2002 National Invitation Tournament
{{Short description|University basketball tournament in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college basketball tournament | Type = NIT
| Gender=
| Year=2002
| Image=
| ImageSize=
| Caption=
| Teams=40
| FinalFourArena=Madison Square Garden
| FinalFourCity=New York City
| Champions={{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Memphis Tigers|title=Memphis Tigers}}
| TitleCount=1st
| RunnerUp={{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=South Carolina Gamecocks|title=South Carolina Gamecocks}}
| GameCount=1st
| Semifinal1=Temple Owls
| SemifinalCount=4th
| Semifinal2=Syracuse Orangemen
| SemifinalCount2=2nd
| Coach=John Calipari
| CoachCount=1st
| MOP=Dajuan Wagner
| MOPTeam=Memphis
}}
The 2002 National Invitation Tournament was the 2002 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.
Selected teams
Below is a list of the 40 teams selected for the tournament.[http://www.nit.org/history/nit-postseason-results-2000s.html Tournament Results (2000's)] at nit.org, URL accessed November 5, 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100327053218/http://www.nit.org/history/nit-postseason-results-2000s.html Archived] 11/5/09
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
!School !Conference !Record !Appearance !Last bid |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Arizona State Sun Devils|title=Arizona State}}
|align=left|Pac-10 |14–14 |8th |2000 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Ball State Cardinals|title=Ball State}}
|align=left|MAC |20–11 |4th |1998 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Bowling Green Falcons|title=Bowling Green}}
|align=left|MAC |24–8 |13th |2000 |
| align=left|Butler
|align=left|Horizon |25–5 |7th |1999 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=BYU Cougars|title=BYU}}
|align=left|Mountain West |17–11 |9th |2000 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Dayton Flyers|title=Dayton}}
|align=left|Atlantic 10 |20–10 |20th |2001 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Detroit Titans|title=Detroit}}
|align=left|Horizon |18–12 |8th |1999 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Fresno State Bulldogs|title=Fresno State}}
|align=left|WAC |19–14 |6th |2001 |
| align=left|George Mason
|align=left|Colonial |19–9 |2nd |1986 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Georgia State Panthers|title=Georgia State}}
|align=left|A-Sun |20–10 |1st |Never |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Houston Cougars|title=Houston}}
|align=left|C-USA |18–14 |7th |1993 |
| align=left|Iowa
|align=left|Big Ten |19–15 |3rd |1998 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns|title=Louisiana-Lafayette}}
|align=left|Sun Belt |20–10 |4th |1985 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Louisiana Tech Bulldogs|title=Louisiana Tech}}
|align=left|WAC |20–9 |5th |1992 |
| align=left|Louisville
|align=left|C-USA |18–12 |13th |1985 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=LSU Tigers|title=LSU}}
|align=left|SEC |18–14 |4th |1983 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Manhattan Jaspers|title=Manhattan}}
|align=left|MAAC |20–8 |17th |1996 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Memphis Tigers|title=Memphis}}
|align=left|C-USA |22–9 |15th |2001 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}
|align=left|Big Ten |17–12 |10th |2001 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Montana State Bobcats|title=Montana State}}
|align=left|Big Sky |19–9 |2nd |1987 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=New Mexico Lobos|title=New Mexico}}
|align=left|Mountain West |16–13 |16th |2001 |
| align=left|Princeton
|align=left|Ivy |16–11 |5th |2000 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Richmond Spiders|title=Richmond}}
|align=left|Atlantic 10 |19–13 |6th |2001 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Rutgers Scarlet Knights|title=Rutgers}}
|align=left|Big East |18–12 |12th |2000 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Saint Joseph's Hawks|title=Saint Joseph's}}
