| NIT bracket through February 23, 2009 | |||
| VT Region | SDSU Region | MARYLAND Region | SO. CAR. Region |
| 1 Virginia Tech | 1 San Diego St. | 1 Maryland | 1 South Carolina |
| 8 Cleveland St. | 8 Washington St. | 8 Miami (OH) | 8 Northern Iowa |
| 4 Cincinnati | 4 Nebraska | 4 Baylor | 4 New Mexico |
| 5 George Mason | 5 Illinois St. | 5 Mississippi | 5 Rhode Island |
| 2 Michigan | 2 Texas A&M | 2 Kansas St. | 2 Miami (FL) |
| 7 Green Bay | 7 Vanderbilt | 7 NC State | 7 Tulsa |
| 3 Notre Dame | 3 UAB | 3 St. Mary's | 3 Providence |
| 6 Niagara | 6 Northwestern | 6 Auburn | 6 Mississippi St. |