These teams primarily consist of those led by first- or second-year coaches who may seize the opportunity or have previously participated in the CBI/CIT tournaments, demonstrating a tendency to engage in this particular type of postseason play.
The CBI has, in recent years, featured teams with losing records and rankings beyond the 230 mark in their respective fields. This selection process primarily hinges on teams that have demonstrated a willingness to participate (and pay to play) in this tier of tournaments in the past, as these competitions may not appeal to every program. It becomes a viable option for teams that fit the profile and are not anticipated for an NIT bid. Other rationales include recent lack of success or the coach being in the nascent stages of their career, aiming to utilize the tournament to generate momentum or gain additional practice opportunities.
It’s essential to emphasize that these observations are not intended as criticisms of the tournament. Personally, we firmly believe that tournaments of this nature serve a vital purpose within the landscape of collegiate basketball, especially considering the vast number of teams involved, which currently stands at 363. Notably, there have been instances where teams with top 60 rankings have participated. Compared to certain other sports, such as football, Division 1 basketball offers a notably lower percentage of postseason opportunities. Providing teams and coaches with something tangible to strive for, in my view, is crucial, affording them the chance to culminate the season on a positive note with additional games and, potentially, a victory. Moreover, there have been practical instances where teams have leveraged their experience in these tournaments to secure successful NIT or NCAA bids in subsequent seasons such as VCU going to the Final 4 after winning the CBI.
If your team isn’t listed, it’s possible they are projected for inclusion in this tier of tournaments.
Schools
The CBI and CIT noticeably took a step back in quality of field since 2014. These are the schools that have played in either the Non NCAA/NIT tournaments the last decade ( CBI, CIT, Vegas 16, or The Basketball Classic) and the number of bids so that we can get a greater idea of who might be willing to play.