|align=left|Atlantic 10 |18–11 |7th |1996 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=South Carolina Gamecocks|title=South Carolina}}
|align=left|SEC |18–14 |8th |2001 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=South Florida Bulls|title=South Florida}}
|align=left|C-USA |19–12 |7th |2000 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=St. Bonaventure Bonnies|title=St. Bonaventure}}
|align=left|Atlantic 10 |17–12 |15th |2001 |
| align=left|Syracuse
|align=left|Big East |20–11 |10th |1997 |
| align=left|Temple
|align=left|Atlantic 10 |15–14 |13th |1989 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles|title=Tennessee Tech}}
|align=left|Ohio Valley |24–6 |2nd |1985 |
| align=left|UC Irvine
|align=left|Big West |21–10 |4th |2001 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=UNC Greensboro Spartans|title=UNC Greensboro}}
|align=left|Southern |20–10 |1st |Never |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=UNLV Runnin' Rebels|title=UNLV}}
|align=left|Mountain West |20–10 |6th |1999 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Utah State Aggies|title=Utah State}}
|align=left|Big West |23–7 |6th |1995 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Vanderbilt Commodores|title=Vanderbilt}}
|align=left|SEC |16–14 |9th |2000 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Villanova Wildcats|title=Villanova}}
|align=left|Big East |17–12 |15th |2001 |
| align=left|Virginia
|align=left|ACC |17–11 |9th |2000 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Wagner Seahawks|title=Wagner}}
|align=left|Northeast |19–9 |2nd |1979 |
| align=left|{{cbb link|2001|sex=men|team=Yale Bulldogs|title=Yale}}
|align=left|Ivy |20–10 |1st |Never |
=Georgetown declines invitation=
Big East Conference member Georgetown originally was among the teams selected, but declined to take part. Hoyas head coach Craig Esherick explained that Georgetown's home court, the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., was booked to host the East Regional of the 2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, meaning that accepting the NIT invitation would have required the Hoyas to play on the road in the West for two weeks, forcing his players to miss many of their classes. After playing a similar schedule the previous season during the 2001 NCAA tournament, Esherick had concluded that missing so many classes to play in the NIT, a tournament which did not offer a chance for a national championship, was not in the best interest of Georgetown{{'}}s players.[http://www.michigandaily.com/content/georgetowns-esherick-class-act-march Horn, David, "Georgetown's Esherick the Class Act of March," The Michigan Daily, March 13, 2002.]
Esherick's controversial decision meant that Georgetown had no postseason play for the first time since the 1973–74 season. Georgetown became the first team to turn down an NIT bid since Louisville turned down a bid to the 1987 NIT.[http://dailyutahchronicle.com/2002/03/12/georgetown-declines-nit-bid/ Associated Press, "Georgetown Declines NIT Bid," The Daily Utah Chronicle, March 12, 2002.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203163313/http://dailyutahchronicle.com/2002/03/12/georgetown-declines-nit-bid/ |date=February 3, 2017 }}
Bracket
Below are the four first-round brackets, along with the four-team championship bracket.
{{4RoundBracket-Byes | RD1=Opening Round
| RD2=First Round
| RD3=Second Round
| RD4=Quarterfinals
| RD1-seed01=
| RD1-team01=
| RD1-score01=
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02=
| RD1-score02=
| RD1-seed03=
| RD1-team03=
| RD1-score03=
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04=
| RD1-score04=
| RD1-seed05=
| RD1-team05=
| RD1-score05=
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06=
| RD1-score06=
| RD1-seed07=
| RD1-team07=
| RD1-score07=
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08=
| RD1-score08=
| RD1-seed09=
| RD1-team09=
| RD1-score09=
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10=
| RD1-score10=
| RD1-seed11=
| RD1-team11=
| RD1-score11=
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12=
| RD1-score12=
