There's no minimum record for the NIT. They removed the .500 requirement. However, that was so they could add in the rule that any conference regular season winner who doesn't get their conference's auto-bid will be selected. Very possible for a small conference team to schedule a difficult OOC, thus having a sub .500 record overall while winning their conference regular season.
First, that creates some auto-bids and that cut out some of the slots for other teams.
Second, the rule changes were pretty clear in trying to get more small conference teams into the NIT. They were not to reward below mediocre P5 teams for almost being .500.
Last year, the only at-large teams anywhere close to .500 were Baylor (18-14, ended 34th in kenpom, 1 seed in their bracket) and Temple (17-15, ended 86th, but from American Conf). Flipping through the past couple tourneys, fairly common to see a 17-15 team, but I do not see any at .500 or even someone only 1 game over.
Functionally, you have to be above 2 over .500 to make the NIT.
First, that creates some auto-bids and that cut out some of the slots for other teams.
Second, the rule changes were pretty clear in trying to get more small conference teams into the NIT. They were not to reward below mediocre P5 teams for almost being .500.
Last year, the only at-large teams anywhere close to .500 were Baylor (18-14, ended 34th in kenpom, 1 seed in their bracket) and Temple (17-15, ended 86th, but from American Conf). Flipping through the past couple tourneys, fairly common to see a 17-15 team, but I do not see any at .500 or even someone only 1 game over.
Functionally, you have to be above 2 over .500 to make the NIT.