2005 National Invitation Tournament
The 2005 National Invitation Tournament was the 2005 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. South Carolina defeated Saint Joseph's, 60–57, to earn the program's first NIT title.
Selected teams
Below is a list of the 40 teams selected for the tournament.| School | Conference | Record | Appearance | Last bid |
| Pac-10 | 18–12 | 9th | 2002 | |
| America East | 20–8 | 5th | 2004 | |
| Buffalo | MAC | 22–9 | 1st | Never |
| Big West | 19–10 | 3rd | 1987 | |
| Clemson | ACC | 16–15 | 12th | 1999 |
| Southern | 21–8 | 4th | 1996 | |
| Sun Belt | 20–10 | 2nd | 1959 | |
| C-USA | 19–10 | 15th | 2003 | |
| Drexel | CAA | 17–11 | 4th | 2004 |
| Georgetown | Big East | 17–12 | 19th | 2003 |
| Colonial | 21–8 | 2nd | 1999 | |
| Patriot | 24–6 | 12th | 1990 | |
| C-USA | 18–13 | 8th | 2002 | |
| Indiana | Big Ten | 15–13 | 4th | 1985 |
| MAC | 20–12 | 7th | 2004 | |
| C-USA | 19–11 | 15th | 2004 | |
| ACC | 16–12 | 5th | 1990 | |
| C-USA | 19–15 | 16th | 2002 | |
| Miami (FL) | ACC | 16–12 | 7th | 2001 |
| MAC | 19–10 | 5th | 1996 | |
| Big 12 | 16–16 | 7th | 2004 | |
| America East | 21–9 | 1st | Never | |
| Big East | 17–11 | 9th | 2004 | |
| Mid-Con | 25–7 | 7th | 1997 | |
| Pac-10 | 18–14 | 4th | 1987 | |
| WAC | 19–11 | 5th | 2004 | |
| Atlantic 10 | 19–11 | 13th | 2002 | |
| West Coast | 16–13 | 5th | 1976 | |
| South Carolina | SEC | 15–13 | 9th | 2002 |
| Missouri Valley | 18–12 | 6th | 2000 | |
| Temple | Atlantic 10 | 16–13 | 16th | 2004 |
| Big 12 | 19–9 | 6th | 1994 | |
| C-USA | 19–13 | 6th | 1999 | |
| Mountain West | 16–13 | 9th | 2004 | |
| SEC | 18–13 | 10th | 2002 | |
| VCU | Colonial | 19–12 | 4th | 1993 |
| ACC | 15–13 | 8th | 1995 | |
| Western Kentucky | Sun Belt | 21–8 | 12th | 1992 |
| MAC | 19–12 | 3rd | 2003 | |
| Missouri Valley | 20–9 | 10th | 2004 |