| RD1-seed13=
| RD1-team13=Richmond
| RD1-score13=74
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14=Wagner
| RD1-score14=67
| RD1-seed15=
| RD1-team15=Montana State
| RD1-score15=77
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16=Utah State
| RD1-score16=69
| RD2-seed01=
| RD2-team01=Syracuse
| RD2-score01=76
| RD2-seed02=
| RD2-team02=St. Bonaventure
| RD2-score02=66
| RD2-seed03=
| RD2-team03=Butler
| RD2-score03=81
| RD2-seed04=
| RD2-team04=Bowling Green
| RD2-score04=69
| RD2-seed05=
| RD2-team05=Minnesota
| RD2-score05=96
| RD2-seed06=
| RD2-team06=New Mexico
| RD2-score06=62
| RD2-seed07=
| RD2-team07=Richmond
| RD2-score07=63
| RD2-seed08=
| RD2-team08=Montana State
| RD2-score08=48
| RD3-seed01=
| RD3-team01=Syracuse
| RD3-score01=66
| RD3-seed02=
| RD3-team02=Butler
| RD3-score02=65
| RD3-seed03=
| RD3-team03=Minnesota
| RD3-score03=66
| RD3-seed04=
| RD3-team04=Richmond
| RD3-score04=67
| RD4-seed01=
| RD4-team01=Syracuse
| RD4-score01=62
| RD4-seed02=
| RD4-team02=Richmond
| RD4-score02=46
}}
{{4RoundBracket-Byes | RD1=Opening Round
| RD2=First Round
| RD3=Second Round
| RD4=Quarterfinals
| RD1-seed01=
| RD1-team01=Ball State
| RD1-score01=98
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02=South Florida
| RD1-score02=92
| RD1-seed03=
| RD1-team03=Saint Joseph's
| RD1-score03=73
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04=George Mason
| RD1-score04=64
| RD1-seed05=
| RD1-team05=
| RD1-score05=
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06=
| RD1-score06=
| RD1-seed07=
| RD1-team07=
| RD1-score07=
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08=
| RD1-score08=
| RD1-seed09=
| RD1-team09=
| RD1-score09=
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10=
| RD1-score10=
| RD1-seed11=
| RD1-team11=
| RD1-score11=
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12=
| RD1-score12=
| RD1-seed13=
| RD1-team13=
| RD1-score13=
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14=
| RD1-score14=
| RD1-seed15=
| RD1-team15=
| RD1-score15=
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16=
| RD1-score16=
| RD2-seed01=
| RD2-team01=Ball State
| RD2-score01=75
| RD2-seed02=
| RD2-team02=Saint Joseph's
| RD2-score02=65
| RD2-seed03=
| RD2-team03=LSU
| RD2-score03=63
| RD2-seed04=
| RD2-team04=Iowa
| RD2-score04=61
| RD2-seed05=
| RD2-team05=UNLV
| RD2-score05=96
| RD2-seed06=
| RD2-team06=Arizona State
| RD2-score06=91
| RD2-seed07=
| RD2-team07=South Carolina
| RD2-score07=74
| RD2-seed08=
| RD2-team08=Virginia
| RD2-score08=67
| RD3-seed01=
| RD3-team01=Ball State
| RD3-score01=75
| RD3-seed02=
| RD3-team02=LSU
| RD3-score02=65
| RD3-seed03=
| RD3-team03=UNLV
| RD3-score03=65
| RD3-seed04=
| RD3-team04=South Carolina
| RD3-score04=75
| RD4-seed01=
| RD4-team01=Ball State
| RD4-score01=47
| RD4-seed02=
| RD4-team02=South Carolina
| RD4-score02=82
}}
{{4RoundBracket-Byes | RD1=Opening Round
| RD2=First Round
| RD3=Second Round
| RD4=Quarterfinals
| RD1-seed01=
| RD1-team01=
| RD1-score01=
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02=
| RD1-score02=
| RD1-seed03=
| RD1-team03=
| RD1-score03=
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04=
| RD1-score04=
| RD1-seed05=
| RD1-team05=
| RD1-score05=
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06=
| RD1-score06=
| RD1-seed07=
| RD1-team07=
| RD1-score07=
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08=
| RD1-score08=
| RD1-seed09=
| RD1-team09=
| RD1-score09=
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10=
| RD1-score10=
| RD1-seed11=
| RD1-team11=
| RD1-score11=
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12=
| RD1-score12=
| RD1-seed13=
| RD1-team13=Louisiana Tech
| RD1-score13=83
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14=Louisiana–Lafayette
| RD1-score14=63
| RD1-seed15=
| RD1-team15=Vanderbilt
| RD1-score15=59
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16=Houston
| RD1-score16=50
| RD2-seed01=
| RD2-team01=Temple
| RD2-score01=81
| RD2-seed02=
| RD2-team02=Fresno State
| RD2-score02=75
| RD2-seed03=
| RD2-team03=Louisville
| RD2-score03=66
| RD2-seed04=
| RD2-team04=Princeton
