Apparently 17 teams turned it down
The full list of NIT-declining schools, per ESPN: Arizona State, California, Florida State, Indiana, Maryland, Memphis, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon State, Pitt, St. Bonaventure, St. John’s, Stanford, Syracuse, UCLA, USC, Washington.
Also, from the same article
Bona went 20-13 overall, the No. 7 seed in the Atlantic 10 (9-9 in conference). Asked Saturday afternoon after a 70-60 Atlantic 10 semifinal loss to Duquesne about playing more basketball and if Bona would take a potential NIT invite, coach Mark Schmidt responded affirmatively.
“Yeah, hopefully. Who knows,” Schmidt said. “I don’t know what they think, but we won 20 games. I’ve been here 17 years, and I think we’ve only done that five other times. This was the sixth time that we won 20 games. So we had a good year. It was up and down. The last game never defines you. Very few teams win that last game.”
Within days of the semifinal loss at the Barclays Center, three players (Barry Evans, Kyrell Luc, Melian Martinez) reportedly entered the transfer portal.
According to a graphic that aired on the opening night of the tournament, St. Bonaventure was among 17 men’s basketball teams to decline an invitation to the NIT this year.
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