NEW YORK – North Carolina and UConn are lending some serious star power to the NIT.

The Tar Heels were a No. 4 seed in the bracket released Sunday, the second time in the past three years that the defending national champion missed the NCAA tournament. Florida played in the NIT in 2008 after winning the 2007 title.

It was the first time that North Carolina (16-16) missed out on the big party since 2003, but it certainly wasn’t unexpected. The Tar Heels lost 10 out of 12 games during a midseason swoon, and were beaten by Georgia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Connecticut (17-15) is the other blueblood relegated to the NIT, also picked as a fourth seed after making the Final Four last season.

The Huskies had a trying season in which coach Jim Calhoun missed several games with an undisclosed medical condition. They made a run in February to renew their NCAA tournament hopes, but head into their NIT opener against Northeastern coming off four straight losses, including a 73-51 rout by St. John’s in the Big East tournament.

“With a quick glance at the bracket, it looks like the field is remarkably tough,” Calhoun said. “There are plenty of teams that were in position to make the NCAA tournament, and I think that with all of the parity in the field, it will be very difficult to win and advance.”

The NIT begins Tuesday on campuses with the championship April 1 at Madison Square Garden.

The No. 1 seeds were Illinois, Arizona State, Virginia Tech and Mississippi State, all teams that spent Sunday hoping for NCAA tournament bids.

The Bulldogs may have had the most emotional afternoon. They blew a five-point lead with 2:28 left in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Kentucky, eventually losing 75-74 in overtime – and with the game, their NCAA tournament berth.

“We had our opportunities to close it out. That’s part of the game,” Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury said.

“And I can promise you, there’s not one ounce left in them.”

Mississippi State will open the tournament against in-state rival Jackson State, which got an automatic berth to the NIT by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season title.

The winner will get North Carolina or No. 5 seed William & Mary.

Virginia Tech watched its bubble burst for the third straight year, and will open the NIT against Quinnipiac. The Hokies (23-8) had a better overall and ACC record than Wake Forest, which made the NCAA tournament, but were done in by a poor RPI and strength of schedule.

“I’m very proud of my team. We’ve had a great run,” Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg said.

“It will be a tough job to get my guys up and ready to play, but that’s my job.”

The Hokies could meet Connecticut in the second round, assuming both teams win.

Illinois will play Stony Brook in its opening game.

Arizona State will open against Jacksonville.