Here's a cut and paste from a subscriber-board post I put up when someone asked me what VT had to do to make the NIT.

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1.) They would have to finish VERY strong. As in, win at least 3 out of their last 4, which would put them at 17-14. Winning all four, a very tough order, would put them at 18-13.

2.) Win one or two ACCT games, to get to 18 or 19, outside shot at 20, wins.

3.) In the mid-major conferences, regular-season champs need to win their tourneys. Any team that wins its conference in the regular season but does NOT win the tournament gets an auto-bid to the NIT (if they don't get an at-large to the NCAAs).

So, a lot has to fall right. It's tougher to make the NIT these days.