The College Basketball Invitational is Back!

The college basketball Invitational (CBI) is a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that did not participate in the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

The return of the college basketball Invitational

The College Basketball Invitational (CBI) is a men’s college Basketball Tournament that was inaugurated in 2008. It is a single-elimination tournament among 16 NCAA Division I teams that did not participate in the NCAA Tournament or advance to the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals.

The CBI is operated by College Basketball Productions, LLC, which also runs the Las Vegas Invitational tournament. The Opening Round quarterfinals and semifinals are operated by the host school, while the Championship game is broadcast on ESPNU.

Why the CBI is important

The CBI is back for another year of exciting college basketball action! This tournament is important because it gives smaller schools a chance to compete for a National Championship In recent years we’ve seen teams like Loyola Chicago and George Mason make deep runs in the CBI. This year’s tournament should be another great one!

What the CBI offers that other tournaments don’t

The college basketball Invitational (CBI) is a single-elimination men’s college Basketball Tournament played each spring following the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament The CBI offers what some other tournaments don’t – the chance for teams to keep playing and develop chemistry heading into next season.

In addition, the CBI provides a unique opportunity for young players and assistant coaches to gain valuable experience. This can pay dividends down the road, as many of the game’s top coaches got their start in similar tournaments.

Finally, the CBI gives small schools a chance to compete against programs from across the country that they wouldn’t normally have an opportunity to play. This can help these schools recruiting efforts, as they can show prospective student-athletes that they can compete at the highest level

So if you’re a fan of college basketball be sure to check out the CBI this March!

How the CBI has changed over the years

The college basketball Invitational (CBI) is a single-elimination tournament of 16 NCAA Division I college basketball teams that are not selected to participate in the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The CBI was founded in 2007 by ESPN Enterprises, Inc., in response to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) decision to reduce the field for the Men’s Division I Basketball Championship tournament from 65 to 64 teams.

In its early years, the CBI was criticized by some as a “consolation tournament” for teams left out of the NCAA and NIT. However, over time, it has become more respected and is now seen as an opportunity for mid-major programs to earn a postseason bid and post a winning record.

In recent years the CBI has undergone several changes. First, in 2012, the tournament expanded from eight to 16 teams. Second, in 2014, it implemented a new format that consisted of two four-team brackets playing best-of-three series until the two bracket winners met in a best-of-three Championship Series Finally, in 2016, the CBI switched to a campus site format, meaning all games were played at the home court of the higher seed.

These changes have helped to make the CBI more competitive and exciting. As a result, it has become one of college basketball’s most popular postseason tournaments

What to expect from the CBI this year

The CBI is back for another year of top college basketball action! This year, the tournament will feature 32 teams from across the country, all vying for a chance to be crowned CBI champion.

The first round of the tournament will begin on March 15th, with games being played at campus sites. The quarterfinals will take place on March 22nd, followed by the semifinals on March 29th. The Championship game will be held on April 1st, at a yet-to-be-determined location.

So far, four teams have accepted invitations to the tournament: Ball State George Mason St. Francis Brooklyn, and UT Arlington. More teams are expected to be announced in the coming days.

Be sure to tune in to the CBI this year for some great college basketball action!

The teams involved in the CBI

The college basketball Invitational (CBI) is a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I College Basketball teams that are not selected to participate in the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

The history of the CBI

The CBI is a single-elimination tournament of 16 NCAA Division I College Basketball teams that did not make the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The CBI was created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group as an alternative to the NIT.[1] The first CBI took place in 2008 and was won by the University of Tulsa.[2]

The CBI is one of two “post-season” tournaments owned and operated by ESPN, along with the Las Vegas Invitational. Each team is guaranteed to play at least three games. All games are played on campus sites, and a team cannot host more than one game in their home arena. In the first round (which consists of four games), each site hosts two teams playing against each other on back-to-back days. In the second round (also consisting of four games), there are four sites that each host one game between two teams, with those winners advancing to the quarterfinals (two games). The semifinals and Championship game (one game each) are conducted at a single site on consecutive days.

The participating teams come from all over the country, but tend to be mid-major programs that did not receive an at-large bid to either the NCAA Tournament or NIT.

The format of the CBI

The college basketball Invitational (CBI) is a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that did not make the postseason in either the NCAA Tournament or the National Invitation Tournament. Usually, the CBI selects its participants from among “bubble teams”—those considered to be on the brink of receiving an at-large bid to either tournament—but it is not restricted to them.

What happens if a team declines a CBI invitation?

In the event that a team declines a CBI invitation, the next team in line is given the opportunity to fill that vacancy.

Why the CBI is worth your time

The CBI is a single-elimination tournament pitting 16 of the best mid-major college basketball teams against each other. The winner gets a trophy and bragging rights, but there is no automatic NCAA tournament berth on the line.