Duquesne Men's Basketball Team Misses NIT Selection

Dukes fail to receive postseason tournament bid despite strong season in Atlantic 10

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:23am

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The Duquesne University men's basketball team was not selected to participate in the 2026 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), despite having a successful season in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Five other Atlantic 10 teams - Dayton, Davidson, and three others - were chosen for the NIT field.

Why it matters

The NIT is a prestigious postseason tournament that features many of the top college basketball teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Missing out on the NIT is a disappointment for the Duquesne program, which was hoping to extend its season and compete for a championship.

The details

Duquesne finished the regular season with a 20-12 record and a 12-6 mark in Atlantic 10 play, good for a fifth-place finish in the conference standings. However, the Dukes were not among the 32 teams selected for the 2026 NIT field, which was announced on Sunday. Five other Atlantic 10 schools - Dayton, Davidson, and three others - did receive NIT bids.

  • The 2026 NIT field was announced on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Duquesne finished the regular season with a 20-12 record and a 12-6 mark in Atlantic 10 play.

The players

Duquesne University

A private university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, known for its men's basketball program which competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Atlantic 10 Conference

A NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference that includes universities primarily located in the Northeastern United States.

National Invitation Tournament (NIT)

A prestigious postseason college basketball tournament that features many of the top teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

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The takeaway

Duquesne's exclusion from the 2026 NIT field is a disappointment for the program, which had a strong regular season in the Atlantic 10 but was not selected for one of the premier postseason tournaments. The Dukes will now have to wait until next season to try and earn a spot in the NIT or NCAA Tournament.