Harvard Not Among NIT Selections

When it begins later this week, the nation's oldest college basketball tournament will be without the nation's oldest college

Harvard was not among the 32 teams selected last night to participate in the 1984 National Invitational Tournament (NIT)

That fact brought to a close the season that had apparently ended with the final buzzer in Harvard's 88-77 win over Columbia more than a week ago. But a campaign led by Harvard Coach Frank McLaughlin to earn his squad its first-ever NIT bid left a flicker of hope in Cambridge that a season reprieve was on the way

The candle burned out, though, when the NIT executive committee released its invitations last night

"We knew it was a long shot," McLaughlin said from his home. "We didn't get the bid but we made people aware that Harvard had a pretty decent season."

The Crimson finished with a 15-12 overall record and a 9-5 Ivy slate, one game behind league champion Princeton who thanks to its title, is on its way to the bigger and more prestigious NCAA tourney

But with the NCAA expected to invite just one Ivy school as they did--McLaughlin turned to the NIT. There, he tried to use the Crimson's two victories this season over the Tigers to sway the selection committee

The New York-based tourney didn't bite, though, opting instead for some talented teams bypassed by the 53-team NCAA, which released its bids a day earlier.

The Slate

At the top of NIT list was the 1983 NCAA champion, North Carolina State (19-13). The remaining bids went to Boston College (17-11), Creighton (17-13); Florida (15-12); Florida State (19-10); Fordham (19-14); Georgia (17-12); Georgia Tech (18-10); Iowa State (16-12); Lamar (25-4); La Salle (20-10); Marquette (16-12); Michigan (18-10); Nebraska (17-11); New Mexico (24-10); Notre Dame (17-11); Ohio State (15-13); Old Dominion (20-10); Oregon (16-12); Pittsburgh (16-12); St. Joseph's, Pa. (20-8); St. Peter's, N.J. (23-5); Southwestern Louisiana (20-8); Tennessee (19-13); Weber State (22-8); Wichita State (18-11); and Xavier of Ohio (20-9).

Founded in 1938, the NIT has been battling recently to retain its existence in the face of the expanding NCAA, whose 53 selections this year were the most ever. But several upsets in regional tournaments last weekend sent a few surprises to the NCAAs this year and several perennial powers--such as Notre Dame and Marquette--to the NIT.

"The NIT field is going to be really strong," McLaughlin said. "You've got to be happy for the NIT."

Harvard, which finished this year with only its second winning season in 11 years, has only participated in post-season play once. That trip to the NCAAs in 1946 resulted in a first round loss.