| Type: | NIT |
| Year: | 1968 |
| Teams: | 16 |
| Finalfourarena: | Madison Square Garden |
| Finalfourcity: | New York City |
| Titlecount: | 2nd |
| Runnerup: | Kansas Jayhawks |
| Gamecount: | 1st |
| Semifinalcount: | 1st |
| Semifinalcount2: | 1st |
| Coach: | Don Donoher |
| Coachcount: | 1st |
| Mop: | Don May |
| Mopteam: | Dayton |
The National Invitation Tournament was originated by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association in 1938. Responsibility for its administration was transferred two years later to local colleges, first known as the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Committee and in 1948, as the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA), which comprised representatives from five New York City schools: Fordham University, Manhattan College, New York University, St. John's University, and Wagner College. Originally all of the teams qualifying for the tournament were invited to New York City, and all games were played at Madison Square Garden.
The tournament originally consisted of only six teams, which later expanded to eight teams in 1941, 12 teams in 1949, 14 teams in 1965, 16 teams in 1968, 24 teams in 1979, 32 teams in 1980, and 40 teams from 2002 through 2006. In 2007, the tournament reverted to the current 32-team format.[1] [2]
Perennial power Kansas made its first NIT appearance, losing in the final to Dayton. The Jayhawks returned to the NIT the next season for the last time.
Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.[3]
| Team | Conference | data-sort-type="number" | Overall record | data-sort-type="number" | Appearance | Last bid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | 20–4 | 5th | 1966 | |||
| Missouri Valley | 19–8 | 13th | 1965 | |||
| Independent | 17–9 | 11th | 1962 | |||
| Duke | ACC | 21–5 | 2nd | 1967 | ||
| Independent | 18–6 | 12th | 1964 | |||
| Independent | 18–7 | 6th | 1965 | |||
| Kansas | Big Eight | 19–7 | 1st | Never | ||
| Metro Collegiate | 21–1 | 8th | 1950 | |||
| MAC | 17–7 | 2nd | 1967 | |||
| Independent | 18–8 | 1st | Never | |||
| Independent | 20–6 | 2nd | 1959 | |||
| Metro Collegiate | 22–2 | 4th | 1967 | |||
| Middle Atlantic | 19–8 | 7th | 1966 | |||
| Independent | 18–8 | 7th | 1967 | |||
| SoCon | 19–8 | 5th | 1947 | |||
| WAC | 18–8 | 1st | Never |
Below is the tournament bracket.