1981 NIT Men's Basketball Tournamnet

1981 NIT Basketball Tournament

The 1981 NIT Tournament remained at a 32 team field. The preliminary rounds consisting of four regions with eight teams each playing at a teams home site. The four finalists from the regions met at Madison Square Gardeens to determine a champion. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane coached by Nolan Richardson won their first NIT tournament, defeating the Syracuse Orange in the championship game. The tournament MVP was Greg Stewart of Tulsa.

1981 NIT Tournament at Madison Square Gardens

Semifinals			National Championship Game

1	Syracuse	70
1	Purdue	63
			1	Tulsa	86
			1	Syracuse	84
6	West Virginia	87
1	Tulsa	89

Preliminary Rounds (1) held On Campus

Team	Season W-L	Conference	Invitation
Syracuse	22-12	Big East
Toledo	21-10	Mid American Conference
Michigan	19-11	Big 10
Holy Cross	20-10	ECAC
Southern Miss	20-7	Independent
Duquesne	20-10	Eastern 8
American	24-6	ECC
Marquette	20-11	Independent

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Finals

1	Syracuse	88
8	Marquette	81
				Syracuse	77
				Holy Cross	57
5	Southern Miss	54
4	Holy Cross	56

							Syracuse	91
							Michigan	76
3	Michigan	74
6	Duquesne	58
				Toledo	68
				Michigan	80
7	American	83
2	Toledo	91

Preliminary Rounds (2) held On Campus

Team	Season W-L	Conference	Invitation
Purdue	21-11	Big 10
Alabama	18-11	SEC
Duke	17-13	ACC
Dayton	18-11	Independent
Fordham	19-9	Independent
North Carolina A&T	21-8	MEAC
St. Johns	17-11	Big East
Rhode Island	21-8	Eastern Athletic Association

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Finals

1	Purdue	84
8	Rhode Island	58
				Purdue	50
				Dayton	46
5	Fordham	65
4	Dayton	66

							Purdue	81
							Duke	69
3	Duke	79
6	North Carolina A&T	69
				Alabama	70
				Duke	75
7	St. Johns	69
2	Alabama	73

Preliminary Rounds (3) held On Campus

Team	Season W-L	Conference	Invitation
Connecticut	20-9	Big East
Temple	20-8	ECC
Penn	20-8	I(vy League
Drake	18-11	Missori Valley Conference
Minnesota	19-11	Big 10
West Virginia	23-10	Eastern 8
Clemson	20-11	ACC
South Florida	18-11	Sun Belt Conference

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Finals

1	Connecticut	65
8	South Florida	55
				Connecticut	66
				Minnesota	84
5	Minnesota	90
4	Drake	77

							Minnesota	76
							West Virginia	77
3	Penn	64
6	West Virginia	67
				Temple	76
				West Virginia	77
7	Clemson	82
2	Temple	90

Preliminary Rounds (4) held On Campus

Team	Season W-L	Conference	Invitation
Tulsa	26-7	Missori Valley Conference
South Alabama	25-6	Sun Belt Conference
Georgia	19-12	SEC
UTEP	18-12	WAC
San Jose State	21-9	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Old Dominion	18-10	Independent
Texas?Arlington	20-8	Southland Conference
Pan American	18-11	Independent

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Finals

1	Tulsa	81
8	Pan American	71
				Tulsa	76
				UTEP	72
5	San Jose State	53
4	UTEP	57

							Tulsa	69
							South Alabama	68
3	Georgia	74
6	Old Dominion	60
				South Alabama	73
				Georgia	72
7	Texas?Arlington	71
2	South Alabama	74