| Type: | NIT |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Teams: | 32 |
| Finalfourarena: | Madison Square Garden |
| Finalfourcity: | New York City |
| Champions: | Ohio State |
| Titlecount: | 2nd |
| Runnerup: | Massachusetts |
| Gamecount: | 1st |
| Semifinal1: | Florida |
| Semifinalcount: | 3rd |
| Semifinal2: | Mississippi |
| Semifinalcount2: | 1st |
| Coach: | Thad Matta |
| Coachcount: | 1st |
| Mop: | Kosta Koufos |
| Mopteam: | Ohio State |
The 2008 National Invitation Tournament (known through sponsorship as the MasterCard NIT) was a single-elimination tournament of 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that did not participate in the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The 71st annual tournament began on March 18 on campus sites and ended on April 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[1] Each regular season conference champion that did not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament received an automatic bid to this tournament. The remaining slots were filled by the NIT Selection Committee.[2] The first, second, and third rounds were played on the higher seeded team's home court, with the semi-finals and finals played at Madison Square Garden.
The Ohio State Buckeyes won the tournament.
The 2008 NIT Selection Committee consists of the following former college basketball coaches and administrators:[3]
The following teams were automatic qualifiers for the 2008 NIT field after losing in their respective conference tournaments; by virtue of winning their conferences' regular season championship and not qualifying for the NCAA tournament.
| Team | Conference | Record | data-sort-type="number" | Appearance | Last bid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWAC | 20–10 | 2nd | 1983 | ||
| MEAC | 22–10 | 1st | Never | ||
| Northeast | 26–7 | 1st | Never | ||
| Southland | 26–5 | 2nd | 1987 | ||
| Big West | 23–8 | 5th | 2003 | ||
| Big South | 23–9 | 1st | Never | ||
| WAC | 24–10 | 9th | 2007 | ||
| VCU | CAA | 24–7 | 5th | 2005 |
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^ Game played at nearby St. John Arena due to a Bruce Springsteen concert at Value City Arena.
Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 1 and 3
* - Overtime game.