Boston University will host Illinois at Agganis Arena in the opening round of the NIT on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The seventh-seeded Terriers (24-10), who lost the Patriot League tournament championship game to American, are one of 13 automatic qualifiers in the 32-team field for winning their conference’s regular-season title.
Illinois (19-14) is a 2 seed after finishing tied for eighth in the Big Ten at 7-11.
If BU advances, it would play the winner of Thursday’s game between Clemson and Georgia State.
One other New England team made the field, as Vermont (22-10) is a 7 seed and will play at second-seeded Georgia (19-13) on Wednesday.
SMU is the tournament’s top overall seed. The other No. 1 seeds are Minnesota, Florida State and St. John’s.