College Basketball Invitational

The College Basketball Invitational (CBI) is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or the National Invitation Tournament[1] (NIT), and who are willing to pay a $27,500 entry fee to participate.[2] In the CBI, prior to 2020[3] teams competed on home courts. After the post-COVID pandemic revival, the tournament has been staged at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The CBI is a single-elimination tournament. Prior to 2020, the tournament was single elimination until the final two teams were determined, after which the championship was determined by a championship series with a best-two-out-of-three format. Since the tournament's 2021 revival and adoption of the single-site format, the championship is also determined by a single game. In 2023, the CBI introduced NIL funding of $40,000 to be distributed in the following manner: $25,000 to the champion, $10,000 to the runner-up, and $2,500 to each semifinalist.

College Basketball Invitational
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 College Basketball Invitational
College Basketball Invitational
SportBasketball
Founded2007
FounderThe Gazelle Group
First season2008
No. of teams16
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)
Seattle (2024)
Most titlesNo team has won more than one title
TV partner(s)ESPN2 (2022–present)
FloSports (2021-present)
ESPNU (2016–2019)
CBSSN (2014–2015)
AXS TV (2009–2013)
Fox College Sports (2008)
Related
competitions
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
National Invitation Tournament
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
Official websitehttp://www.gazellegroup.com/main/cbi/

While these tournaments provide a chance for teams to continue their season, they are often unpopular among higher-profile teams due to the stigma of playing in a tertiary tournament. In 2014, Indiana Hoosiers athletic director Fred Glass declined a CBI invitation. He expressed, "we're Indiana. We don't play in the CBI."[4]

The inaugural CBI

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The 2008 College Basketball Invitational was the first new postseason tournament since the Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament in 1974. The opening round was played on March 18, 2008, and March 19, 2008, with the second round being played on March 24, 2008. The semifinals took place on March 26, 2008. The championship was a best-of-three series with games being played on March 31, April 2, and April 4, 2008. The bracketing was done in east, west, south and midwest regions.[5]

Tulsa was crowned the champion in the 2008 tournament.

Television

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On February 1, 2016, the CBI announced an exclusive television partnership with ESPN to broadcast the Championship Series of the CBI. In the inaugural year, games were available in local markets on Fox Sports Net and DirecTV.[6] The games could also be viewed on the official website.[7] The 2009 tournament broadcast was changed to HDNet with four first-round games, two quarterfinal games, both semifinal games, and all three championship games being broadcast. HDNet changed its name to AXS and aired the 2013 tournament. CBS Sports Network televised the 2014 and 2015 tournaments. ESPNU televised the best-of-three Championship Series from 2016 to 2019.[8]

The following is an overview and list of the announcers and television networks to broadcast the tournament.

Year Network Play-by-play Color analyst
2008 Fox College Sports Michael Reghi Bob Sundvold
2009[9] HDNet (Select games in first two rounds, Semifinals, Finals) Rich Cellini Craig Ehlo
2010[10]
2011
2012 Keno Davis
2013[11] AXS TV (Select games in first two rounds, Semifinals, Finals) Kenny Rice Bobby Cremins
2014[12] CBSSN (Finals) Scott Graham Bob Wenzel
2015[13] Michael Reghi John Griffin
2016 ESPNU (Finals) Mitch Holthus Sean Harrington
2017 Roy Philpott Corey Williams
2018 Jason Capel
2019 Tim McCormick
2020 Tournament not held
2021 FloSports Chris Hooker Kevin Lehman
2022 FloSports (First round and Quarterfinals) Tom James Jim Christian
ESPN2 (Semifinals and Championship) Roy Philpott Joe Lunardi
2023 FloSports (First round and Quarterfinals)
ESPN2 (Semifinals and Championship)
2024 FloSports (First round and Quarterfinals)
ESPN2 (Semifinals and Championship)

Champions

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Tulsa
 
Oregon State
 
VCU
 
Oregon
 
Pittsburgh
 
Santa
Clara
 
Siena
 
Loyola
 
Nevada
 
Wyoming
 
North Texas
 
South Florida
 
Pepperdine
 
UNC
Wilmington
 
Charlotte
 
Seattle
CBI Champions
  – 1 championship
Year Champion Runner-up MVP
2008 Tulsa Bradley Jerome Jordan, Tulsa
2009 Oregon State UTEP Roeland Schaftenaar, Oregon State
2010 VCU Saint Louis Joey Rodriguez, VCU
2011 Oregon Creighton Joevan Catron, Oregon
2012 Pittsburgh Washington State Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh
2013 Santa Clara George Mason Kevin Foster, Santa Clara
2014 Siena Fresno State Brett Bisping, Siena
2015 Loyola Chicago UL Monroe Earl Peterson, Loyola Chicago
2016 Nevada Morehead State Tyron Criswell, Nevada
2017 Wyoming Coastal Carolina Justin James, Wyoming
2018 North Texas San Francisco Roosevelt Smart, North Texas
2019 South Florida DePaul David Collins, South Florida
2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[14]
2021 Pepperdine Coastal Carolina Kessler Edwards, Pepperdine
2022 UNC Wilmington Middle Tennessee Jaylen Sims, UNC Wilmington
2023 Charlotte Eastern Kentucky Brice Williams, Charlotte
2024 Seattle High Point Cameron Tyson, Seattle

Presenting sponsors

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fourth postseason hoops tourney announced". ESPN.com. January 27, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Shaffer, Jonas. "Towson men's basketball declines postseason tournament invitations". Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  3. ^ "Group starts third postseason tourney featuring 16 teams". ESPN. November 14, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  4. ^ Osterman, By Zach. "Hoosiers miss NIT, decide to end season". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "College Basketball Invitational introduced as new postseason event" (Press release). The Gazelle Group. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2007.
  6. ^ "Fox College Sports to broadcast inaugural College Basketball Invitational" (Press release). The Gazelle Group. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  7. ^ "College Basketball Invitational online viewing prices". The Gazelle Group. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
  8. ^ "ESPNU to air CBI Championship Series". College Basketball Invitational. Gazelle Group. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  9. ^ "HDNet to Broadcast 2009 College Basketball Invtnl" (Press release). Albany HDTV. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  10. ^ "HDNet to Broadcast Live Coverage of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational" (Press release). PR News Wire. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  11. ^ "2013 March Madness: CBI Championship Schedule" (Press release). Eye on Sky and Air Sports. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  12. ^ "2014 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Championship Schedule" (Press release). Eye on Sky and Air Sports. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  13. ^ "2015 CBI, CIT, & NIT TV & National Radio Info" (Press release). Eye on Sky and Air Sports. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  14. ^ "CBI called off amid ongoing coronavirus concerns". ESPN.com. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
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