Courtesy of Wyoming Athletics
LARAMIE, Wyo. (March 15, 2026) – The Wyoming Cowboys were selected to play in the National Invitational Tournament on Sunday evening. It is the first time that Wyoming has appeared in the NIT since the 2003 season, as it marks the ninth overall appearance for the Brown and Gold. The Cowboys will face Wichita State in the First Round of the tournament on Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. MT on ESPNU.
The Cowboys are 18-14 on the season for the most wins since the 2021-22 campaign, which is also the last time the Pokes appeared in the post season. The Pokes finished the regular season winning five of the last six Mountain West games for the first time since the 1999-00 season.
The last contest in the NIT featured a second-round appearance at North Carolina on March 24, 2003, as the Tar Heels won 90-74. The Pokes are 7-8 all-time in the NIT and finished second in 1986.
Auburn, New Mexico, Tulsa and Wake Forest highlight the 32 teams from 18 different Division I conferences that make up the National Invitation Tournament field released by the NIT committee today.
First round play is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17 and 18, with the second round playing March 21 and 22. Quarterfinals will be held March 24 and 25 with four teams advancing to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the semifinals. The NIT semifinals will kick off the Final Four weekend on April 2 with tipoffs at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET. The NIT championship will be played April 5 at 8 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse following the conclusion of the Division II and Division III Men’s Basketball National Championships.
