the regular season conference standings, earning the Ramblers an automatic bid for the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and keeping their quest for postseason success alive.
The NIT is widely considered to be the second-most prestigious postseason college basketball tournament after the NCAA Tournament. There is a field of 32 teams in the NIT, seeded 1-8. The NCAA Tournament has 68 teams seeded 1-16.
While the winner of every conference tournament is guaranteed an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the regular season conference champions are guaranteed an automatic bid to the NIT if they were to lose in the conference tournament.