The first 7 NIT games are Tuesday, March 18 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard/_/date/20250318/group/98
The NIT should go to a 16 team format like the new tournament is in LasVegas. I think 16 teams would make the NIT more selective, therefore much better!
That new Las Vegas tournament you are referring to is the College Basketball Crown (CBC) tournament- https://collegebasketballcrown.com/
It hasn't been real well publicized, so a lot of fans have never heard much about it.
It is sponsored by Fox Sports, and all the games will be on Fox and FS1 networks.
Like Steve Z. said, it is a 16-team tournament that runs from March 31 to April 6. The first and second rounds are played at the MGM Grand Arena, and the semifinals and final will be in the much larger T-Mobile Arena (also owned by MGM, and where the Las Vegas Golden Knights play).
Here is much more info about the CBC - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Basketball_Crown
And info about the 2025 CBC, including the teams and schedule - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown
Note that there are some really bad teams in the tournament, including DePaul (14-19), Butler (14-19), Colorado (14-20), and Arizona State (13-19).
The CBC looks like the BE and B1G's attempt to avoid risking losses to a midmajor. Unfortunately 4 B1G teams declined the CBC before they got 2 takers near the bottom including 16-17 USC.
It looks like the NIT has its own rating system (KNIT) that heavily influences their seeding and selections. SF was 64 and BU was 80 (incidentally the NET ranking as well).
I just read how the NCAA people who pick the seedings and Matchups messed up by not having St.Louis play Bradley in the NIT first round! It's such a shame they obviously don't put much thought into the process! I know Peoria would have loved seeing Josh Schertz and Robbie Avilla play in Peoria! I believe it would have generated more ticket sales for the game. However, the NCAA always make the worst decesions. They are like a corporation with no human regard for what rightfully should be done.
I find it interesting that San Francisco gets a 1 seed...they have fewer wins, and a head to head loss to BU, who is a 3 seed....I think we should have gotten a 2 seed to be honest.
A-10 off to a roaring start, 0-2, both games are massive blowout losses -
Saint Louis (loses to Arkansas State 103-78 ) gets a decent game from Robbie Avila, but they musta forgot to play defense,
giving up 103 pts on 54% shooting and 46% from 3-pt. (16-35!)
another ex-MVC team, Wichita State, also getting their butts kicked by a sub-.500, 15-17 OK State team.