Minnesota men’s basketball earn NIT bid

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team is postseason bound after receiving a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. The Gophers will travel to Indianapolis to face Butler in the first round on Friday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.

The Gophers earned the bid after an 18-14 season that saw them lose in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan State. It marked a significant turnaround from 2022-23 season when Minnesota went 9-22.

The NIT berth marks the Gophers’ first postseason appearance since 2019. They return to the NIT for the first time since 2014, when they won the tournament championship. The competition dates back to 1938, and this marks Minnesota’s 14th appearance in tournament history.

“We’re really excited to be invited into the prestigious NIT,” head coach Ben Johnson said in a press release. “It’s a great opportunity for our team to continue to build, grow, get better and compete. Our guys are excited and looking forward to preparing for it this week. It’s the next great step for our program, and we’re ready to get back on the court.”

If the Gophers win against Butler on Friday, they will face the winner of Indiana State and SMU next weekend.

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