NIT Champs directly to NCAA Champs?

[WhoFellDownTheGopherHole?]

Has it ever happened, that a team has won the NIT Championship one year and then went on to win the NCAA Championship the year immediately following? I think if that happened for the Gophers i'd be so elated that i'd probably not care about any pro titles in this town for a long time coming. I could look it up if i was less lazy, but regardless if it's already been done, its exciting to think about; especially in that a month ago it wasn't even logical as a rhetorical question. I'm not saying that even with Mbakwe or Lockett i believe we're going to make it further than a few rounds in, (to the NCAA) but i'm ecstatic that the thought is suddenly within the realm of reason.

 

[scher215]

Roy Williams went from NIT runner up to the elite 8 with UNC.

that's a close one that's recent.

 

[Gopher07]

West Virginia won the NIT in '07 and went to the Sweet 16 in '08.
Virginia won in '92 and went to the Sweet 16 in '93.
Virginia also won in '80 and went to the Final 4 in '81.
Indiana won in '79 and went to the Sweet 16 in '80.
Kentucky won in '76 and went to the Elite 8 in '77.

That's as far back as I care to go now, but in recent history, no, no one has won the NIT one season and go on to win the NCAA the next. In fact, instances of NIT champions going beyond the first weekend are very rare (just the five above since 1976 have gone on to the Sweet 16 or farther the following season).

 

[WhoFellDownTheGopherHole?]

West Virginia won the NIT in '07 and went to the Sweet 16 in '08.
Virginia won in '92 and went to the Sweet 16 in '93.
Virginia also won in '80 and went to the Final 4 in '81.
Indiana won in '79 and went to the Sweet 16 in '80.
Kentucky won in '76 and went to the Elite 8 in '77.

That's as far back as I care to go now, but in recent history, no, no one has won the NIT one season and go on to win the NCAA the next. In fact, instances of NIT champions going beyond the first weekend are very rare (just the five above since 1976 have gone on to the Sweet 16 or farther the following season).

I appreciate the extent to which you researched the answer to my question, thanks! I'm going to go ahead and surmise that it's never happened. Two more games to win before we can start the attempt but it would certainly be a unique piece of history to own.