| RD2-score04=65
| RD2-seed05=
| RD2-team05=Villanova
| RD2-score05=84
| RD2-seed06=
| RD2-team06=Manhattan
| RD2-score06=69
| RD2-seed07=
| RD2-team07=Louisiana Tech
| RD2-score07=83
| RD2-seed08=
| RD2-team08=Vanderbilt
| RD2-score08=68
| RD3-seed01=
| RD3-team01=Temple
| RD3-score01=65
| RD3-seed02=
| RD3-team02=Louisville
| RD3-score02=62
| RD3-seed03=
| RD3-team03=Villanova
| RD3-score03=67
| RD3-seed04=
| RD3-team04=Louisiana Tech
| RD3-score04=64
| RD4-seed01=
| RD4-team01=Temple
| RD4-score01=63
| RD4-seed02=
| RD4-team02=Villanova
| RD4-score02=57
}}
{{4RoundBracket-Byes | RD1=Opening Round
| RD2=First Round
| RD3=Second Round
| RD4=Quarterfinals
| RD1-seed01=
| RD1-team01=Tennessee Tech
| RD1-score01=64
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02=Georgia State
| RD1-score02=62
| RD1-seed03=
| RD1-team03=Dayton
| RD1-score03=80
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04=Detroit
| RD1-score04=69
| RD1-seed05=
| RD1-team05=
| RD1-score05=
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06=
| RD1-score06=
| RD1-seed07=
| RD1-team07=
| RD1-score07=
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08=
| RD1-score08=
| RD1-seed09=
| RD1-team09=
| RD1-score09=
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10=
| RD1-score10=
| RD1-seed11=
| RD1-team11=
| RD1-score11=
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12=
| RD1-score12=
| RD1-seed13=
| RD1-team13=
| RD1-score13=
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14=
| RD1-score14=
| RD1-seed15=
| RD1-team15=
| RD1-score15=
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16=
| RD1-score16=
| RD2-seed01=
| RD2-team01=Tennessee Tech
| RD2-score01=68
| RD2-seed02=
| RD2-team02=Dayton
| RD2-score02=59
| RD2-seed03=
| RD2-team03=Yale
| RD2-score03=67
| RD2-seed04=
| RD2-team04=Rutgers
| RD2-score04=65
| RD2-seed05=
| RD2-team05=BYU
| RD2-score05=78
| RD2-seed06=
| RD2-team06=UC Irvine
| RD2-score06=55
| RD2-seed07=
| RD2-team07=Memphis
| RD2-score07=82
| RD2-seed08=
| RD2-team08=UNC Greensboro
| RD2-score08=62
| RD3-seed01=
| RD3-team01=Tennessee Tech
| RD3-score01=80
| RD3-seed02=
| RD3-team02=Yale
| RD3-score02=61
| RD3-seed03=
| RD3-team03=BYU
| RD3-score03=69
| RD3-seed04=
| RD3-team04=Memphis
| RD3-score04=80
| RD4-seed01=
| RD4-team01=Tennessee Tech
| RD4-score01=73
| RD4-seed02=
| RD4-team02=Memphis
| RD4-score02=79
}}
=Semifinals & finals=
{{4TeamBracket | RD1=Semifinals | RD2=Finals
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Syracuse
| RD1-score1=59
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=South Carolina
| RD1-score2=66
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3=Temple
| RD1-score3=77
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4=Memphis
| RD1-score4=78
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=South Carolina
| RD2-score1=62
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=Memphis
| RD2-score2=72
}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Third place game
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Syracuse
| RD1-score1=54
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Temple
| RD1-score2=65
}}
See also
- 2002 Women's National Invitation Tournament
- 2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
- 2002 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament
- 2002 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament
- 2002 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
- 2002 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
- 2002 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
- 2002 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
- 2002 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament
- 2002 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament
- 2002 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament
References
{{Reflist}}
{{National Invitation Tournament}}
{{2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament navbox}}
National Invitation Tournament
Category:Basketball competitions in New York City
Category:College sports in New York City
National Invitation Tournament