1970 NIT Basketball Tournament

The 1970 NIT was a single game elimination tournament, consisting of sixteen (16) teams. All games were played at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. It was unique in that coach Al McGuire of 8th ranked Marquette University, unhappy with his team's NCAA tournament placement, turned down that bid and elected to play in the NIT instead. His Marquette Warriors went on to claim the championship defeating the St. John's Redmen. As a result of Marquette's action, the NCAA now forbids its members from playing in other postseason tournaments if offered an NCAA bid. Dean Meminger of Marquette was named the tournament MVP.

1970 NIT Tournament at Madison Square Gardens

Seed	Team	Season W-L	Conference	Invitation
1	Manhattan	17-7	Independent
2	LSU	20-8	SEC
3	Utah	17-9	WAC
4	St. Johns	18-7	Independent
5	Georgia Tech	16-9	Independent
6	Marquette	22-3	Independent
7	Oklahoma	18-8	Big Eight
8	Army	19-5	Independent
9	Cincinnati	21-5	Missouri Valley
10	Louisville	18-8	Missouri Valley
11	UMass	18-6	Yankee
12	Duquesne	17-6	Independent
13	Miami (OH)	16-7	MAC
14	Duke	17-8	ACC
15	Georgetown	18-6	Independent
16	North Carolina	18-8	ACC

First round			NIT Quarterfinals			NIT Semifinals			NIT Championship

1	Manhattan	95
16	North Carolina	90
			1	Manhattan	72

			8	Army	77
8	Army	72

9	Cincinnati	67
						8	Army	59

						4	St. Johns	60
5	Georgia Tech	78

12	Duquesne	68
			5	Georgia Tech	55

			4	St. Johns	56
13	Miami (OH)	68

4	St. Johns	70
									4	St. Johns	53

									6	Marquette	65
6	Marquette	62

11	UMass	55
			6	Marquette	83

			3	Utah	63
14	Duke	75

3	Utah	78
						6	Marquette	101

						2	LSU	79
7	Oklahoma	74

10	Louisville	73
			7	Oklahoma	94

			2	LSU	97
15	Georgetown	82

2	LSU	Bye