| Type: | NIT |
| Year: | 1998 |
| Teams: | 32 |
| Finalfourarena: | Madison Square Garden |
| Finalfourcity: | New York City |
| Champions: | Minnesota Golden Gophers (Vacated) |
| Titlecount: | 2nd |
| Gamecount: | 1st |
| Semifinalcount: | 2nd |
| Semifinalcount2: | 2nd |
| Coach: | Clem Haskins |
| Coachcount: | 2nd |
| Mop: | Kevin Clark (Vacated) |
| Mopteam: | Minnesota |
The 1998 National Invitation Tournament was the 1997 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. Minnesota's tournament victory was vacated as a result of numerous NCAA violations, including academic fraud, that took place under coach Clem Haskins. Kevin Clark also vacated his tournament Most Valuable Player award.
Below is a list of the 32 teams selected for the tournament.[1]
| School | Conference | Record | Appearance | Last bid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pac-10 | 18–13 | 6th | 1994 | |
| Auburn | SEC | 15–13 | 4th | 1996 |
| MAC | 21–7 | 3rd | 1992 | |
| WAC | 20–8 | 5th | 1996 | |
| Missouri Valley | 18–9 | 6th | 1990 | |
| Atlantic 10 | 20–11 | 18th | 1986 | |
| SEC | 14–14 | 7th | 1993 | |
| WAC | 18–11 | 6th | 1997 | |
| Georgetown | Big East | 15–14 | 6th | 1993 |
| SEC | 16–14 | 8th | 1995 | |
| ACC | 17–13 | 5th | 1994 | |
| Gonzaga | West Coast | 23–9 | 3rd | 1996 |
| WAC | 19–8 | 6th | 1997 | |
| Iowa | Big Ten | 20–10 | 2nd | 1995 |
| Big 12 | 17–11 | 4th | 1994 | |
| NEC | 21–10 | 10th | 1982 | |
| Marquette | C-USA | 18–10 | 12th | 1995 |
| C-USA | 16–11 | 13th | 1997 | |
| Minnesota | Big Ten | 15–15 | 8th | 1996 |
| Big 12 | 17–14 | 5th | 1996 | |
| ACC | 16–14 | 7th | 1997 | |
| Big West | 23–9 | 1st | Never | |
| Big Ten | 15–12 | 7th | 1995 | |
| MAAC | 18–9 | 1st | Never | |
| Big East | 15–14 | 12th | 1995 | |
| C-USA | 22–10 | 7th | 1995 | |
| Atlantic 10 | 17–14 | 13th | 1995 | |
| C-USA | 20–11 | 7th | 1997 | |
| Colonial | 20–10 | 1st | Never | |
| SEC | 18–12 | 7th | 1996 | |
| ACC | 15–13 | 3rd | 1985 | |
| WAC | 19–8 | 5th | 1991 | |
Below are the four first round brackets, along with the four-team championship bracket.
Minnesota later forfeited its entire 1997–98 schedule due to an academic fraud scandal.